Session 03: Vision and Mission Statements
Hi there! Welcome to this session of the CQ Vision, Mission, and Values project to define the big picture Cryptiquest is trying to achieve. In the last session, I established a plan of attack which culminated in a list of deliverables and loose time frames. This session will focus on the first two deliverables: Defining the Vision Statement and Mission Statement.
As a reminder, here is the goal and objective for this project:
Goal: Define the big picture for which Cryptiquest is striving in a way that ensures support from projects moving forward.
Objective 1: The project will define the change Cryptiquest aims to bring about in the world.
Objective 2: The project will present the definition in such a way that parts of it can be referred to when establishing the needs of projects.
Objective 3: The project will present the definition in such a way that parts of it can be referred to when measuring the success of projects.
What is the vision of Cryptiquest? What change does it wish to see in the world?
Cryptiquest started as an answer to a question: why doesn’t the game idea and settings I’ve imagined exist yet? I assumed they would eventually be generated with the limitless designers out there and then I figured I have to make it myself.
That’s the surface-level spark but it isn’t the vision. Is it? There’s a chance here to improve the world, right? At least I think there is. I’m not interested in completing a project just for the sake of completing it. I want it to mean something to someone. There is this desire for me to not only generate content but to generate content which inspires others to generate more content.
The vision is that Cryptiquest will create content that opens and unlocks potential creators. That sounds pretty good but there’s one more aspect. I want Cryptiquest to be seen as a role model in the community and to consumers. How do I wrap that up nice and neatly in the vision?
Cryptiquest’s Vision:
To responsibly unlock and inspire creators of any and every identity.
I like it. Let’s break it down, starting with the root verb(s) and object: “…unlock and inspire creators…” This is to mean that Cryptiquest wishes to not only inspire creators to already create but also spark creativity from untapped sources. These creators have a qualifier: “of any and every identity”. This means that, no matter how creators identify themselves, Cryptiquest shall not abandon them. This means everyone – including those with philosophies that conflict with my own; but that leads us to the most important qualifier of them all: “responsibly”. Cryptiquest aims to unlock and inspire creators of any and every identity – even “toxic” identities; but it will do so responsibly. This means trying to expand perspectives of those who may subscribe to toxic ideologies while fostering content that is inclusive.
That’s a lofty vision but it’s one I believe in.
So if that’s the vision, then the mission will discuss how Cryptiquest plans on making that vision a reality. To tackle this, I will simply ask how the elements of the vision will come to fruition.
Q. How will Cryptiquest unlock and inspire creators?
A. With quality fiction, games, and other media that utilizes unique and believable settings. In addition, Cryptiquest will publicly share any worldbuilding tools generated. In this way, Cryptiqusest provides inspiration while removing barriers.
Q. How will Cryptiquest ensure that it does not abandon creators of any and every identity?
A. By trying to think inclusively in everything it does, from hiring diverse talent to creating inclusive content; Cryptiquest strives for global representation while avoiding tokenism, stereotyping, and cultural appropriation.
Q. What does it mean for Cryptiquest to unlock and inspire creators responsibly?
A. Cryptiquest will serve as a role model in both conduct and in content. While its mission is not to propagate political or social messaging, the neutral voice within content will default to the morals of humanism as a standard. Specifically, the neutral voice won’t make assumptions about how our universe works but will assume that the way humans live and treat each other are completely within humanity’s control.
Okay. Writing out those answers took a lot longer than expected and I’m not entirely sure they make sense. Now I have to somehow make those answers into a mission statement?
Here is a list of all the bits and pieces:
- Create quality media.
- Create unique and believable settings.
- Publicly share worldbuilding tools.
- Hire diverse talent.
- Create inclusive content.
- Achieve global representation while avoiding tokenism, stereotyping, and cultural appropriation.
- Serve as role model in conduct.
- Serve as a role model in content.
- Do not present a neutral voice that violates humanist based, social morality.
Okay. That’s a lot of elements but there’s room for consolidation. There seems to be two major themes here: creation and conduct. Maybe the mission statement can be constructed with two segments.
Cryptiquest’s Mission:
To create quality, engaging, and inclusive media around unique and believable settings; to develop and share content creation tools with creators; and, to model humanist-based, socially moral conduct in business and in production.
So that’s the first attempt at the mission statement. It’s similar to the three “goals” that are currently listed (as current as to when I’m typing this) on Cryptiquest’s site (INVENT BELIEVABLE WORLDS OF FICTION | DESIGN FOR EXPERIENCE-FIRST | THINK INCLUSIVE & WELCOME DIVERSITY). Two out of three are the same, with the first discussing content and the third being about diversity. The second one was also about content and is now referring to content creation tools.
I think that mission statement is too wordy. I’m going to take another stab at it by trying to encapsulating each objective no more than one adjective (wish me luck!):
Cryptiquest’s Mission:
To INVENT believable worlds of fiction; to SHARE content creation tools with the world; and, to MODEL corporate humanistic behavior.
That’s far snappier. Each of those mission objectives can have their own values to flesh out all the stuff that’s missing.
I feel fairly confident about this. In the next session, I’ll work on the values. But before I go, here are the final vision and mission statements:
Cryptiquest’s Vision:
To responsibly unlock and inspire creators of any and every identity.
Cryptiquest’s Mission:
To INVENT believable worlds of fiction, to SHARE content creation tools with the world, and to MODEL corporate humanistic behavior.