I'm looking at these words that I'm choosing, and realizing that these will shape the direction my company will go and the business decisions I'll make for the next... who knows how many years.
No, I don't know exactly how things are going to turn out, but a good mission statement provides structure and direction, and is still broad enough to encompass larger-than-life dreams.
I know a number of people who have written a life mission statement. I've never done it--or rather, I should say, I've never done it seriously. I can see the value, though. Every decision is weighed against the statement, because even choices that could be good aren't always right.
No one--person or company--can do everything that's available to them, and it seems like it's a good thing to have the balance in place to weigh against.
Hence, a mission statement needs to be a thing of prayer and soul-searching. Biblically backed up. In line with who God is calling me/my company to be. Providing structure without being stifling. Allowing for bigger growth than I can dream right now.
And sometimes, a vision statement may have to change, but I think that a well-crafted statement doesn't have to be constantly in transition. It should be able to move and grow with life.
It's a humbling experience, though. Writing something like that makes me realize just how small my dreams sometimes are, and how much aid and structure I need in my life. It's been exciting, though. Fun. And this is just the first draft.
infinite || abyss