Nick Banks Consulting

// workshop · 2026

The un-mission mission.

Leaning, learning, loving.

// a workshop on what mission actually is

Welcome

// click any item to jump there

Here's where we're going.

01 /Introductions
02 /Why listen to me
03 /Architecture, intention, environment
04 /The mission – what it is, what it isn't
05 /How do we find ours
06 /Your turn
07 /What's next
08 /Questions

Before we start

// parking attendant

Just for now.

// I'm the parking attendant. Marking your tires.

// photo: jean-marc

Part two

Why listen to me.

Why listen to me

// the framing

Radical demonstrations of high-performance organizations.

// measured by

01 /Outstanding financial performance
02 /Exceptional operational excellence and quality
03 /Unprecedented social impact
04 /Having fun

Why listen to me (continued)

// then

// nick and rags. whistler. one scotch, one cigar.

Where I am now

// why this work, and why now

Re-invigorated.
Re-committed.

Part three

Foundations.

// architecture, intention, environment

Three foundations

// how it shows up

How high-performance happens.

01 /
Architecture. // Ferrari vs Chevy. Designed for what?
02 /
Intention. // What's actually happening, not what we say
03 /
Environment. // Church or Irish pub. Same street, different calls.

Part four

The mission.

// what it is, what it isn't, where it comes from

A Japanese woman told me

// shi-mei

The Japanese for mission is two characters.

使

// use

命

// life

= mission. how you want to use your life.

My definition

// the whole thing, in one sentence

// that's the whole thing

How we want to leave everyone we come into contact with.

Where this comes from

// built to last – the book

Jim Collins studied companies that lasted.

The pattern he found

// the chart

// most companies that survived stayed flat

// a smaller subset did something different

// they all had a commitment statement

Guess who

// who said this?

Magic, fun, and happiness.

Disney.

Guess who

// a tough one. who said this?

To invoke the imagination, provoke the senses, and evoke the emotions of people around the world.

Cirque du Soleil.

Guess who (both)

// two competitors. one mission, one... statement.

// coca-cola vs pepsi

To refresh the world.

"We have absolute clarity around what we do. We sell X. Our success will ensure customers build their businesses, employees build their futures, and shareholders build their wealth."

Guess who

// who said this?

To inspire and nurture the human spirit. One coffee, one community at a time.

Starbucks.

More examples

Some other mission statements from clients.

Life unleashed.
Holy fuck what a rush.
Lit up.
Stoked.
Life is great.
Unlocked.
Leaning, learning, loving.
Elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness.// chip @ lululemon

Part five

How to use it.

Tool 01

01

Alignment tool.

Tool 02

02

Decision-making tool.

Tool 03

03

Creativity and design tool.

Tool 04

04

Elevating tool.

Tool 05

05

Do the right thing tool.

A quick clear-up

What it isn't.

Not this

01

Not a slogan or tagline.

Not this either

02

Not a make-everyone-happy tool.

Part six

Your turn.

First, a story.

Meet Somer

What I realized

I could die now and she'd be okay.

Start here

// three prompts

How do you want to leave people?

01 / Everyone you come into contact with – clients, employees, even people who've left. How do you want them to feel?
02 / Your closest, dearest person – after a lunch together. How would you want to leave them, such that you could "shoot me now" and be okay?
03 / Your children – if they were left this way in life, would you be content?

What we've already lived

// before, during, after. find the stories.

When have you lived this?

From your DNA

// we didn't start from nothing.

What's worth carrying forward?

Listen for patterns

// try it on.

What's emerging?

I've done this too

Nick's handwritten notebook with mission work

My own pages.

Part seven

What's next.

Now what

// we keep working it together.

Try it on.

Part eight

Questions?

Open floor. What's coming up?

Nick Banks Consulting

Thank you.

Now go and do this work.

Strategy with a pulse.

nick@nickbanksconsulting.com / nickbanksconsulting.com / 778.987.5230

The un-mission mission.

Here's where we're going.

Just for now.

Why listen to me.

Radical demonstrations of high-performance organizations.

Re-invigorated.Re-committed.

Foundations.

How high-performance happens.

The mission.

The Japanese for mission is two characters.

How we want to leave everyone we come into contact with.

Jim Collins studied companies that lasted.

Magic, fun, and happiness.

To invoke the imagination, provoke the senses, and evoke the emotions of people around the world.

To refresh the world.

To inspire and nurture the human spirit. One coffee, one community at a time.

Some other mission statements from clients.

How to use it.

Alignment tool.

Decision-making tool.

Creativity and design tool.

Elevating tool.

Do the right thing tool.

What it isn't.

Not a slogan or tagline.

Not a make-everyone-happy tool.

Your turn.

I could die now and she'd be okay.

How do you want to leave people?

When have you lived this?

What's worth carrying forward?

What's emerging?

My own pages.

What's next.

Try it on.

Questions?

Thank you.

Re-invigorated.
Re-committed.