[Celebrating Year One] Legally Bold’s Belief Statement
I had big plans for the one year business anniversary of Legally Bold, but as I have learned, things don’t always turn out as planned. Often done is better than perfect.
And I did the damn thing in business this year.
Legally Bold —the name, the business, the offerings, the vision— did not exist a year ago. Neither did my coaching certification or this weekly blog. The business was an idea in my head that became real, and I am grateful for it all.
To commemorate the occasion, first I got cupcakes because every celebration should have cake. Then, I decided to read through all of the blog posts and newsletters we created this year. By taking this stroll down memory lane, I began to more clearly see the vision behind the company and finally created our belief statement.
What Is A Belief Statement
A belief statement is a manifesto of sorts. It defines the founding principles of a brand and helps to shape the way a company supports its clients. A belief statement also explains the company’s mission by identifying the problems it loves to solve.
Belief statements aren’t just for business. People can have a personal belief statement to guide their life and career decisions. In business or life, when there is a disconnect between what we say and what we do, there is suffering. By creating a personal belief statement, you align your career goals with your values and beliefs and end the angst that most people regularly feel at work.
How To Create A Belief Statement
To create a belief statement you need to understand two things—your values and the problems you like to solve.
Your values are self-maintained personal standards rooted in your emotions. Values are vitality important and account for 80% of a lawyer’s career satisfaction. If your values are fulfilled through your job, you feel a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment; your work begins to validate your very identity.
On the other hand, when a job does not align with your values most people feel disappointment. You can also experience anger at work if your job actively violates your values. Because many attorneys feel they represent clients or do work that actively violates their values, they experience anger and that anger permeates the day-to-day activities of their lives.
The problems you like to solve are the areas of life where people ask for your help or advice, and you enjoy helping to find solutions to those problems. Are you the go-to friend when it comes to questions about fashion, writing, personal development, strategic career planning, etc.? Do you like to answer questions and come up with solutions to problems in those areas? If so, then those are the problems you like to solve.
When you combine your values with the problems you like to solve, you can create statements about what you believe. Statements like:
I believe that everyone needs an outlet for their creativity, and your personal style is one of the best ways to express your originality.
I believe that everyone has a right to a career they love.
Legally Bold Belief Statement
This brings us to the Legally Bold Belief Statement. This statement isn’t an exhaustive list, but it does define the core principles of our brand:
- Everyone has a right to a career and life they love.
- Success does not always equal satisfaction, and we should strive to be satisfied first.
- Between work and life, productivity and relaxation, networking and focusing within, there will always be a push and pull. Instead of trying to solve those tensions, it’s better to learn to live within that dance.
- Our power is in our culture, and we shouldn’t try to melt to fit in a pot. We should aim to fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
- Bold risks bring you closer to fulfilling your life’s purpose and playing it safe does nothing. The best things in life on the other side of your maximum fear.
- “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell
Do you have guiding principles for your life or business? Why or why not? What do you think about Legally Bold’s take? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.