Do you have a working mission statement?
Having a strong mission statement is about knowing who you are and what you want.
Without a strong Mission + Vision for Your Business there will be confusion and doubt about what it is your are doing and who you are trying to reach. If there is confusion in your mind, know that there will definitely be confusion in the mind of your audience, making it very difficult to attract a consistent type of client. And a lack of consistency will always only produce more inconsistency in every other area of your business.
A solid and clear mission for your business provides a foundation and filter through which all decisions can be made. You will have a defined focus and client enabling you to do the work you set out to do!
Taking the time to truly define What You Do, How You Do It, Why You Do It AND Who You Do It For will result in clarity regarding future decisions. You will successfully pursue dream clients because you are confident as to who the right clients are.
I have provided a series of questions that will help clarify your mission: what you do, how you do it, why you do it and who you do it for.
Step One. Spend some time thinking through and answering the below questions to help you get started.
- Why? Why am I building a business? Why am I building this specific business?
- What markets or customer groups do you want to serve? (i.e. who are you reaching? young women, children, etc.)
- Who do I enjoy working with?
- What products or services do you want to provide?
- What do I enjoy doing?
- What purpose is my business serving?
- Why do clients choose you?
- What makes you different than another creative in the same industry?
- What is unique about your product or service?
- What am I trying to accomplish?
Step Two. Using the answers from step one, create a concise summary statement by answering the following questions.
- What You Do It?
- How You Do It?
- Why You Do It?