Don Midgett

Business mission and vision statements often take a backseat when the economy warbles, when stocks are down or when Wall Street reveals its business indicators. It is a rocky road when businesses forget why they exist (mission statement) and where they want to lead (vision statement).

Writing guides urge the writer to focus on the answer to "What am I trying to accomplish?" or what is the mission statement for the story.

Government organizations must increase their efforts to cut waste and reduce budgets as they perform initiatives to set goals required by a 2010 update to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), initially published in the mid-90's. Today's challenges demand that every federal manager be a careful steward of the taxpayer dollar. The GPRA requires every agency establish mission and vision statements and use them to set measureable goals, assign responsibility and report progress.

People, whether owners or employees never set out to do less than their best. In fact, Albert Schweitzer had noted that ‘the happiest of people are those who have sought and found how to serve" through their work. How do both get off track?

In a climate of national uncertainty in the workplace, the list of top companies reveals their astuteness in first hiring those that agree with and further the company mission and vision. All the perks in the marketplace cannot replace the integrity and hard work of an employee whose talent and workplace desire is to be a part of something worthy.

Properly written and updated, the company mission statement and vision statement reflect the ability to hit the street or marketplace at any given time.

There is nothing so satisfying than recognizing your real passion in life. From that moment on you can authentically attract those opportunities to fulfill that personal passion. Maybe it is volunteering or expanding your existing activities. It is the work of each of us in this life to find our mission, define it and build our vision on it. Sometimes our personal and career mission and vision statements meet. In fact, it happens more often than most think.

In the past 20 years, business leadership has steadily recognized the importance of participation in the crafting of their company's mission and vision statements. It is crucial for both management and employees to understand the purpose or mission statement of the company for its focus, its strategic direction and its business decisions. You use shared vision statements to create genuine commitment, rather than compliance.

Give your team the ball by being vision driven. Nothing can undermine a team faster than a lack of consistency, communication or logical basis for actions.

Visionary businesses, whether large or small, excel because they set goals that relate directly to their vision. They come up with strategies and actions to reach their goals and achieve their vision. It is in this way that a business can control its own destiny, rather than let outside forces determine a business direction.