First off, do you have a mission statement? If you do, what is your mission statement?
I will address the first question. If you do not have a mission statement then I would like to help you formulate one.
Definition of a mission statement- Your mission statement is how you see yourself and how you want to use your business gift.
Formula:
I see myself as a _______________________ and I want to use my gift by ____________________.
Here is my mission statement.
I see myself as a candle and soap silicone mold maker and I want to use my gift by creating original molds that appeal to candle and soap makers and that also appeal to their customers.
My mission statement isn’t very detailed. It would actually help out if it were a bit more detailed. I will have to work on that.
Once you have your mission statement try not to deviate from it. Distractions and deviations from your mission statement could lead to struggles in your business.
The example for myself that I can think of is want to get back into making candles to sell. I actually started off making candles and then I found my niche in silicone mold making. When I started to attempt to make candles to sell again my energy was taken off of my mold business and the mold business (where I do very well) started to slow down. When I stopped putting my energies into candle making I could concentrate on the molds. Since this was where my main source of income is I wanted to keep my energies here.
Other opportunities that relate to your talents may present themselves, but resist them if they do not relate to your mission statement. Making candles did not relate to my mission statement. All of these other distractions divert your energy from where you need it to be and that is in your lucrative business. Here is an old saying ” If you want to defeat them, distract them.”
Self-Study Questions
1.What is your mission?(1-2 sentences)
2.Are there any current opportunities that are distracting your from your mission statement?
The Book
Laurie Beth Jones, Jesus ,CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom For Visionary Leadership ( New York Hyperion, 1995)