The 10 Day Turnaround. Darren Stephens
real work. Whether your business is based on relationships or merely transactions, this is the work that will determine your level of success. Before you begin the journey of transforming your business, the first thing you have to do is simply read through your existing Mission, Vision and Values statements.
That is, if you have them.
Don’t have them written down? Don’t worry; you’d be surprised at how many businesses don’t have a written mission statement. A mission statement is a clearly articulated vision or a defining set of values for a business. If you fall into the category of businesses that don’t have a mission statement, it’s okay. By the end of this first evening you will have it written down and have a clearer understanding of why your business exists, where you want it to go and how you want it to operate - and why.
If you already have your Mission, Vision, and Values clearly stated — congratulations! But it’s still the time to revisit your purpose for being in business, where you want to go and the guiding principles under which you lead and manage your business.
Either way, you will begin the process of transforming your business, regaining control of your future, and embracing the journey towards a more profitable, productive and rewarding future.
Equally important, you’ll be clear on what you’re aiming to do, why you want to do it and what it will look like along the way.
This exercise will make your leadership more effective, your decisions more congruent and give your actions more impact. What could be more important right now?
So, let’s consider what exactly your Mission, Vision and Value statements should contain.
If you already have them for your business, now is the time to get them out and to review them. How well thought out are they? Are they easy to understand? Do they give you a very clear focus of what your company is all about? Are they clear and concise or confusing and full of buzzwords or abstract terms? Are they still relevant to your business today or has your business changed so much since they were written that they are no longer valid?
Your Mission Statement should describe the purpose of the business and its reason for existence. It should focus on the primary intention, the beneficiaries and the value created for all.
Your Vision Statement should describe the business you are building and in what time frame you envision it being completed (in a few well-constructed sentences). A great vision is both compelling and propelling, meaning that it both pulls and pushes people toward something greater than themselves.
Your Values Statement should be a list of what your business stands for. It should clearly express the principles that are non-negotiable as far as you are concerned, so that anyone thinking of joining or doing business with you will know exactly what is expected of them and how they will be treated by you or your business. It should also contain the core values and principles upon which your business operates, what’s most important, and the reasons “why”. Your business values should be congruent with your personal values and your professional principles. Who you are becomes evident and is reflected in the business plan you create. Personal beliefs and morals will provide energy and sustenance for your business when all else fails. In this way, your personal, organizational and business values must be aligned within your values statement for your business. Be honest with yourself as you evaluate your existing Mission, Vision and Values. What you do must be congruent with what you believe. When you think about or read your Mission, Vision, and Values statement does it represent what your business is, who you are and what you aspire for your business to be and become? Do you feel a deep sense of connection, passion and motivation when you think about them?
Here are a couple of examples for you to read and consider in crafting your own. Keep in mind, the goal is not to imitate or even emulate anyone else’s Mission, Vision or Values. The sample statements below are just a guide for form, structure and to serve as food-for-thought.
Vision statement
“McDonald’s vision is to be the world’s best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile.”
Google Mission Statement
“To make the world’s information universally accessible and useful”
Mission Statement (from a small builder)
To be the preeminent provider of superior construction services by consistently improving the quality of our product; to add value for clients through innovation, foresight, integrity, and aggressive performance; and to serve with character and purpose.
We have added additional examples on our website if you need more guidance. Please visit www.The10DayTurnaround.com/ resources.
These examples serve as a way to guide you in concisely articulating your mission, vision and values, and are not for you to blindly adopt or follow. You should not only craft your own mission, vision and values statements, but they should be written in a way that inspires you, guides you and helps you turn your business into what you want from this day forward.
Interesting exercise, isn’t it? If you are like many, you are probably a little surprised, even shocked right now by how much has changed in actuality since you originally planned your business identity. That’s okay, because we will be fixing that shortly.
This brings us to the end of the “night before” your 10 Day Turnaround. Tomorrow begins your first full day of work. Congratulations for taking these first important steps towards the re-engineering of your business and getting into the right mindset. You’re on your way to recapturing the potential and maximizing the performance of your business. More success awaits!
Reflect on your achievement and celebrate your accomplishment. This day will be a defining moment in your life and your business.
What follows from here in this book will take you ten days to complete. Continue to read one chapter each day and complete all—yes I mean all—of the questions and homework in each chapter on the day that you read it.
It will not be enough just to read this book with good intentions. You need to have your pen and paper at the ready and harness all your energy and the other resources you will need to address the questions that each chapter will raise for your business. You must dedicate the next 10 days to the turnaround of your business. The rewards you stand to reap will repay your efforts countless times over. So rest well, Day 1 is a powerful stepping stone on your path to progress.
Chapter 1
Planning For Change
Right now, take out a clean sheet of paper and either write or revise your Mission, Vision, and Value statements. As you see, they don’t have to be long, and you don’t have to be William Shakespeare or John Grisham to craft them. Just a few sentences on each topic; you can expand