How to Write a Great Business Vision Statement
Author: Susan L Reid

As a small business start-up coach and consultant, one of
my favorite things to do is help my clients write vision
statements for their businesses. However, this isn't always
easy for them to do.

Why? Because they, like many people, think vision
statements and mission statements are one and the same.
They haven't really stopped to consider what the purpose of
a vision statement is or why having one could be an asset.

Vision statements are supposed to be big and bold. They're
meant to inspire, energize, and create a captivating
picture of where you see your business going in the future.

If you don't write a vision statement, your business will
be without direction. When you complete one, your vision
statement will supply the inspiration for the daily
operations of your business and motivation for its
strategic decisions.

Every business needs a vision statement. Want to make sure
you've written a great one? Just follow these guidelines,
fill out the vision statement formula at the end of this
article, and you will have created a vision statement that
clearly articulates the future of your business and paints
a vivid picture for its success!

What's the difference between a vision statement and a
mission statement?

Vision and mission statements are two separate entities
that answer two different, yet complementary, questions
about your business.

Simply put, your vision statement answers the question,
"Where do I see my business going?" Your mission statement
answers the question, "Why does my business exist?"

From the start, vision statements are future-focused and
written with the end result in mind. Mission statements are
focused in the present and state the fundamental purpose of
your business.

Which comes first: the vision or the mission?

If you are a new business just starting up, a larger
company getting ready to add a new program, or an existing
organization planning to overhaul your current services,
then write your vision statement first.

If you are an established business with a mission statement
already in place, then let your mission guide the writing
of your vision statement.

Top Five Things to Keep in Mind When Writing Your Vision
Statement

1. Describe outcomes that are five to ten years out.

2. Dream big and focus on success.

3. Write your vision statement in the present tense.

4. Infuse your vision statement with passion.

5. Paint a graphic mental picture of the business you want.

There is no space limit when writing a vision statement.
They often contain one or more paragraphs. Write as much as
you need to in order to create a dynamic mental picture of
your business that will serve to energize and inspire you
and your team.

Two Vision Statement Formulas for Success

Here are two basic vision statement formulas. The first one
is for businesses starting up without a mission statement.
The second is for businesses that already have a mission
statement in place.

1. Five years from now, _______________________________
(name of your business)

will become a successful ___________________________ (type
or description of business including whether it will be
local, regional, national, or international in its scope)

by providing ____________________________(description of
your products and/or services)

to _____________________________________________(your
customers).

Example: Five years from now, the Sierra Women's Shelter
will become a successfully run non-profit shelter serving
the Greater Pittsburgh area providing education,
life-skills training, and the necessary support to help
women who have been previously battered or abused build
self-sufficient, sustaining, prosperous lives.

2. Within the next ________ (add a number) years,

grow ___________________________________ (name of your
business)

into a successful _______________________________________
(type or description of business including whether it will
be local, regional, national, or international in its
scope),

increasing revenues to ____________________________
(amount) by _________________ (date)

providing _______________________________(description of
your products and/or services)

to _____________________________________________(your
customers).

Example: Within the next five years, grow Cultural
Awareness Travel into the premier North American women's
tour company increasing revenues to $225,000 by 2012 by
becoming known for helping women to develop greater
self-awareness and confidence and to discover a new respect
for diversity through cross-cultural exposure.

Your vision statement sets the tone for your business. It
defines its future. It inspires, energizes, motivates, and,
above all else, describes what will be achieved if your
business is successful. It is impossible to plan the
direction of your business without one. Follow these
guidelines, and use the vision statement formula to
perfectly articulate your dream, your passion, and the
direction you envision for your business.


About the Author:

Dr. Susan L. Reid is a business coach and consultant for
entrepreneurial women starting up businesses. She is the
author of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The
Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success." Her
website is http://www.Alkamae.com .