Introduction
If you are new to starting a business or becoming a manager, there are three things that must be in place in order to properly Lead: Mission, Vision, and Values.
These are critical to clearly providing a foundation of who you are, what you are, and what matters to you. I recently created a new company helping my friends who own construction companies transform their businesses. Being the tech nerd of the friend group comes with everyone asking me questions about random shit so I figured I might as well capitalize, time is money right!
People tend to spend more time on logos, websites, and other pointless things when they want to start a business, I start here:
Mission
Start with these 4 questions:
What do we do today?
Ask yourself what you do right this second or what problem you solve. What are people giving you money for right now in exchange for your time? I provide Platform Engineering and AI Consulting as a service. I clearly state that and move on to the Question
What is <what we do today>?
Next, explain what you do: For Platform engineering, due to an NDA I will not be sharing what I do. But if I were to explain AI Consulting it would be something like this:
AICaaS is a service that provides Artificial Intelligence (AI) consulting solutions to businesses to help them digitally transform. It helps businesses take advantage of the latest technology and helps them leverage their data to make more informed decisions. AICaaS provides advice on how to best implement AI solutions, which helps businesses save costs, increase efficiency, and improve customer experience. It also helps businesses maximize the potential of their data, enabling them to gain insights into their operations and make better-informed decisions. By leveraging the latest AI technology, AICaaS helps businesses stay competitive and grow.
Who Do We Serve?
This is who are your customers or who do you want to be your customers? Try to niche down so you can create a customer persona for marketing: Service Based Business Owners in the Construction industry
What are we trying to accomplish?
Put a solid statement of what success is to you. To me it is happiness, I want everyone to be happy.
Create a community of digitally transformed businesses that leverage technology. Better business means happier customers and we want our customers and their customers to be happy!
What impact do we want to achieve?
Put metrics here that are clear benefits of what your customers will experience. My three right now would be Business Growth (Getting more Customers, Cut Costs(Removing toil), Make Data Driven Decisions(Customer Obsession).
Vision
Vision is what good leaders establish to provide a roadmap to success. It is the long-term goal that gives a business direction and purpose. It is the “why” behind what the business is doing and it is used to motivate and inspire employees to work towards a common goal. Good leaders use vision to create a culture of achievement and a shared sense of purpose. It is an essential part of any successful business and it helps to define the company’s values and mission. A good vision statement should be aspirational but achievable, inspiring but realistic, and provide a clear direction for the company. Ask yourself these three questions to start on a good vision statement:
Where are we going moving forward?
Ai consulting as a service provides a comprehensive plan to help businesses navigate the digital transformation journey. It leverages advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to identify key areas where businesses can improve and make strategic decisions. With the help of AI consulting, businesses can develop an actionable roadmap to achieve their digital transformation goals.
What do we want to achieve in the future?
We want to help businesses grow using artificial intelligence and machine learning in the future by providing them with the tools, resources, and insights they need to succeed. AI-powered solutions can provide businesses with valuable insights into customer behavior, marketing strategies, and operational efficiency, as well as offer predictive analytics to help them make informed decisions. We also want to empower small businesses to be able to make the most of digital transformation and use AI-powered solutions to help them scale up and increase their bottom line. We are committed to making digital transformation easier and more accessible to all businesses.
What kind of future society do we envision?
Digital transformation has the potential to create an equitable and inclusive future society, allowing everyone to access the same opportunities and resources. By making digital transformation accessible to all, we can create a world where anyone can unlock the power of technology and use it to improve their lives and those of their communities. This vision of the future society is one where everyone can benefit from the advances of digital technology, regardless of their financial or social status.
AI-powered solutions for small businesses can help with copywriting, SEO, and customer engagement. They can provide a range of services, from improving website content to optimizing search engine rankings, and from crafting engaging emails to building customer loyalty. These solutions can help small businesses reach their goals faster and more effectively.
Values
Values are the core beliefs of a business and serve as a guide for decision-making. They provide a moral compass and a set of principles that guide the actions of the business. They are the foundation of the business and set the tone for how a business operates.
To create values that contribute to a business’s mission and vision, it is important to focus on the core of the business and the underlying motivations behind it. A business should define its values based on what is important to the company and the people involved. These values should be meaningful and authentic and should be reflected in the company’s culture, processes, and behaviors.
Some examples of core values that can contribute to a business’s mission and vision are customer focus, innovation, integrity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Customer Focus: Putting the customer first and having a customer-centric mindset.
Innovation: Embracing change, being creative, and taking calculated risks.
Integrity: Being honest and ethical in all aspects of the business.
Collaboration: Working together as a team to achieve common goals.
Continuous Learning: Striving for continual improvement and staying up to date with the latest industry trends.
By having a clear set of values, a business can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that everyone is working towards the same goal. Values should be kept in mind when making decisions and should be communicated to everyone in the organization. It is important to keep values in mind when making decisions and take them into account when assessing potential opportunities.
Here are my values:
What do we stand for?
We stand for AI/ML for all, Digital Transformation, Software for Good, and Giving Back to the Community.
What behaviors do we value over all else?
Accountability, Inclusion, Honesty, Consideration for others
How will we conduct our activities to achieve our mission and vision?
Do good for nothing, Be Good for nothing
Always start with the customer first
Continuous Improvement
Always leave the campsite Better than you found it
How do we treat members of our own organization and community?
Like family, with dignity and respect
Create an environment that is open and encourages boundaries/feedback
We encourage mindfulness and promote Mental Health as a Priority for ALL
Conclusion
To conclude, it is essential to have a clear mission, vision, and values in order to lead successfully. By following the steps outlined above, you can create a clear and concise plan for your business. Remember, a mission without a vision is just an errand, and a vision without values is just a dream.
And with that, I leave you with a dad joke to make you smile: What did the fish say when it hit the wall? Dam!
