Mission Statements

This page explains what a Mission Statement is and how you can capitalize on one.

Sound: "We're on a mission from God" by Dan Ackroid in Blues Brothers

“The greatest thing in the world is not so much where we stand, but in which direction we are going.” —Author unknown.

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Why Bother?

Many organizations publish a statement of Mission for use by people inside and outside an organization.
• Inside an organization a public declaration can be used to:
  • coordinate the decisions and actions of an organization.
  • inspire people in the organization to stretch and attempt more.
  • help workers anticipate customer needs, resulting in a higher level of customer service.
  • get people to act with a common purpose.
  • limit what an organization should not do .

• Outside an organization:
  • A public declaration can inform customers of the benefits and advantages of what that organization offers.
  • It fulfills a requirement of many customers and lending organizations.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. —Marianne Williamson. From A Return to Love: Reflections On The Principles of A Course In Miracles

“Give the World the Best You Have, and the best will come back to you.” —Madeline Bridges

"Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the flowers,
Kind deeds are the fruits.

Take care of your garden
And keep out the weeds,
Fill it with sunshine
Kind words and kind deeds."
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Examples

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1. The ABC Day Care Center is a state licensed, insured facility with CPR certified teachers. It provides a safe learning environment with a curriculum of preschool education and computers.

2. Cooperative Systems helps empowered individuals and teams learn to achieve a higher measure of productivity using networking technologies and analytical software tools implemented under modern team-based philosophies of leadership.

3. Fresh fruit in every foxhole. A hot meal every day for every soldier. [slogans from the military]

   
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Dilbert's Mission Statement Generator

Here is a (too short) list of Christian-centered businesses which (or has) mention faith in their mission statements on web sites. I would really appreciate it if you let me know of others.

• Buck Knives, California.
• Chick-Fil-A
• Interstate Bettery Corporation
• ServiceMaster Company there, but statement's gone
• Koninania House

After 40 days in the desert, "full of grace", Jesus began his ministry when, as Luke 4:18-19 describes, said to his home town congregation of Nazareth "Today is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." after he read his mission statement:

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he hath anointed me to

• preach the gospel [good news/good tidings] to the [spiritually] poor [the "meek"]. He hath sent me to
• heal [comfort] the brokenhearted, to
• announce that [preach deliverance to the] captives [to sin, Satan, and the law] will be released [prisoners will be freed, from 58:6]
• recovering of [spiritual] sight to the blind, and
• to set at liberty them that are bruised.
• to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD [the time of the LORD's favor has come.]

To this passage from Isaiah (Esaias) 61:1 (NLT) Christ added "recovering of sight to the blind" from Isaiah 42:7

A hymn using words from this passage

Notice that Jesus did not read the remainder of Isiah (Esaias) 61:1-2:

... and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Studies

The NIV translation of this passage leaves out ...

Elements

Even though an organization does not have a public declaration of its Mission on paper, it has an implicit mission in what it already offers customers.

1. What is the product or service delivered? This could be social prestige.
2. Why - The benefits or changes customers could expect?
3. - The advantage among competitive offerings.
4. Where - Geographical place?
5. Type of of customer (“mid-sizeed companies”, etc.)

Not all of these need to be in a public declaration.

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More on Mission ...

Apply branding principles to build your career in IT by Kimberly Cook.

If a man does not know what harbor he is seeking,
no light will be enough to guide him.



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This hymn by Frances R. Havergal, dated 1874, goes to the heart of a Christian aim:

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.