Creating a small business vision statement

Last week we talked about how to create a strong mission statement for your small business. This week, we’re going to move to vision statements.

What’s a vision statement? It’s the answer to the question: What is my vision for this company?

If you don’t know where you’re trying to go, you’ll have a hard time getting there. A vision statement is a summary of where you want your business to be in three to five years.

Vision is what keeps us moving forward, even against discouraging odds. A clear vision can be one of the most powerful motivators in a small business. If it’s vivid and meaningful enough, people can do amazing things to make it happen.

Here are a few examples of great vision statements:

“Within the next five years, Appalachian Adventurers will grow into the premier Appalachian Mountains tour company, increasing revenues to $225,000 by 2015 by empowering local residents to incorporate local history with breathtaking nature experiences.”

“Canada Post will be a world leader in providing innovative physical and electronic delivery solutions, creating value for our customers, employees and all Canadians.”

“At Amazon, our vision is to be Earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.”

When crafting your vision statement, it’s good to get feedback from key people, but this is your company, so make sure both your mission and vision statements reflect your view of business success!