Acronym

Editing is a challenge. As project editor for Associations Now and ASAE & The Center's e-newsletters, each day I spend time wrestling with proper word choices, word counts, and overall content clarity. During the opening session at Great Ideas 2010, Guy Kawasaki offered the audience 10 tips on innovation [Editor's note: Audiences love easy takeaways and tips.], and one in particular that editors-at-heart will love.

Number two on Kawasaki's list? "Make Mantra."

"Most mission statements suck," he says. And with many in the 50 word count range, [Editor's note: That is about a quarter of the word count of this blog post.] many mission statements are clunky and hard to remember. Instead, Kawasaki suggests making them succinct and only two to three words long.

Those words need to say a lot, too. You should be able to explain the purpose of your organization, and essentially its benefit to the world.

But like any article that comes in just a touch too long, yet full of useful information, taking something like your mission statement to the chopping block is a daunting task. Luckily, my job and other editors' work are a living testament to the value of cutting copy in the name of good content, and maybe your mission statement could use a revamp. If you were to take a stab at editing your organization's mission statement, what would you say?