Where to Begin When Formulating a New Mission Statement

I don’t even know where to begin when formulating a new mission statement. I do recall where I was choosing three words that personify my core values, I spent hours in a Starbucks cafe contemplating that. Over time, a scripture from the bible helped me decide and affirm—assert strongly and publicly—the three words I live by: CRAFTSMANSHIP, SYMMETRY, and COMMUNITY. Every jobsite and project I’ve worked, I lived by those ethos. And over time those principle values helped me develop into a more focused and healthier human being. 

So, between a mission statement and core values, what is the difference? To the best of my knowledge, a mission statement grants a business purpose while core values define an individuals’ ethical existence. A mission statement changes, fluctuates over the seasons while principles withstand the test of time. A mission statement bends towards a guaranteed survival of the company, yet core values preserve the individual’s moral identity—not open to appeasement. So thinking about my core values was a little more complicated than the latter.

My business is an art, revolving around art—this very moment—chaotic. A ton of consolidating, trying to merge ideas into a solid plan. I feel, being aspired to forge this mission statement, publicly glamorizing a combination of a goal and purpose, is somewhat pretentious. But it is a start.

Good news on this process, I’ll feature my core values in my mission statement. Bad news, I must foresee the direction my business will fly or maybe where it will fall but with style (Toy Story reference). A mission statement involves action. Premeditated action. Though, before the action is in motion, there must be a purpose behind it. So, let’s start with that, what is the purpose of mericanDREAM? Am I trying to spread awareness of something, or am I trying to inspire change? I’ve determined my audience are art lovers and I strive on the idea that they grow and develop from our indirect and digital encounter. Still, saying all that is super ambiguous. The purpose of mericanDREAM needs to be down to earth. It needs to be practical rather than fanatic. Its purpose needs to serve its existence just as its survival needs to serve into its purpose.

When I produced an album, that was my M.O. (modus operandi), my reason why when I woke up and went to work. Writing a story and putting it into music, then digitally posting it for the world to see. Personally I love storytelling. And I feel everyone’s life decisions were influenced by stories, whether it be the empirical experience they’ve interpreted or from a damn good movie that was moving. And so yes, I want mericanDREAM to be a business of good storytelling.

Patriotically speaking, every American has a story. Maybe I’ll include this in my mission statement.