Mission Statements are a short written statement that summarizes the mission or purpose of a business or organization. Almost every business or organization has one and it is something that can be referenced as decisions are made to keep your priorities in line.

A mission statement is something that is usually identified with a business. It can also be used by individuals.

Most of us have heard about the law of attraction. I love the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This idea is central to his book. Since this book was written in 1937 there have been many books written on this very idea. An example would be The Secret. Sorry if I spoiled “the secret” for those of you who have not read it yet.

Wikipedia defines the law of attraction as “a metaphysical New Thought belief that “like attracts like”, that positive and negative thinking bring about positive and negative physical results, respectively.” Napoleon Hill breaks it down simply to “thoughts are things.”

Napoleon Hill encourages everyone to develop a mission statement that they state to themselves every morning when they wake up and every night when they go to bed. His belief is if you develop your mission and repeat it to yourself over and over again you will eventually wind up accomplishing that mission as you have applied the law of attraction.

Why this will work is not simply “like attracts like.” Making your mission known, and repeatedly saying it to yourself, is likely to create some actions on your part to get you moving in the right direction. Action is the first step towards any goal. So as you develop a mission and take specific steps towards with that mission in mind, the more likely you are to achieve it.

This is the same for any business. Every decision that is made for you or your business should be made with your mission in mind. If the decision does not move you closer to your mission it is time you are wasting and could be used to move you closer to your mission. If nothing else it will keep you on track.

If you have read my post on Goal Setting, you know that by following those guidelines and using this as your ultimate measure stick you will achieve your goals.

It can also be used to keep you honest. If you have a definition of your mission and you are not taking steps to achieve that mission you cannot deny the fact that you are not doing what you need to be where you want to be. There is no one to blame but yourself.

So create a mission and then with every decision you make consult you mission and ask whether that decision will help you to fulfill your mission. If it doesn’t; it is probably not worth the time.