Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/142881
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS What Is Your Mission? by LOUIS FERACA In the beginning there was a daydream ... Every great endeavor whether business or otherwise, begins with a vision. Pictures in the mind of the prime mover (You). When the vision is put into words, it becomes a mission statement. When the mission statement is reduced to a phrase, you have a slogan. How good your original vision for your business is and how effectively you can reduce it to simple sentences and Good logos are simple and clear. phrases can be the difference between success and failure. You might be thinking, "Why do I need a mission statement? It's just words. I let my actions speak for themselves." I understand that viewpoint completely. And if your company consists of only one employee ... you, then that is a viable course. But once you have employees and customers who might not deal with the owner on a regular basis, you need a mission statement to guide your staff and set expectations for your customers and prospective customers. Put simply, your statement should answer the question, "Who are we and where are we going?" How good is your vision for the ultimate status of your business? Is it simple, clear, detailed, and achievable? Is it an image that both your customers and employees can buy into? Can you easily transfer it largely undiluted into the minds of others? Those are the three questions you must answer as you craft your company's mission statement and later, your slogans. Mark Twain said, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is like the difference between a lightning bolt and a lightning bug." So, take care to use the right words. For those who are good at translating thought into word this exercise can be easy and even fun. For those who struggle, the best course is to bounce ideas off of trusted friends and associates until you have the right structure. Your mission statement can be as simple as, "To be the most popular restaurant in the Fayetteville area by serving the best food in the best atmosphere." From words like these both the staff and customers know who you are and where you are going. You'll notice that nowhere in that statement is there any mention of profit or wealth. You may have (and should have) personal goals pertaining to financial success. However, neither customers nor staffs are motivated by your profits. Employees do want to be part of an excellent company and customers are drawn in by a culture of excellence. Convey that and you're well on your way. Now, how do we dilute our statement into a slogan? I'm not a slogan writer but here are two off the top of my head; 1. Fayetteville's Best. 2. Great Food. Great Service. Great Place. Either can work. The first is maybe too simple and neither is particularly innovative but both successfully convey the spirit of the statement. Try a few on your own and see where it goes. Once you have your statement and slogan, it's time to disseminate it. Post them in a prominent place where customers and employees alike can see it and read it often. Print it on the company uniform, vehicles and promotional products. Make sure that your company's name is always associ- LOUIS FERACA, Owner, U.S, Logoworks, Contributing Writer. COMated with your stated mission. If your staff buys in, your customers MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. will too. JULY 13 • THE WARFIGHTERS MOTOR CYCLE CLUB'S 1ST ANNUAL VETERANS SUPPLY DRIVE at Full On Automotive Performance Shop in Sanford. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Proceeds benefit Sophia's Haven of Hope Transitional Home for Homeless. Call 243-2517 for more information. JULY 19 • KICK START PARTY FOR CHRISTMAS IN JULY at Legends Pub. Call 867-2364 for more information. JULY 20 • REVERSE RAFFLE NIGHT RIDE at Legends Pub. Call 867-2364 for more information. JULY 20 • CHRISTMAS IN JULY TOY RUN at Victory of Fayetteville. Reg 8 a.m. depart at 10 a.m. $15/rider $10 pass. Lunch provided by Texas Roadhouse. Contest, prizes and raffles, food, and Live Entertainment. Call 910-426-5082 or 910261-4601 for more information. JULY 20 • REVERSE RAFFLE NIGHT RIDE at Legends Pub. Call 867-2364 for more information. SEPTEMBER 15 • CAPE FEAR VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION FRIENDS OF THE CANCER CENTER RIBBON WALK & RIDE at the Medical Arts Center in downtown Fayetteville. 8 a.m. registration. 9:45 a.m. Ride Begins. 10 a.m. Walk Begins. For more information, visit www.ribbonwalkforcancer.org. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www. patriotguard.org for more information about the group. REVERSE RAFFLE July 20 Last Number Drawn Worth $500 Night time run - Registration 7 p.m. July 29 • Cabana Day Thirsty Thursdays $1 off all drinks! 4624 BRAGG BLVD. NATIONAL AWARD WINNING BARBECUE CATERING • LIVE MUSIC • BIKE NIGHTS CRAFT BEERS, MICROBREWS & ALES COME TRY OUR AWARD WINNING SAUCE! 482 N. MCPHERSON CHURCH RD. | 910-354-2590 | MACSPEEDSHOP.COM | CONNECT WITH US 590 MACSPEEDSHOP.COM ACSPEEDSHOP.COM CONNECT WITH US NNECT WITH NEC EC C H WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JULY 10-16, 2013 UCW 19