Every business sooner or later comes to a fork in the road.  One fork leads to the land of  Status Quo; the other, to the land of Mission Fulfilled. 

The land of Status Quo is the place where everything stays the same.  It’s the place where everyone is comfortable and is allowed to continue doing the same things, the same way, every day. 

It’s the land where everyone can say to himself, to others in the company, and to his clients: “We do it this way, because that’s the way we have always done it.  Our moderate success is proof enough that our way is good enough.  It may not be the best, but we get by.  We have a few complaints each week, but no one’s perfect, and we certainly don’t claim to be.  We get the job done, sort of.  We may not be growing, and our profits aren’t what we would like, but this is how we do business.” 

To get to the land of Status Quo, just stay on the same road and keep going straight ahead.  It’s easy, requires no effort, but when you get to Status Quo, it’s not what you will expect or want.  It’s a dry, barren, wasteland with sad looking people who have simply reached the end of the road. 

The Road to the Land of Mission Fulfilled

The other road that leads to the land of Mission Fulfilled is quite different.  It’s not an easy road to travel—at least not at the beginning.  There are potholes and chuckholes, dips and valleys, hills and peaks, hairpin corners and steep ravines—at least for part of the journey. 

The land of Mission Fulfilled is where every business owner dreams of being, but not many are willing to take the challenging journey to get there. 

The road to Mission Fulfilled requires a strong stomach, a strong heart, and a will to become the best in the industry.  Not everyone is willing to do what it takes to get there, but those who do rise to the top of their industry, eventually becoming owners of the most productive, organized, and profitable businesses in their industry.  They become owners of businesses that are systems dependent, not people dependent, businesses that are so well organized that most problems are solved before they occur, and the problems that do occur are quickly resolved to the satisfaction of everyone concerned. 

That’s the kind of business everyone dreams of owning. 

The Need for a Needs Analysis

The road to the land of Mission Fulfilled begins with a Needs Analysis, an analysis that forces the owner to look at himself in the mirror.  It makes him ask questions, tough questions, such as: 

•  Why did I start this business?
•  Why is now a good time to look at the way I do business?
•  What has been my experience as a business owner?
•  How close have I come to reaching my vision or goal that I had for the business?
•  Am I getting the results I want from my people?

 Are my marketing efforts effective?
•  What really is the vision for my business?
•  What is the purpose or mission of my business?
•  Am I ready and willing to do whatever it takes to turn my business around?
•  Am I ready and willing to take it to where I wanted it to be in the first place before I became so busy with the day-to-day matters of running the business that I lost focus?

The road to Mission Fulfilled includes brief stops along the way to check the road map to see where you are, how far you have come, and how far you need to go to complete your journey.

Getting Your Business House  In Order

The first leg of the journey focuses on getting your business house in order and getting your personal time management practices in order.  After getting your house in order, you will again look in the mirror to see whether you have the nine leadership competencies that are vital for business success. 

You will see yourself in a completely different light.  You have always thought of yourself as a businessperson, an entrepreneur, but now you will really find out whether or not you have the attributes required to lead a company and lead people.  You will find out whether you have the knowledge, skills, and attitude to be a successful business leader.  You will find out whether you are a problem solver and a decision-maker.  If you do not have these attributes, you can cultivate them, but you will need help. 

Identifying Core Values

After this eye-opening experience, you will be ready to identify your core values and the core values of those who work for you.  Core values are the bedrock of your corporate culture.  They provide a sense of common direction and serve as a guideline for day-to-day behavior.  Core values must be identified before you take the next leg of the journey to the land of Mission Fulfilled. 

Identifying Your Current State

The next leg of the journey requires looking around to identify your Current State, that is, where you are right now and where your business is.  You will learn what you like about your current state and what you want to change.  You will learn what opportunities you can capitalize on and what threats you need to eliminate.  Answering these questions will prepare you for the next leg of the journey. 

Creating a Mission Statement

The next leg of the journey requires looking down the road to see where you want to be in three to five years from now.  This leg will include writing a purpose or mission for your business.  The mission will distinguish your business from others.  It will make clear what is unique about what you do and what you offer.  It will be the single document that will guide your every business decision in the future.  It will guide your managers and your employees.  It will tell your customers who you are and what you stand for.  It must be prepared properly to arrive in the land of Mission Fulfilled. 

Creating a Vision Statement

After preparing your mission statement you will prepare a five-year vision statement for your company.  A vision is a powerful mental image of what you want to create in the future.  It represents an expression of what your mission will look like and is harmonious with your values and sense of purpose.  It must be prepared properly to arrive safely in the land of Mission Fulfilled.

The journey is just beginning.  Further legs of the journey will be discussed in future issues of this newsletter. 

Copyright 1999 CPI Business Development Corp.

For more information on how you can begin the journey to the land of Mission Fulfilled, go to CPI Business Development Courses and Click on Organizational Development.

Please give us your comments about this newsletter or suggestions for future articles: newsletter@cpibusiness.com

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