How many times have you done an online search for a company that provides the value and quality of service or product you want? Yet, cruising through their website, you find it difficult to get a decent feel for their mission or goals. According to Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership, “A mission statement is the driving force of a company, not just a brochure-filler.” Ramsey provides the steps to help any business or nonprofit get it right (EntreLeadership Mission Statement Mapper – Ramsey (ramseysolutions.com)), with the help of Dan Miller’s book, 48 Days to the Work You Love.
Step 1: Start with You
Before you write a mission statement for your business, you need to craft one for yourself. It says, in concrete terms, who you are, what’s important to you, and what you want to accomplish in life.
Step 2: Your Skills and Abilities
List your skills and abilities in the space provided. Examples include organization, teaching, planning, system development and musical talent.
Step 3: Your Personality Traits
List your personality traits in the space provided. Examples include creative, theoretical, studious, analytical, expressive, verbal, adventurous, dominant, cheerful, playful, solemn, outgoing and logical.
Step 4: Your Values, Dreams and Passions
List your values, dreams and passions in the space provided. A helpful way to focus on your values, dreams and passions is to identify two or three individuals who have been influential in your life or have contributed to your life in a meaningful way. You may consider these individuals to be mentors. Choose people you have personally known, not historical or public figures. The things you identify as significant in these people will likely be a reflection of your own values, dreams and passions.
Step 5: Write Your Personal Mission Statement
Now that you have defined these three major areas, you are prepared to start working on your personal mission statement. In the space provided, write out a rough draft, drawing heavily from the memories touched in developing the three crucial areas.
Here are just a few examples Ramsey provides of companies who got it right. Ramsey also offers key words to help you get started or improve on your existing mission statement.
Honest Tea: Honest Tea seeks to create and promote great-tasting, organic beverages. We strive to grow our business with the same honesty and integrity we use to craft our products, with sustainability and great taste for all.
Airbnb: Airbnb aims to connect millions of people in real life all over the world, through a
community marketplace—so that you can Belong Anywhere.