First, I am SO mad at myself for missing my 3000 days in business day! (It was last Tuesday by the way!) Dang!

As you may remember, I got a fantastic book, EntreLeadership, back in December. It’s one of those books that you start to read and know it will change your life. A book that is so good you don’t want to read more than a few pages a day because you don’t want it to end! Well, I’ve had it on the shelf for a little while since it’s been so busy. I’ve finally started to read it again. It’s helped me with another goal…giving myself time to dream about my business every day. No distractions. I exit email and Facebook. I turn off all notifications. (Mostly because I’m sitting at my desk while doing this!) This book has helped me transition nicely. Especially recently since it has been talking about dreaming and vision!

Today, the topic was on mission statements. The author, Dave Ramsey, originally had somewhat of the same sentiments as I do about mission statements…that they’re just fluff words and don’t really have an impact on a business. Then he shared how having a mission statement can give your business direction. It helps you to say yes or no to opportunities. It helps your employees feel that they have purpose.

Here’s his mission statement:
“The Lampo Group, Inc., is providing biblically based, commonsense education and empowerment which gives HOPE to everyone from the financially secure to the financially distressed.”

He goes on to say “We capitalize and italicize HOPE because that is the core goal of everything we do. When you are in shipping and ship one of my books, you did not ship a book, you shipped HOPE to a family wanting to get out of debt or become a future EntreLeader.” Dave Ramsey in EntreLeadership.

There was a worksheet to help you figure out your mission statement. So, this is my first go at it…

“My mission is to keep Christ at the center of my business and to use my photography skills to capture every bride and groom’s wedding day to the best of my ability. I will strive to provide images that reflect who they are as a couple, by themselves as well as with their friends and family. To fulfill this mission, I will take the time to grow a genuine friendship with each couple. I will strive to learn and apply as much as I can by increasing my knowledge of God’s word, photography, business skills and social skills. I will strive for life long, loving friendships with my clients. In every photograph and in every client, I will seek to find God’s glory, to see the very best in everyone I encounter and to perform all tasks with overwhelming joy.”

When I’m faced with a tough situation, I can think “How would Christ want me to respond?” I can remember that my hope is in him and not my circumstances.
When I’m photographing the bride and groom portraits, I’m not just taking a picture, I’m striving to “provide images that reflect who they are as a couple.”
When I’m putting together client folders, I’m doing it with joy.

What do you think? Does this mission statement reflect what I do?