Over the last few months, I’ve been suprised by the number of people I meet who don’t know that Mozilla is a) a public benefit organization that b) exists to promote and protect the open web. This has got me thinking more and more about the importance of messaging our mission. For Mozilla to succeed in the long run, we need everyone we touch to understand that we’re on very important (and cool) a mission, and that they’re invited to join in.
With this in mind, Paul Kim and I recently organized a Messaging Mozilla’s Mission brainstorm. We got about 25 people in a room and gave them this assignment:
Describe Mozilla and it’s mission in a simple and inspiring way. Keep it short. Stick to one sentence if you can.
Armed with sticky notes and a great deal of enthusiasm, the group came up with some wonderful statements. Rising to the top of the clapping-based popularity contest was:
The Internet is the greatest development of our lifetimes. Mozilla exists to foster the Internet such that all people are able to realize its full benefit. We are a people-driven movement to protect choice and freedom on the Web. Join us!
…. by Tristan, Mary and Patrick. There were a bunch more. Some of my other favorites included:
Mozilla is a global community of people having fun building a better Internet for each one of us.
Mozilla is a people driven, global organization committed to making your web experience awesome by building products that are safe and accessible to all.
Mozilla is here to make the Internet better. We believe the web should work for the world through openness, innovation and opportunity. Learn more about us at www.mozilla.org.
The idea wasn’t to develop a perfectly honed statement on the spot (although do we need one). Rather, our hope was to get people thinking about the very basic but incredibly important task of messaging Mozilla’s mission to everyone we touch. This is something we all need to take on together.
Of course, it is worth coming up with some tight, solid statements that we can all use. Paul, Melissa and I are going to be working on this in coming months. In the meantime (and as part of the process), I’d encourage others to step up to the Messaging Mozilla’s Mission Challenge. How would you describe Mozilla and it’s mission in a sentence or two?
May 25, 2009 at 3:17 pm
My first attempt:
Mozilla is anyone who believes that the Internet is built by people, for people, to help people learn, share, and create. Working together we share ideas, build tools and products, and do what it takes to make the Internet a more free, open, and collaborative place. Find out more at http://www.mozilla.com.
Amber MacArthur asked people at the Firefox 3 launch party to summarize Firefox in 5 words or less. Not perfectly the same, but very similar. Check the video here:
http://ambermac.com/articles/2008/06/18/firefox-3-in-5-words-or-less
May 25, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Edits:
Mozilla is anyone who believes that the Internet is built by people, for people, to help people learn, share, and create. Working together we talk about ideas, build tools and products, and do whatever it takes to make the Internet a more free, open, and collaborative place. Find out more at http://www.mozilla.org
May 25, 2009 at 3:40 pm
mozilla – this is web community
May 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm
from the perspective of a user..
Mozilla represents a true open way for the world to access, share and find information in a way that is driven by a community of believers.
May 25, 2009 at 3:44 pm
round 2..
Mozilla represents a true open way for the world to access, share and find information in a way that is driven by a community that believes there is a better way.
May 25, 2009 at 3:46 pm
An initial thought:
Mozilla is an innovative, collaborative movement that promotes and protects the open web.
These are more like headlines than mission statements, but a non-traditional mission statement wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing:
We are Mozilla. We promote and protect the open web. Join us.
We are Mozilla. We promote and protect the open web. Be one of we.
Mozilla. Of the open web, for the open web, by the open web.
May 25, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Mozilla is a collection of people who believe that the web should be open and have no bounds because the human imagination has no bounds. They create open projects to fulfill those ends and give users the power formerly kept behind closed walls by corporations.
May 25, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Mozilla extends the Web in a user friendly, user oriented and open way.
May 25, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I would describe Mozilla in a sentence like ::::
The best browser ever created
May 25, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Opening up the web.
May 25, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Mozilla: Bringing an open, safe and secure web to everyone on Earth.
May 25, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Mozilla, in layman’s terms, is a simple, efficient, safe and secure way to access infinite data.
May 25, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Mozilla is Power to the People, of the People, by the People, in an organized environment inspired by non-profit Co-operation, not by Big Corporation, done in a manner that gives the Internet a faster, safer, and more pleasant environment for all. I imagine Mozilla to be the Internet of Choice for the late Great Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and John Lennon “Give Peace A Chance – Give Mozilla A Chance.”
May 25, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Mozilla saves the Internet.
May 25, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Mozilla – highway to the futureNET
May 25, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Mozilla is Soylent Green. It’s made of people!
May 25, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Mozilla – Fire up the web
May 26, 2009 at 1:24 am
Mozilla is your key to become a matured webuser.
May 26, 2009 at 4:10 am
Mozilla: Future of open web!
May 26, 2009 at 7:42 am
Очень познавательно. Спасибо.
May 26, 2009 at 9:58 am
Mozilla is a global movement of communities devoted to make an Internet a better place.
Another:
Mozilla is a project that aims at empowering people to customize and enrich their Internet experience.
Another:
Mozilla activates people to shape the Internet.
May 26, 2009 at 10:10 am
Mozilla – Making the Internet a better place!
May 26, 2009 at 10:12 am
erm, “the Internet”.
May 26, 2009 at 10:17 am
Mozilla, you, me, everybody, free! (The Blues Brothers singing in the background)
May 26, 2009 at 10:54 am
Mozilla firefox- better than the internet.
Mozilla thunderbird- the best way to stay in touch when your out of touch.
May 26, 2009 at 12:01 pm
mozilla in one sentence founder of secured browser ever firefox.
May 28, 2009 at 8:30 am
Mozilla,inventer of the best ever web browser!
May 28, 2009 at 8:31 am
Mozilla,inventor of the best ever web browser!
May 28, 2009 at 5:43 pm
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