Developing Your Business Mission

When you first launch your business, there’s a driving force, a vision of what you could achieve.

Your business mission is your raison d’être, your ‘reason for being’.

Beyond the money, why are you in business?

This is GAP’s business mission – “We create emotional connections with customers around the world through inspiring product design, unique store experiences, and compelling marketing.”

This is Apple’s – “Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.”

Personally, I prefer Steve Jobs original mission statement…

“To make a contribution to the world by making tools for the mind that advance humankind”

That’s the thing about mission statements, they are personal, especially when it comes to small businesses.

If you don’t already have a business mission written down, spend some time developing one. It’s the first part of any good marketing plan.

If you do have one, revisit it. Is it still relevant? Does it still tie in with your goals?

Don’t worry about getting it perfect, your business mission will mature over time as you develop your marketing plan.