Do you really need a “mission”?

As a startup founder, do you really need a “mission”?

Does it really matter?

Duh. lol

In startup land, well really… in every aspect of life… you need a mission, a purpose.

It's your north star. Your guiding light. It’s the foundation of your "why". It’s where every decision starts and ends.

But the truth is, it’s more complex than just:

Mission or no mission.

Make money or drive impact.

What if I told you you need two goals under the “mission” umbrella, and the point is to pursue perfect tension between the two?

Goal one: Your mission needs to be based on change, innovation, or solving a specific problem within your industry. It needs to be somewhat altruistic.

Goal two: Make money.

Yeah, they conflict. That's the point.

A purpose-driven mission is what will pull you through the hard times. It’s what gets you over the mountain tops and through the valleys. It’s what unlocks the ability to grow a movement within your market and helps you find the right employees who buy into what you're chasing.

It's where "alignment" comes from.

But if this is your only mission, you’ll lose. You’ll overlook key structures, best practices, and strategies that drive profitability in your business.

You’ll push for impact, waving your big ole’ virtue signaling flag, with no backbone to push off of.

You’ll have no fuel to drive the vehicle.

Making money is what makes your idea a viable business. Actually, it's exactly what separates those two things. We all know of great ideas that didn't work as a business, like carrier pigeon notary services.

So, my mission should just be to make money?

...Yes & No.

Your goal ALSO needs to be to make money.

You need both.

One without the other means you either have fuel with no vehicle or a vehicle with no fuel.

The solution/purpose-driven mission creates momentum but the making money mission creates the sustainability, durability, and longevity to bring the purpose-driven mission into reality.

As my co-founder always says "You need two goalposts to play the game".

The purpose is usually where our startups are birthed, but we must be equally driven to find out how to make them scalable and profitable.

Carry on.

— Joel