QUESTIONS TO ANSWER FOR YOUR OWN “STUMP SPEECH”
- Where am I going?
- Why am I going there?
- Who is going with me?
- How will I get there?
- What will I do when I get there?
These answers will define your business values. You can always amend them later as your business grows. Ryan Moor found that his “stump speech” still encompassed his Ryonet’s values five years after he had written them.
RELATED: CORE VALUES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PRACTICES
STARTING YOUR WRITING PROCESS
A great way to write this speech is to think about why you started the business in the first place. Was it to put your child through school? In that case, is donating to educational charities something your business would focus on? Did you start your business to help others express themselves on apparel? Should your business be posting fun and inspiring stories about how people wearing their shirts have gained more independence and self-expression?
Once you identify why you started, it will be easier to start the writing process.
WHERE AM I GOING?
Where do you want to go? What do you want to achieve? It can be an actual place such as “I want to open a brick-and-mortar store” or it can be more of an ideal such as “I want to inspire others”. This is your moment to dream big.
“I’m going to have fun, to find fulfillment in what I do and who I do it with. I’m going to build security for my family and inspire a dream and hope in the customers I work for, team members I work with, and people that cross my path.” - Ryan Moor
WHY AM I GOING THERE?
Once we find out where we are going, we have to figure out why we are going. Is it because your grandparents started their own clothing store and you wanted to bring back their legacy? Is it because you want to make a great life for your family? Think about the things that matter most to you. It can be as abstract or as literal as you want it to be.
“I’m going there because I am lucky enough to have the ability to do so. From the country I was born in, the family I was born into, the industry I fell into, or the dream I get to live every day, I’m a lucky guy. As long as I have air in my lungs and wake up in the morning, I will work as hard as I can to take advantage of the blessing I’ve been given and pass it forward to as many people as I am able.” - Ryan Moor
RELATED: FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS TO THRIVING BUSINESS
WHO IS GOING WITH ME?
Who is going with you? Are you bringing your wife and kids? Are you bringing yourself? Is it the soccer team you coach that inspired you to take the leap into business ownership?
“Every morning, I wake up, run, and thank God for my beautiful wife, three awesome dudes. My biggest challenge in life is to raise them to be better than I, a huge responsibility. Outside of that, it’s whoever wants to share a dream, aspire to be better, work hard, and never give up.” - Ryan Moor
HOW WILL I GET THERE?
Now that we know where and why we are going and who is coming with us - how are you going to do it? This place is for more of an ideal or an overarching generalization, not a specific business plan. We’ll write the business plan later. What is going to inspire you to wake up every day and work your hardest? Are you going to teach others? Are you going to live your ideals through your work?
“By being true to myself, continuing to do what I enjoy, and if I lose enjoyment, change something so I enjoy it again. By serving others, because as Zig Ziglar said, “You can have anything in life you want, as long as you help enough other people get what they want.” By working hard and smart, and every day striving to learn, grow, and be better. By keeping a positive attitude, in good times and bad. These are the values of our company, and it’s how I’ll get there as well.” - Ryan Moor
WHAT WILL I DO WHEN I GET THERE?
Now the exciting part - what are you going to do when you get there? This is the culmination of all your efforts. Will you have successfully put your kids through college? Will you be able to retire? Or maybe take that two-week vacation to the Cayman Islands you’ve been dreaming about? DREAM BIG!
RELATED: NETWORKING AND BUILDING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS“I will grow old with my love, Amanda, in a house overlooking the valley, in a winery. A place inviting for children and grandchildren to come. We’ll run, travel the world, drink to good times, and enjoy the journey we’ve been on with friends, family, and those who came with us.” - Ryan Moor
ENJOY THE PROCESS
This writing exercise is supposed to be thought-provoking. It doesn’t have to be done all in one day. Let your imagination soar and take time to really think about what you value. Most importantly - enjoy the process. Business ownership is a journey, and this is part of what makes it a wonderful and inspiring profession.
