Survival! Many businesses are looking for answers to deal successfully in the current
economic climate. All the planning, capital, marketing and organizational decisions seem
outside the realm of what was “business as normal.” Do not panic. Resist the urge for a
complete overhaul. Begin with what you have accomplished such as your business
mission and vision statements and seek to re-energize your focus within the current
business reality.

Your business mission statement states why your business exists. It enables you to
effectively communicate the “why” to your employees and to your marketplace. This is
where the review should begin. Because strategic business decisions stem from your
mission statement, it is not only good to review the statement but also to test it. Here are
a few key questions to help:

1. Does your mission statement adequately address your business strengths and expertise?

2. Have you retained the values your business shares in common with others in your line
of business? Emphasis on good customer service for example is an important element for
long term success.

3. Is your market the same as when you first began? If not, you may need to adjust the
change in your mission statement or vision statement.

Remember to keep all your audiences in mind, including employees, shareholders, family
members, customers, suppliers and your community. A business or organizational
mission and purpose that support all these audiences will retain the most solid
relationships.

The most important objective in the vision for your business future is the desire to
achieve your mission, with clarity, commitment and communication. An example of an
effective direct sales business owner is:

“We will be a global network of independent wellness consultants helping people
physically and financially. We will be a positive example to our team, prospects and
customers. We will focus on expanding and training our team and having them duplicate
these efforts to create a fun and rewarding business.”
This statement personifies a business who will manage out of a sense of vision, not out of
a sense of desperation.

Here are a few key tips to help you revamp or redefine your mission statement or vision
statement:

1. Re-examine what sets you apart from your competitors.

2. If someone contacted you about what seemed like a reasonable opportunity, are your
statements specific enough to give you a business-oriented reason to accept or reject that
opportunity and explain the reasoning for the acceptance or rejection – based on your
mission and vision statements?

3. Do your statements guide you toward an ideal customer?

4. Do your statements help the company avoid seeking to be all things to all people?

These tips can begin the process of re-energizing your business with confidence and give
you more consciously focused mission and vision statements. This will help enable your
business to not only survive but to grow in the years ahead.

For additional help with your mission statement and vision statement or if you need to
develop your mission and vision statements, go to www.missionvisionstatement.com
now.

Don Midgett, Author