Wait, We Have a Mission Statement?

What to Do When Your Mission, Vision, and Purpose Statements Aren’t Memorable

I’ve read so many posts about how to write Mission, Vision, and Purpose (MVP) statements. Honestly, they all seem to blend together.

So how do you craft one that people can actually remember?
And, what are they supposed to be again?

Let’s break it down with less corporate fluff.

1. Pick One Thing at a Time

You can go through the entire MVP exercise, but when it comes to building momentum, focus on what matters most: What brings your team together and motivates them in one direction?

If you can get everyone aligned on one clear idea, you’ll build far more energy than if you try to tackle too much at once.

2. Keep It Short. Simple.

Sure, your statement can be a paragraph: but who’s going to remember that?

A great Mission, Vision, or Purpose should be something your team can say out loud and feel confident repeating.

If you can’t fit it on a sticky note, it’s probably too long.

3. Don’t Make It Complicated

Your MVP should be easy to remember and easy to believe.

Avoid the corporate buzzword salad. Skip phrases like “synergistic excellence” and “next-generation innovation.”

You can always explain the details later.

4. Expand on It ... Together

Once you’ve written your MVP, bring it to life.

Talk about it in meetings. Ask your employees how they see it in action. Let them describe how they live it out.

That’s where meaning grows. Not on a poster. In conversation, interaction, and execution.

Example Time: The Ink Company

Let’s say you’re a manufacturer of ink. Here’s how your MVP could look:

Mission: To provide innovative inks to those who love writing.
Vision: Be the premier supplier of inks worldwide.
Purpose: Helping writers experience the written page.

It tells people what you do, where you’re headed, and why you exist. You can always build out the details later, but this gives everyone a clear place to start.

Bring It Back to the Why

At the end of the day, your MVP should answer one question:

Why does your company exist and why should anyone care?

If you can answer that with honesty and clarity, you’ve already done better than most.

Need help pulling it all together?

Want an outside perspective to make sure your Mission, Vision, and Purpose actually connect with people?

Insightfully Curious can help. Contact us at askquestions@insightfullycurious.com