Since I’ve been working in business and the coaching world, I know that planning is fundamental and when you can mentally see and feel the future you want, it creates a powerful connection to it.
As such, it feels right to focus on how to build a strong foundation for your business in terms of what you want it to be, who you serve and why.
I know as business owners we can get busy in the day to day running, but there are several reasons why I think you should take some time out and focus on this work:
- I’ve had my ups and downs in business, every year there will be a point where I question whether I should continue, or get a job with a regular salary. Then I remember WHY I started it in the first place, what it means to me and my family, in terms of my values, purpose and giving me the flexibility I need to look after them and myself.
- Once you are clear on your vision and purpose, it becomes easier to explain your business to others. It allows people to see your passion because you are so clear on why you are doing it. Customers will know what you are about, what you believe in, and the reasons you do what you do. If customers connect to this and find it meaningful, they may decide to buy from you because of it, so it can become a differentiating factor in a crowded marketplace.
- Clarity can come when your purpose, mission, and vision are aligned as it can make decision-making a lot easier. You become more focused on your strategy, creating goals to work towards your vision.
- You can seek opportunities that align with your vision and feel confident in what you are doing. It also helps you to say ‘No’ to things that are outside of your purpose but that can often look like bright new shiny opportunities that actually may not be worth the effort.
For new businesses, it can be confusing and I see many entrepreneurs that jump into running their business without stepping back to consider these three areas. The questions I hear are: what are PURPOSE, VISION, MISSION, aren’t they all the same thing?
I’ve broken the terms down like this:
Purpose – WHY you do what you do
Mission – HOW you do it.
Vision – WHAT you hope to achieve.
Purpose
WHY you have created this business. Here you can get across why your business exists and matters. For entrepreneurs, this usually aligns with their personal values, something they really believe in, so it gives your audience a chance to get to know you on a personal level.
Mission
HOW you fulfill that purpose, the actions you take to deliver results, this is where the strategy for a business comes into play to keep you on track.
Vision
The dream that you are working towards, what do you want to achieve in the mid to long-term? The vision should help you to align the purpose and mission giving you a clear direction that is inspiring and motivating.
Below is a great example from Greenpeace:
Our vision is a greener, healthier and more peaceful planet, one that can sustain life for generations to come.
Our mission is to promote radical changes and new solutions to the ways we live on this planet so that we can all call it home for generations to come.
If you’re starting from scratch, writing these statements can take a lot of time, but as I alluded to earlier, they are made easier once you have discovered the values that drove you to start your business in the first place.
So once you have these clear in your mind, how do you show them?
- Make them public, share them on your website, social media, etc, show people firsthand what matters to you and why you do what you do.
- Your purpose and values can be told in stories that your customers can relate to. Social media is brilliant for sharing stories and connecting with your audience.
- Your actions will always show your values and your purpose. If you say that you believe in being sustainable, how are you showing it? If you believe in equality, how diverse is your workforce? By showing how you act in line with your purpose you are being authentic and people are more likely to trust and buy from you.
You don’t need to do this work alone, I’ve got a FREE workbook which goes through developing your vision, mission and purpose in more detail. on. Download it here.
Recommendations:
If you are interested in this topic further, I highly recommend reading ‘Start with Why’ by Simon Sinek.
Priya
I’m a qualified business coach who works with South Asian entrepreneurs to help them find clarity and confidence in running their business with ease.
If you would like my overview on your business or issues you are facing, I offer free clarity calls.