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Have You Defined Your Mission?

2 September, 2010 by James Lawther Leave a Comment

I’ve been on a course about mission statements.  Which got me wondering… does it matter? Well here are a couple of corporate mission statements for you.  Where would you rather work?

Dean Foods Corporation:

“The Company’s primary objective is to maximize long-term stockholder value, while adhering to the laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates and at all times observing the highest ethical standards.”

or

Ben and Jerry’s:

“To make, distribute and sell the finest quality all natural ice cream and euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the earth and the environment”

If you want motivated employees and great customer service then a sense of purpose can’t hurt, can it?

Nasa Space Mission

For more on mission and purpose click here to read the mission statements of the the fortune 500 and here to develop a personal mission statement.

Image by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

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Filed Under: Blog, Employee Engagement, Tools & Techniques Tagged With: clarity, mission statement, motivation, purpose

About the Author

James Lawther
James Lawther

James Lawther is a middle-aged, middle manager.

To reach this highly elevated position he has worked in numerous industries, from supermarket retailing to tax collecting.  He has had several operational roles, including running the night shift in a frozen pea packing factory and carrying out operational research for a credit card company.

As you can see from his C.V. he has either a wealth of experience or is incapable of holding down a job.  If the latter is true this post isn’t worth a minute of your attention.

Unfortunately, the only way to find out is to read it and decide for yourself.

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