The Company and The Mission Statement

In this post we'll be developing information about "The Company" and your company's "Mission Statement."  These xomponents represent sections 3 and 4 of your Business Plan.

If we can help you in developing this information, please feel free to contact us at 813.654.3009 or Sheri@ThePPGinc.com.

The Company

This section of the Business Plan describes basic information about your company.  You should include or describe the following:

• The name of your company
• Your company's physical location
• Mailing address
• Information about the legal structure
• Start date of your company
• Accomplishments to date
• Major accomplishments
• Where your company is with respect to where it is going
• Have you received funding before
• Are you seeking funding and if so, how much and how you plan to use the funding

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Mission Statement

 An effective Mission Statement provides strategic vision and direction for the organization and should not have to be revised every few years. The Mission Statement serves as a beacon and inspiration at every level of your company and is the guiding spirit and discipline by which culture and decisions are developed.

A comprehensive mission statement:

• Will be the criterion for every decision that is made
• Clarifies what your company (of one, two or one hundred) stands for
• Determines how you relate to your customer
• Establishes the standard for relating with your coworkers, supervisors, and those who report to you
• Affects the kind of people you recruit
• Drives your personal and/or employee training and development plan
• Is essentially the hub that defines every aspect of your organization

It also includes these concepts:

• The moral/ethical position of the enterprise
• The desired public image
• The key strategic influence for the business
• A description of the target market
• A description of the products/services
• The geographic domain
• Expectations of growth and profitability

Some popular mission statements:

IBM

"Uncompromising personalized service."

IBM's stands for three things, "The dignity of the individual, excellence, and service."  Everything every employee does must conform to this mission, whether they are working with an external client or a co-worker.

3M
"To solve unsolved problems innovatively"

 

Mary Kay Cosmetics
"To give unlimited opportunity to women."

 

Merck
"To preserve and improve human life."

 

Wal-Mart
"To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same thing as rich people."

 

Walt Disney
"To make people happy."

Even the 'one-liners' are supported by a set of values that set the performance standards and direct the implementation of the mission.  Don’t be afraid of developing this very important statement.  When you aren’t sure what to do in a given situation, your Mission Statement will direct you.  When you have “hit it on the head,” you will know because you will feel it deep within yourself.  A good place to start may be to ask yourself, “What do I do, why do I do it, and why should my ideal client choose me to do it?” 

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