Understanding Vision Statement with 10 Examples

        If you were to take a photo of your future business now, what would it look like? What do you want your business to be recognized for one day? You need to have a crystal clear vision when you start out, otherwise you can get easily lost in deciding the best way forward. When you are making strategic decisions for your business and even daily operation decisions, your vision statement will give you the inspiration and targeted direction you need.

If you don’t aim for anything, you might not hit anything. The more specific and clear you are, the better your chances are at seeing your vision turn into reality. The importance of a vision statement cannot be overlooked; not only does it provide long term direction and guidance, but it also gives you the inspiration and the necessary energy to keep going when you feeling lost.

There are many different types of vision statements and there is not a wrong or right way to do it. The most important is that you resonate with it, it inspires you and is clear enough to give you targeted direction.

Here are examples of  10 different vision statements :

Ø  Short vision statements made up of a few words only:

1. Disney – To make people happy.

2. Ikea – To create a better every day life for the many people.

Ø  Quantitative statements are based on numbers, quantities:

3. Nike – Current: To be the number one athletic company in the world.

4. Wal-Mart – Become a $125 billion company by the year 2000.

Ø  Qualitative statements are based on qualities that you want to have:

5. Microsoft – At Microsoft, our mission and values are to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential.

6. Avon – To be the company that best understands and satisfies the product, service and self-fulfillment needs of women—globally.

Ø  Competitor based statements – this type is becoming less common, but famous examples are:

7. Honda – in 1970: We will destroy Yamaha.

8. Nike – in 1960s: Crush Adidas.

Ø Role Model Vision Statements – using another company as an example:

9. Giro Sport Design – To become the Nike of the cycling industry.

10. Stanford University – To become the Harvard of the West.