Wouldn't it be great if you knew how successful businesses started and built their businesses?

Do you want to know their secret foundation of how they stay on top of their games amidst obstacles and challenges?

You see, building your business is like building a house---you need to have a solid foundation. Why? Because the rest of the house gets built upon that foundation, regardless of how small or big that house is. 

Your business needs to have a solid foundation from the start. The core foundation of your business pretty much sums up who you are, what you do, and what you're trying to accomplish. And I call it your mantra.

What is Mantra?

Mantra is a single phrase that defines your business, usually two or three words (or it could be a single word). It represents your business in a specific, clear, and short phrase. Your mantra will guide you and help you during difficult times.

In his book Art of the Start, Guy Kawasaki recommends creating a mantra rather than a mission statement. He believes that entrepreneurs and startups who spend too much effort crafting a mission statement have mediocre results.

Examples of Mantras

Here are a few successful businesses that have a mantra. Each example illustrates the power of a good mantra:

• Fun family entertainment (Disney)
• Rewarding everyday moments (Starbucks)
• Think Different (Apple)

Do you see how powerful their mantras are? These examples are simple yet capture the respective company's core beliefs and direction. It is the "why" of each company. Their mantras are powerful enough to inspire and produce meaningful results.

Matras are Power Words that Help You Focus

The first part of my Vision Mapping Framework is to come up with a mantra that will be your guide over the next three months, six months, or over the next year. This mantra is a phrase that you will look at every day. Your mantra can remind you of why you're doing what you're doing in those trying times.

Remarkably, one of the Visions To Profits members calls matra as power words. They are powerful words that jolt you on those days when it is tough to get out of bed---when you are sick or when one of your loved ones died, or in times when life seems to throw rocks at you.

Because here's the thing...

Your mantra will remind you why you started in the first place. 

And yes, I've got my mantra myself...

Serve others, be the light.

That may sound woo-woo to you, but it reminds me to think outside of myself. Whenever I find myself in that place of darkness (when I'm in fear), my mantra helps me focus on reaching out to others, asking them how they are doing, and listening with no expectations instead of being self-absorbed.

How to Create Your Mantra

Whether you are just about to build your business or plan to grow it, or if you want to tick off your remaining goals before 2021 ends, now is the time to create YOUR mantra.

In my Vision Mapping Framework, the most important piece of creating your business plan is spending time on the core foundation---creating a powerful and solid mantra. 

Take some quality time, contemplate, and create your mantra. Don't forget to tap into your heart as you answer these questions:

• What are your core values and beliefs?
• What impact do you want to accomplish in the world with your life and business? 
• Who are you deep inside? Are you living your truth?

So go ahead, answer those questions and condense your answer into one sentence, phrase, or even one word. Give it a go, do it, and create your mantra. It should be simple yet powerful words that will inspire you to take action and drive every part of your business to move forward.