Creating a mission statement can help you focus your business effort and do a lot of good in bringing your workforce together behind a common theme. The key to success is not just creating a mission statement, it's living the mission statement.

A mission statement identifies the major purpose that you fulfill in providing products and services to customers. Your mission statement should:

• Include the reason for your business

• Identify your firm's unique 'value added'

• Reflect your firm's core business activity

• Provide a focus

• Identify the purpose you fulfill

Step One -- Develop your mission statement by identifying:

• Stakeholder(s)

• Products and Services

• Unique Value Added

Stakeholders - Those people who are directly affected by the company's successes and failures. Stakeholders could be employees, internal customers, organizational customers, external customers.

Products and Services - Items that you produce for your customers. Products and services might include consulting, training, products or

Value Added - The key advantage you provide over the competition. Why would a customer come to your company for service? What makes your company special?

Step Two -- Construct A First Draft

The [your company name] meets the [your products and services] needs of [stakeholders] by [value added].

Step Three -- Refine the Mission Statement

Is it too wordy? Is it brief and to the point? Will employees remember it? Would it make sense to your stakeholders? Is it a true mission statement and not a goal? Does it inspire your organization? Does it describe your business focus and effort? Is it unique?

Step Four -- Make It Visible

Post the mission statement for easy review by all employees and customers.

Step Five -- Live it! This step will be easy if you've involved your entire group in the process.

Small business expert Denise O'Berry helps business owners take action to grow their business. Find out more at http://www.deniseoberry.com