Comments on: Most mission statements suck http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:47:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: London Designer http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/#comment-199 London Designer Sat, 17 May 2008 14:00:58 +0000 http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/#comment-199 so your saying we should have 2 mantras, one within the company and one out, makes sense and keeps things uncomplicated, thanks! so your saying we should have 2 mantras, one within the company and one out, makes sense and keeps things uncomplicated, thanks!

]]> By: Brian Horn http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/#comment-6 Brian Horn Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:51:33 +0000 http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/#comment-6 Mission statements exist more for the egos of the people that write them, than they do for the benefit of the organization. A catchy slogan, or short mission statement (like your "refreshing marketing" used more for marketing purposes is a different animal. Everything is marketing, and mission statements are so over done, they are like spam mail for Viagra now. People, usually unintentionally, completely ignore it...unless it is really remarkable and catchy (like Google's "Don't Be Evil"). A good mission statement would be "Mission statements are SO 1990's," Mission statements exist more for the egos of the people that write them, than they do for the benefit of the organization.

A catchy slogan, or short mission statement (like your “refreshing marketing” used more for marketing purposes is a different animal.

Everything is marketing, and mission statements are so over done, they are like spam mail for Viagra now. People, usually unintentionally, completely ignore it…unless it is really remarkable and catchy (like Google’s “Don’t Be Evil”).

A good mission statement would be “Mission statements are SO 1990’s,”

]]> By: Grayson De Ritis http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/#comment-5 Grayson De Ritis Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:09:01 +0000 http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/#comment-5 Always great to hear Guy speak in his no b.s. style. Always great to hear Guy speak in his no b.s. style.

]]> By: Chris Risen http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/#comment-4 Chris Risen Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:49:59 +0000 http://blog.poplabs.com/2007/07/13/most-mission-statements-suck/#comment-4 Great point all around. I agree with your statement, "...I don't think mission statements necessarily work anymore." I agree because most companies simply state what they think a customer or more likely, an investor wants to hear about the company's purpose for being. And, most mission statements are BIG FAT LIES anyway. I think if more companies were honest in their mission statements, they'd state more things like..."we exist to make piles of cash while giving you the customer, investor, etc. little perceived value of the product or service that is being provided." So, for some companies, this would work because their investors already know this about the company. Oh, and they don't care! They don't care because like the company, they too are after making piles of cash whether or not the product or service is of any perceived value. Notice that I left out the 'customer' in the aforementioned about what is already known about a company's so-called mission. This is because most companies simply don't know what it means to embrace a VISION. A vision goes well beyond a mission. A customer- the HUMAN, is at the heart of any corporate vision. Always has been, always will be. Sounds like PopLabs has embraced a Vision rather than a mission; people rather than profits; significance rather than success. Finally, profits come as a result of people's collective perception of the value they receive from such a company; success is inherent to significance. Great point all around. I agree with your statement, “…I don’t think mission statements necessarily work anymore.” I agree because most companies simply state what they think a customer or more likely, an investor wants to hear about the company’s purpose for being. And, most mission statements are BIG FAT LIES anyway. I think if more companies were honest in their mission statements, they’d state more things like…”we exist to make piles of cash while giving you the customer, investor, etc. little perceived value of the product or service that is being provided.” So, for some companies, this would work because their investors already know this about the company. Oh, and they don’t care! They don’t care because like the company, they too are after making piles of cash whether or not the product or service is of any perceived value. Notice that I left out the ‘customer’ in the aforementioned about what is already known about a company’s so-called mission. This is because most companies simply don’t know what it means to embrace a VISION. A vision goes well beyond a mission. A customer- the HUMAN, is at the heart of any corporate vision. Always has been, always will be. Sounds like PopLabs has embraced a Vision rather than a mission; people rather than profits; significance rather than success. Finally, profits come as a result of people’s collective perception of the value they receive from such a company; success is inherent to significance.

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