A mission statement is a short description that outlines a company’s business objectives, culture, and values. Usually in a sentence or two, it answers the what, how, and why of a company’s overall purpose, synthesizing important ideas to differentiate a business from their competitors. This is different from a personal mission statement which defines an individual, their values, and aspirations in life. In both cases, a mission statement encapsulates a company and individual’s essence while serving as a guide to help them achieve their goals.