Note from SusanMarch 1, 2010 .jpg) Dear {!name_fix}!
Whew! Because so many of you wrote in telling us you liked our two part series on attracting balance into your life, we thought we'd do another one on creating a vision and mission for your business.
You can either read today's article, "How to Write a Great Business Vision Statement", or you can watch it on video. Later in the month, we'll have the companion to it about how to write a compelling mission statement
Also, several folks wrote in asking for examples of what to put in their Life Preview Templates. Over at Discovering Your Inner Samurai Blog you'll see real-life examples of some of the things I put in my Life Preview Template this year.
Finally, we're running our spring eZine Ad special. Check out our spring prices and reach more than 1,575 women entrepreneurs and small business owners for as little as $4.44 per issue!
And remember . . .
Success is assured.
Greatness is.
Beauty surrounds.
All is well.
P.S.: Let's connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. Talk to you soon!
What's New?Green Careers for Dummies Book
 I'm really excited for my friend and former client Dr. Carol McClelland whose book Green Careers for Dummies is soaring to the top of the charts at Amazon!
Carol and I first met when I did some training with her under what would become the Niche Clarity Program (which so many of my clients have come to love). Then I worked with her on her One Page Business Plan. Since then, I have watched her business grow into a stunning green career.
Carol's Virtual Blog Tour will begin later this month. Our blog, Discovering Your Inner Samurai, is one of her stops. Later this month, we'll be featuring an article by Carol about starting up a green business which will also be posted over at our blog site.
In the meantime, check out Carol's new book!
Featured ArticleHow to Write a Great Business Vision Statement
As a small business start-up coach and consultant, one of my favorite things to do is help my clients write vision statements for their businesses. However, this isn't always easy for them to do. Why? Because they, like many people, think vision statements and mission statements are one and the same. They haven't really stopped to consider what the purpose of a vision statement is or why having one could be an asset.  Vision statements are supposed to be big and bold. They're meant to inspire, energize, and create a captivating picture of where you see your business going in the future.
If you don’t write a vision statement, your business will be without direction. When you complete one, your vision statement will supply the inspiration for the daily operations of your business and motivation for its strategic decisions. Every business needs a vision statement. Want to make sure you've written a great one? Just follow these guidelines, fill out the vision statement formula at the end of this article, and you will have created a vision statement that clearly articulates the future of your business and paints a vivid picture for its success! What's the difference between a vision statement and a mission statement?Vision and mission statements are two separate entities that answer two different, yet complementary, questions about your business. Simply put, your vision statement answers the question, "Where do I see my business going?" Your mission statement answers the question, "Why does my business exist?" From the start, vision statements are future-focused and written with the end result in mind. Mission statements are focused in the present and state the fundamental purpose of your business. Which comes first: the vision or the mission?If you are a new business just starting up, a larger company getting ready to add a new program, or an existing organization planning to overhaul your current services, then write your vision statement first. If you are an established business with a mission statement already in place, then let your mission guide the writing of your vision statement. Top Five Things to Keep in Mind When Writing Your Vision Statement- Describe outcomes that are five to ten years out.
- Dream big and focus on success.
- Write your vision statement in the present tense.
- Infuse your vision statement with passion.
- Paint a graphic mental picture of the business you want.
There is no space limit when writing a vision statement. They often contain one or more paragraphs. Write as much as you need to in order to create a dynamic mental picture of your business that will serve to energize and inspire you and your team. Two Vision Statement Formulas for SuccessHere are two basic vision statement formulas. The first one is for businesses starting up without a mission statement. The second is for businesses that already have a mission statement in place. 1. Five years from now, _______________________________ (name of your business) will become a successful ___________________________ (type or description of business including whether it will be local, regional, national, or international in its scope) by providing ____________________________(description of your products and/or services) to _____________________________________________(your customers). Example: Five years from now, the Sierra Women's Shelter will become a successfully run non-profit shelter serving the Greater Pittsburgh area providing education, life-skills training, and the necessary support to help women who have been previously battered or abused build self-sufficient, sustaining, prosperous lives. 2. Within the next ________ (add a number) years, grow ___________________________________ (name of your business) into a successful _______________________________________ (type or description of business including whether it will be local, regional, national, or international in its scope), increasing revenues to ____________________________ (amount) by _________________ (date) providing _______________________________(description of your products and/or services) to _____________________________________________(your customers). Example: Within the next five years, grow Cultural Awareness Travel into the premier North American women's tour company increasing revenues to $225,000 by 2012 by becoming known for helping women to develop greater self-awareness and confidence and to discover a new respect for diversity through cross-cultural exposure.  Your vision statement sets the tone for your business. It defines its future. It inspires, energizes, motivates, and, above all else, describes what will be achieved if your business is successful. It is impossible to plan the direction of your business without one.
Follow these guidelines, and use the vision statement formula to perfectly articulate your dream, your passion, and the direction you envision for your business.
Copyright © 2010 by Susan L. Reid
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR ON YOUR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Small Business Start-up Expert Susan L. Reid is the award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success. If you're ready to jump-start your start-up, identify your target niche, and get your business ready to launch, get your FR*EE Inner Samurai Business Toolkit.
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About Susan L. Reid and Alkamae®  Dr. Susan L. Reid, Small Business Expert and Business Catalyst, brings the gift of inner vision and insight to spiritually conscious businesswomen ready to run their businesses confidently, effectively, and fully aligned with their deepest inner principles.
Twice award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success, Dr. Susan revolutionizes the way women do business in the world through the transformational process called Discovering your Inner Samurai.
Discovering your Inner Samurai is not a theory or a strategy.It is a primal yearning spiritually conscious women can’t deny that drives them deep within, aligning them with their inner guidance system, inspiriting and inspiring them with the confidence and strength to prosper and thrive. Why “Inner Samurai?” - Inner because the voice resides deep within her being (to distinguish it from the voice inside her head).
- Samurai because of how powerfully it stands, fully knowing what's true for her, sustaining her to act on that knowing in every moment of every day with integrity, honor, beauty, and grace.
The word "alkamae” means "to transform."
Therefore, Alkamae is the place where spiritually conscious women naturally come to transform their sacred inner voice into the central guidance system compelling their personal and business success.
Do you feel called and excited to learn more? If so, come, visit Alkamae!
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