Vision, Mission and Personal Mission Statements

A Vision Statement is about creating the big picture of the organization in the future. However it is more than that too. It is the inspiration , the framework for all your strategic planning. It is also a reminder of what you are trying to build.

A Mission statement is a formal, short, written statement of of the prupose of an organization. It declares the overall goal or purpose of an organization.

A Personal Mission Statement is a roadmap for your life or career. It is a purposeful promise that will carry you towards your goals. A well thought out, goal-focused mission statement can act as an acheivement coach-giving you the focus, direction, and accountability you need to accomplish your career, financial and personal goals. It's a critical first step towards achieving the life you have always wanted.

COCA COLA MISSION STATEMENT:

"Everything we do is inspired by our enduring mission:

· To Refresh the World... in body, mind, and spirit.

· To Inspire Moments of Optimism... through our brands and our actions.

· To Create Value and Make a Difference... everywhere we engage."

"COCA COLA VISION STATEMENT:

To achieve sustainable growth, we have established a vision with clear goals.

Profit: Maximizing return to shareowners while being mindful of our overall responsibilities.People: Being a great place to work where people are inspired to be the best they can be.Portfolio: Bringing to the world a portfolio of beverage brands that anticipate and satisfy peoples; desires and needs.Partners: Nurturing a winning network of partners and building mutual loyalty.Planet: Being a responsible global citizen that makes a difference.

McDONALD'S VISION/MISSION STATEMENT

"McDonald's vision is to be the world's best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile."

GM VISION STATEMENT

"GM’s vision is to be the world leader in transportation products and related services. We will earn our customers’ enthusiasm through continuous improvement driven by the integrity, teamwork, and innovation of GM people."

GM MISSION STATEMENT

"G.M. is a multinational corporation engaged in socially responsible operations, worldwide. It is dedicated to provide products and services of such quality that our customers will receive superior value while our employees and business partners will share in our success and our stock-holders will receive a sustained superior return on their investment."

ALCOA VISION STATEMENT

At Alcoa, our vision is to be the best company in the world--in the eyes of our customers, shareholders, communities and people. We expect and demand the best we have to offer by always keeping Alcoa's values top of mind.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH VISION STATEMENT

Be the world's beer company.Through all of our products, services and relationships, we will add to life's enjoyment.

AVERY DENNISON VISION STATEMENT

To be the world leader in products, services and solutions that enable and transform the way consumers and businesses gather, manage, distribute and communicate information.

AVON VISION STATEMENT

To be the company that best understands and satisfies the product, service and self-fulfillment needs of women - globally.

1Powerful sample mission statementsPEPSI - "Beat Coke"

HONDA - "We will crush, squash, and slaughter Yamaha"

NIKE - "Crush Reebok"

2Older sample mission statements that are quite grandiose in scaleWal-Mart (1990) "Become a $125 billion company by the year 2000"

Sony (1950's) "Become the company most known for changing the worldwide poor-quality image of Japanese products"

Boeing (1950) "Become the dominant player in commercial aircraft and bring the world into the jet age"

Ford Motor Company (early 1900's) "Ford will democratize the automobile"

3One-line mission statementsWal-Mart "To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same thing as rich people."

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

3M "To solve unsolved problems innovatively"

Q:  Why is it so important to have a Personal Mission Statement?

A:  The highest achievers in any field view themselves as self-employed.  They have the attitude that they run their own business, even if they are affiliated with a major corporation.  And so they develop a sense of “mission” about their career, taking a proactive approach to create the results they want.  And their Mission Statement guides them. 

This is in contrast with "average" people, who view themselves as employees and react to the ups and downs of the economy.  Top producers take charge.  They take full responsibility for fulfilling their mission, regardless of market conditions.  They realize that they can't wait until external factors, like the marketplace, get better ... but that THEY must get better if they intend to achieve their goals.

Which group do you want to be in -- the top 3% of achievers or the 97% of "average" people? Your Personal Mission Statement and clearly defined goals with timelines attached are the difference.

Personal Mission Statement Guidelines:

When writing a Mission Statement you should:

· draft a hand-written or typed out paragraph · describe your best characteristics and how you express them · have specific, measurable outcomes · have a deadline -- for example, December 31st.

Perhaps the best example of a public Mission Statement was made back in 1960, when John F. Kennedy, referring to the U.S. space program, said that we would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade — a clear goal with a specific timeline for its achievement.  And, despite enormous challenges, by mid-1969, Neil Armstrong had taken that "one large step for mankind."

The Benefits of Writing a Great Personal Mission Statement

Most people live their entire life without writing a personal mission statement. And the large majority of them never reach their ideal career success.

Today many people have learned the value of building a mission statement. Unfortunately, because their mission statements may lack key personal qualities, a specific and measurable goal, or a concrete deadline, they may have inadvertently pushed themselves further away from their goals.

It seems too simple, but writing a great personal mission statement is an advantage you must experience in order to appreciate. Nowhere else can 7 free minutes of your time pay you back with significant achievements, an impressive income, and a complete feeling of accomplishment.