The Declaration of Independence: The World’s Most Successful Mission Statement

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Two hundred and thirty four years ago, our nation was born of a vision: that Government must protect our inalienable rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and when Government fails to do so, the people have the right to abolish it.  Memorialized as the Declaration of Independence, the Founders’ vision still guides our nation today.  In today’s business jargon, you might say that Declaration of Independence is the world’s most successful mission statement.

Notably, the Declaration of Independence doesn’t offer much in the way of details on how to create a government that would protect the rights of the people. The nuts and bolts would come later, in the Federalist Papers and then the Constitution. The Founders’ vision, eloquently stated was enough — not only to start but to power the new nation through the years of war that followed.

Often, lawyers, currently unhappy in their circumstances, think about starting a firm, but get so caught up in the need to have a business plan or a foolproof system that they’re deterred from starting at all.  After all, unless you can get yourself to make a start – to proclaim your independence – there’s really no need to create a business plan for a firm that you might never build.

Moreover, with all of the obsession over details, lawyers forget what brought them to the legal profession to begin with: a desire to serve clients, solve problems, make precedent, change the way lawyers practice or do justice.  And yet more than anything, it’s that vision of why being a lawyer matters that will keep you going through the salad days.  And as the Declaration of Independence proves, maybe even as long as 234 years.

Happy July 4!