1 Stop Bead Shop Vision and Mission

As a follow-up to my January 4, 2012 Blog article on Goal Setting, I got some feedback from a couple of you that the ideas I shared had value to you, so it occurred to me that you might enjoy it if I shared occassional insights I have received from working with my business coach - Rick Crossland. Currently we are preparing for a team function and Rick asked me to take a look at my Mission and Vision statements for 1 Stop Bead Shop to see if there was anything I wanted to improve or change. Here is what I learned that you might be able to apply to your own life:

I found 3 different helpful definitions for the difference between a Vision statement and a Mission Statement - all of which have valuable nuances: 1) My Vision is WHO I am. My Mission is WHAT I do. 2) Our Vision is WHY we exist. Our Mission is WHERE we are going. 3) A Mission statement focuses on your present state. A Vision statement focuses on your future.

So, why would you care? When Franklin Covey teaches goal setting, they don't have you START with goals - they have you start with your vision & mission in life - the REASONS why you set the goals in the first place. While the idea of answering the question, "WHO am I, and WHY am I here" sounds duanting at first, Franklin Covey breaks it down into managable steps:
1) Start with your titles - the hats you wear. For instance, I am a mother, a wife, a Christian, a business owner, etc.
2) Define those titles - what do they mean to you? For instance, cooking is not where I find my value as a mother. However, Marie on "Everybody Loves Raymond" (Rays mom) completely defines her value as a mother in how she nutures her flock w/ her wonderful cooking.

Those 2 steps answer the "WHO am I?" question. Finding your Mission can be more challenging, and for those who truly seek to answer it, can become the most worthwhile pursuit of their lives - "WHAT am I here for? WHAT is my purpose? WHAT will be my legacy? WHAT do I wish to leave behind when I am no longer here?"

For some, like my mother, they know the answer early. She knew by the 1st grade that she was going to be a teacher and change the lives of young people. She did it formally in the public school system for over 30 years and has continued to do that in her local church. For others the journey of discovery can take years.

What I discovered in reviewing 1 Stop Bead Shop's Vision & Mission was that they were really rolled up in one. I broke them apart, and added some value words and here's what I came up with:

Our Vision: 1 Stop Bead Shop is the recognized leader in our community as the go-to source for all aspects of jewelry making. We are passionate about creating a rewarding customer experience that stimulates creativity and provides opportunities for growth & community.

Our Mission: At 1 Stop Bead Shop we provide our shoppers with superior customer service, the broadest product selection, and the most innovative classes embracing the beginner to advanced student in an upbeat, friendly community environment that feeds the individual and promotes the art and craft of jewelry making.

At my 1 Stop Bead Shop Blog, I love your feedback, which is why our comments section is open to all. I would sincerely value your feedback on our Vision & Mission statements:
Do we live up to them?
Are there other things you value about 1 Stop Bead Shop that are not encapsulated in our vision or mission?

I would also love to hear from any of you who take my challenge to create your personal Vision & Mission statement - What is your personal Vision & Mission statement? And, what did you discover while working on it?

Here's to sharing our lives & growing together.

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

1 Stop Club Bead Members Give Back

Our 1 Stop Bead Shop Club Bead Members have been busy over the past several months, giving up some of their own beading time, to make bracelets for the Beading to Beat Autism cause. Michala started this movement at age 10 to help her little brother Evan who has Autism. Her story is an inspiration to all people who have a dream. You can read more about it here.

The effort was spearheaded by Jen Mackan, 1 Stop Bead Shop customer and Club Bead Member, who worked with Beading to Beat Autism organization to obtain the beads and supplies.

Each Club Bead Friday night for several months, nearly a dozen different individuals have contributed their time to string and tie these simple little stetchy seed bead bracelets in a host of color ways.

The bracelets make great gifts for friends & family, and are a simple reminder of life's blessings and challenges. The bracelets are now "on sale" at 1 Stop Bead Shop for a suggested donation of $3. Their goal is to raise $300,000,000! All of our efforts working together can help make this happen. Won't you help this great cause and pick up a few the next time you're in?!

Collect them all, and start a trend!

1 Stop Bead Shop Receives Community Award Reconition

For Immediate Release
January 25, 2012

“Living the Irish Attitude Award” Winners Announced
Dublin CVB honors three local businesses

DUBLIN, OHIO – The Dublin Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today its 2011 “Living the Irish Attitude” award winners, recognizing those local businesses that are embracing Dublin’s destination brand and slogan: “Dublin, Ohio -- Irish is an Attitude.”

The following were selected as recipients of the 2011 “Living the Irish Attitude Award:”

• Sunny Street Café (Hospital Drive location)– For creating customizable Irish themed dinner menus and events to appeal to the group tour and meetings markets
• 1 Stop Bead Shop – For creating Irish jewelry making classes for groups and a special section in the store dedicated to Irish-themed beads

• The Emerald City Half & Quarter Marathon – For creating an Irish themed event in Dublin that draws visitors, participants, media attention and benefits local charities

Businesses were selected for the awards based on the following criteria: Business/organization must be located in Dublin, Ohio; business/organization must endeavor to attract and welcome visitors; business/organization must promote the Dublin destination brand to its customers; business/organization must integrate the brand into its daily operations.

The Bureau launched Dublin’s new destination brand in January, 2007 in an effort to raise awareness with the traveling public by positioning the city as a unique and desirable destination for leisure, business, athletic and group travel. The DCVB logo and positioning line, Irish is an Attitude, makes use of the “Irish” equity that exists in the Dublin name and promotes the idea that you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy Irish fun.

“Dublin’s Destination Brand is not simply a campaign theme or positioning line,” said Scott Dring, executive director at the Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It is an expression of a compelling, unique experience that Dublin offers potential visitors and will help set a roadmap of success for the Bureau for years to come.”

Award winners will be highlighted in the Dublin Visitors Center and materials promoting Dublin’s destination brand. The Bureau honors a few select local businesses annually with the “Living the Irish Attitude” award. For more information or to nominate a business for an award, call the Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau at (614) 792-7666.
Contact: Scott Dring, Executive Director
(614) 792-7666 sdring@IrishisanAttitude.com

Kidnapped by Aliens at 1 Stop Bead Shop

At least that's what you can tell your husband.

"Honey, I was drawn by the freakishly bright sparkle beyond the portal with the sign that said BEADS, and I couldn't help myself. Once inside, thousands of beams of sparkly lights blinded me and made me act out of complete instinct. Little voices in my head kept saying, 'Take me home,' and I felt insanely compelled to bring those tiny sparkling objects home with me.

There were aliens

mascarading as nice humans who kept showing me one exciting project after another and in order to go back home they told me I had to sign a contract to agree to come back and learn more about their alien culture. They made me repeat after them - '1 Stop Bead Shop teaches classes.' It all seemed so natural."

"No honey, those beads are NOT things I haven't finished - those are UFOs! (UnFinished Objects)

They even have a club for others like me that have been aboard their spaceship where we can get together and talk about our experiences and work on our UFOs. They call it Club Bead.

The aliens told me that I won't die until all my UFOs are finished. So, if I just keep going back to their alien spaceship, it doesn't matter how many UFOs I encounter, only beading heaven awaits me. And it's a real place! They showed me pictures."

"That's my story, and I'm sticking with it!"

You might as well tell him that. It will make just as much sense to him as the truth!

New Year's Challenge for my Friends

A few of you have commented before on how I set my goals. I thought I would not only share w/ you what Don & I did today to start the new year, but also challenge you, my 1 Stop Bead Shop friends, to do something similar for yourselves.

According to Dave Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as the people who don't, and yet 80% of Americans say they don't have goals. 16% have goals, but don't write them down. Less than 4% write down their goals, and fewer than 1% actually review them on an ongoing basis. Guess which 1%?

Even if your goal or mission in life isn't to be among the top earners, earning doesn't have to mean $. I find it interesting that in the NRV version of the Bible Jesus's parable of the 3 Servants from Matthew is known as the parable of the Talents - talents of course being a unit of money. But, I find it striking that it translates in English as talents or gifts. He gave each servant an amount and was happy with the 2 who used their talents and grew them, and was very unhappy with the lazy, wicked servant who just sat on his and gave it back. Whether it's actual financial goals or spiritual, life, family, charitable goals, etc. the same success principles apply - if we're serious about achieving them we stand the highest chance when we write them down and review them.

So here's what Don & I did today - we wrote down our individual goals and then came together and decided on family goals for 2012 in these areas:
1. Spiritual

2. Family
3. Career
4. Health
5. Financial
6. Education
7. Recreation
8. Adventure
9. Travel
10. Romance
11. Relationships
We found we didn't have a family goal in all those areas, but it was still good to talk to each other about where we were personally. The process took about 3 hours (not much time in light of an entire year) and we now have a guide for being on the same page as a team, for measuring our progress, and for encouraging each other.

My challenge to you is to do the same thing THIS week! Don't let the week get away, or the next thing you know we will be ringing in 2013. Why would I challenge you to do this? Because I care about you. Rather than just pray you have a successful and prosperous year, I thought I might encourage you to take a proactive step that will go a long way to ensure you a happy & focused 2012.

I'll be excited to hear what you do with my challenge.

Happy New Year from 1 Stop Bead Shop!

Lisa