What I Learned From Following My Own Advice
illustration by Greg Chinn for Outer Voice
Parenting taught me first-hand that the “do as I say, not as I do” trap is all-too real.
In You Are Not A Brand, I wrote that artists should take the time to write down the why of what they do. Clarify why you create, who you create for. I always recommend that artists and organizations I work with begin by establishing clear mission, vision and values statements.
Sound businessy? Ugh. Yeah.
Still a good idea? Definitely.
Or that’s what I tell people. Beginning Outer Voice gave me an opportunity to put my advice into practice and examine it from a freshly personal perspective. Here’s what happened.
Crafting Mission, Vision & Values Statements
There’s an abundance of advice online about how to create these statements for companies large and small, arts organizations, individuals and non profits. Some are better than others, and it really comes down to what speaks to you and your goals.
I like the book Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team, by Alina Wheeler. I also highly recommend this free and thorough online guide from the non profit blog Donorbox.
A Mission Statement is the How, Who and Why of your work. It’s a clear, concise, informative statement that tells your audience what you’re about. Essentially, it’s why you serve whom and how, or why you make what and for whom.
Your Vision Statement is the poetry to the mission statement’s prose. This is your dream. It’s the ideal goal for your work or organization.
Finally, your Values are… your values. They’re distilled down to the major beliefs that guide, unite and define your work. I recommend making them active and keeping the list short. Try to create something you can rattle off, that will inspire, and that will last.
What I Did
I sat and thought. Got distracted and looked at Instagram. Sat and thought some more. Made coffee. Spent a long time exploring the “Fans Also Like” section for Hildur Guðnadóttir on Spotify. Then wrote and edited and wrote and edited, punctuated by Star Trek texts with my friend David Fox and more coffee.
I reminded myself why Outer Voice exists in the first place. To help artists find their unique voice and connect with their audiences. How? Through learning from working artists and sharing best practices that help, whether they’re from branding or arts disciplines or philosophy or poetry.
When it came to values, I evaluated the why and who of Outer Voice, and my desire to learn from and connect everyone. Inclusivity, humility and an open heart are vital to this.
How Did It Go?
It was hard.
It’s hard to write about yourself. You’re suspicious of your perspective, and your inner critic screams twice as loud. Will people think I’m a fake? Does this sound too pie-in-the-sky? Pretentious? Does it even matter to anybody?
Once I kicked that critic to the curb, things went a lot more smoothly.
The most helpful approach for me was to write from the point of view of future me looking back on the success of Outer Voice. I asked my future self, “how did we get here?”
It was hard. It was worth it.
What I ended up with.
Mission
Empowering artists and connecting audiences through conversation and discovery.
Vision
To connect every artist with every audience through a richer voice and more meaningful relationship.
Values
Invite Everyone to the Table
Everyone who comes in a spirit of kindness and inquiry is welcome. We care about race, gender, orientation, food/financial security, differing abilities and the attributes that make us who we are. Everyone together makes everyone better.
Fill Your Plate Last
Serve the mission first. If we’re pointing at ourselves, we’re pointing in the wrong direction.
Listen First
Our audiences and artists are the experts in the room. We listen, interpret and share.
Ask the Next Question
Sometimes the most beautiful answer is the next question.
Value the Compass Over the Map
Know where you’re going, but don’t forget the adventure is in the wandering.
What’s Next?
In a corporate or nonprofit situation, the next step is typically to share with people within the organization to see if it resonates (that’s something you do all along the way — never try to create this for a group without their participation).
I’m sharing it with you. It may be too early for us to tell if this resonates, but it can serve as a guide for us all — me in what I cover and how, and you in holding me to account.
There’s little doubt I’ll tweak this along the way, just as Outer Voice grows. But, I’ll be holding this as the North on my compass.
Do I Still Think You Should Do It?
Yes, yes and yes. Similar to how a good listener or teacher can bring things out of you that you didn’t know were there, this exercise can serve as a powerful and affirming self-discovery.
Reflect first. Listen to yourself. Learn from your heroes and inspirations. Then create this for yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much it focuses you.
Need help defining your voice or reaching your audience? Give me a shout. I offer consulting and services for all kinds of individual artists and arts organizations.
