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I was consulting with someone on the phone last week and our conversation went something like this:
She: “I’m all over the place, there is so much to do and I don’t know where to start.”
Me: “Maybe you could back up and start with your mission statement to help you find some direction?”
She: “Mission statement? I don’t think I have one”
Me: “Well then, THAT is where you start”
What is a mission statement? A mission statement, simply put, is a few key statements that guide and direct your business. It is your businesses statement of purpose, or reason for existing.
Are mission statements really that important? Even for small, creative businesses? You bet!
When questions arise in your business like:
- Does this item fit in with our other products?
- Should I advertise on this blog?
- How do I compete with similar businesses?
A mission statement will help you find the answers.
If you don’t know whether to advertise on a certain blog or not, look at your mission statement. Does the blog fit with your company’s mission statement?
If you want to find out how to compete with other businesses look to your business statement to see how you stand out from the rest.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you are trying to come up with your mission statement:
- Why am I in business?
- Who are my customers?
- What level of service do I provide?
- How am I different from everyone else who does what I do or sells what I sell?
- What types of relationships will I have with customers or suppliers?
- What values guide my business?
- What is the image I want my business to convey?
A good mission statement not only summarizes what your company does, but how it does it, and why it does it. It defines who you are creatively and helps to develop your brand, which, in turn, lets your customer know what your art is all about.
Now I have homework for you. Don’t worry, it’s kind of fun homework.
Look around the web at various mission statements. What words stand out to you? Which lines apply to your business? What is your favorite?
How can you use those mission statements as a launch pad for writing one of your own?
By: Vicki O’Dell , The Creative Goddess
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I am always wondering why I am not as productive as I could or should be. I never prepared a mission statement or answered any of those questions. I just got online and started to try to sell my crafts. I think slowing down, thinking about where I want to go and making a plan would help boost my sales.
I have heard of doing this. Being that I do more than just sell, I believe this would be an instrumental part of my business.
After a life in corporate world, where the mission statements were more of a marketing ploy that word to live by, you have a refreshing take on the issue. The questions are especially helpful as a frame, and the homework is a good idea. Now I am interested to see how many of the internet business I know actually have a Mission statement.
I had been doing a lot of arts and crafts for several years and are now piling at home. I am planning to sell some online and your article about mission statement is a good start. Thanks for sharing.