Asking may not be your forte, and it might not even be a whole lot of fun. In fact, I have found that most people prefer to do it all themselves rather than ask somebody for help.

Think about this, asking right question at right time, to right person can bring you to success faster than you could ever hope to get there on your own! So why are you not out there asking for what it is that you really want?

What keeps you from asking for what it is you really need and want? I have found that it's our desire to be independent that keeps us from asking. It's our ego. Our desire to take all credit when something finally does work that keeps us from doing it easy way.

Think about it in your own life. What has stopped you from asking for help in past? For some people, asking is a sign of weakness, so they do their best to do it all alone. Sometimes things get so bad that these people actually lose it all, yet they still won't ask for help! Have you known a person like this in your life?

I share this with you here because it's a lesson that I too had to learn. I was one of those people who was raised thinking that being independent was only way to be. I believed that asking for help was a sure sign of weakness and I didn't want to be perceived as weak. So I was tough. I never asked for help and went out there and did it all myself.

Then one day, I gave it some thought. Was it really a sign of weakness to ask for what it was that I really needed to build my business? I began to study people who have achieved greatness in their lives and I asked, "Did they do it alone or did they have help?"

For instance, did Bill Gates build Microsoft by himself, or did he have a team working with him? Obviously he had a team, each of whom today is wealthy beyond imagination. Not only did he have a team, he asked for help and made deals with other companies to help him realize his dream. This is a practice that Microsoft continues to use to this day.

Do you look at Bill Gates and see weakness? I sure don't.

The more I considered it, more I began to understand what it really meant to ask for help.

Then I had yet another realization. Asking for help is really GIVING an opportunity to another person. That's right, asking is giving at same time. Think about it.

When somebody asks you for help, and you are willing to help, do you ENJOY process of giving? You bet you do! We're wired to give! Giving is a basic human need and each and every one of us receives great joy when we give to another human being.

So not asking is actually denying other people chance to give and feel pleasure. You wouldn't deny another human being pleasure of giving would you? I doubt it. So then you will learn to ask, right? Great!

1) Who is your target market?

This identifies your ideal customer group or "Niche".

2) What does your target market want and need?

Here is "meat" of your mission statement. This what they want and/or need that you are (hopefully) going to help them get.

3) How can you fulfill these wants and needs?

This specifies actual product you are providing or services that you perform, and how you will create a benefit fulfilling answers to first two questions.

This is most important to remember; when you tell them what you do, say it (or write it) in words they will understand fully. If you have to re-explain to them any part to make them understand what you have already conveyed, you have lost sight of your primary objective.

Remember whom it is you are attempting to serve and explain accordingly. Tell them what they need and how you can supply them with this need. Tell them what you do, not how you do it!

Ask yourself; What adversity do all of your clients face that your service will help them with most. This is your mission!

If you have a pen and paper write these down. Later you can redo this, scrutinizing each word. You must write, rewrite and rewrite again. Sound familiar?

When you're ready, plug answer to these questions into this statement.

I/We provide .....(1)..... in necessity to fulfill ......(2)...... by offering ......(3)......

This will be first draft of your Mission Statement.

Don't worry if your first couple of drafts seems a bit weak, they "always" are.

Part 1: