Do You Have a Business Mantra?
With so many things to do in a day, it is sometimes difficult for employees and some entrepreneurs to appreciate the big picture or the essence of the business. That’s why Bootstrap Me says knowing your core goals is one of the patterns of success.
The best way to remember all these goals is to write a mission statement and share it with your colleagues. It may appear trivial but it serves as your lighthouse in the long run.
A mission statement or mantra captures, in a concise sentence, what business you are in, your philosophies, and aspirations or goals. To come up with the right words and phrases, some of the key questions you need to answer include:
- Who are your customers and in what way are you helping you them?
- What sets you apart from the competition or what makes you better than others?
- What business values do you like to emphasize? Is it customer delight, innovation, social responsibility, continuous improvement?
Even if you know the answers to the key questions above, the big challenge is how to make your mantra sticky and powerful. Contrary to traditional mission vision statements with 2 or 3 sentences, Guy Kawasaki’s best advice is keep it short with 3 or 4 words only. This would help you and your employees understand easily the essence of your existence.
The ultimate test for a mantra (or mission statement) is if your telephone operators can tell you what it is. If they can, then you’re onto something meaningful and memorable. If they can’t, then, well, it sucks.
