Successful Business Handbook

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals

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terms of the details. This is not the place to be vague. Great mission statements are short and contain a specific group of customers and a specific problem being solved. Here are some examples of great mission statements: "We help new psychics and healers emerge." "We help homeless and foster kids feel safe." "We help fibromyalgic women cope with chronic pain." "We help stay-at-home moms release worry." Here are some not-so-good mission statements: "We help people in a holistic way—mind, body, and spirit." "We use craniosacral and neuromuscular massage to ease the pain away." "We help people experience transcendence and enlightenment in a safe environment." Your vision statement is the world problem this business wants to be part of solving. World hunger? World peace? Yeah, maybe. But there are zillions of world problems. People worry too much. That's a world problem. Holistic health professionals don't have the business skills they need to do their work. That's a world problem (the one I've picked for my business). So, you see, you can pick any world problem you want to be a part of solving. However, the hard part is, you should only pick one. We all want to be part of solving every world problem. But focus is the key in a small business. Will your business be able to solve that world problem all by itself? Of course not. But your business can play its part. Here are some examples of great vision statements (specific and problemsolving): "Weekend athletes recover quickly and holistically from their sports injuries." "Parents understand the natural options available for attention deficit disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism." "Fibromyalgic women are able to lead normal lives." Here are some examples of notso-good vision statements (usually too vague or too practitioneroriented): "All people live in health and happiness." "People experience craniosacral as the huge benefit that it is." "I make $100,000 every year." If the mission and vision define the destination, values define the path. Values are the qualities that we hold dear as we're doing business. Examples of values include positive attitude, integrity, and client education. Document an example or explanation of each value in this section of your business plan. If

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