A mission statement is necessary.

I'm serious about my passion for this blog and for creating the best possible experience for you all. So like any other creator, founder, and business owner, I believe having a mission statement is 100% necessary.

My goal in creating a mission statement: be clear on what you'll get when you click into this What American History Is About blog.

The Mission Statement:

Create joy and understanding through the people, places, art, objects, and their stories that embody our American history.

View of the Wheelright's shop, Colonial Williamsburg.

Disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.

How it happened.

Creating a mission statement for this blog was easy. Honestly.

I had a bit of guidance: The Essential Habits of 6-Figure Bloggers by Sally Miller (Essential Habits). When I decided to jump in and make this blog my main focus, I grabbed the book off the shelf. (spoiler alert, it's not about making six figures- I feel like I need to be clear about that!).

Miller begins Essential Habits by walking you through a series of exercises that work. She helps you create a foundation for your business based on asking yourself questions, defining your goals, and of course- putting it all together in a way that works for you.

A few tiny bits that were included:

• what moves me emotionally (even specific moments and events)
• who would be reading this blog
• how you all have been responding to the articles in this blog
• the value I find in learning history

RELATED: Click here to purchase Essential Habits.

My copy of Essential Habits.

My 8-step process.

1. Purchased a serious blog and business planner (my Epic Blog planner!).
2. Took a few weeks to fill in some of the blanks.
3. Read the chapter in Essential Habits outlining all the steps and exercises in creating the foundational elements of my blog and business.
4. Booked a workcation and dove into the steps.
5. Set the draft of my mission statement aside (after discussing it with a friend!)
6. Created a survey for readers and sent it out by email as well as posted it on my Facebook page.
7. Finalized it.
8. Created this blog post as one task during another little workcation in a place that inspires my focus on history!

Breaking down a workcation on the Free At 50 blog.

Is it final? Yes and no.

For now, this mission statement works. All the blog posts you see should fit neatly into it. It's my commitment to readers but never say never... we'll see what the future brings! I can tell you this: I don't plan on making major changes anytime soon. If it seems that a word or two need updating to truly hit the mark, I'm open to it.

That said, the spirit of the mission statement isn't up for debate. I'm truly committed.

It's why I've been so detailed in my approach to learning history as well as sharing it!

Make sure to subscribe to the blog using the form on this page and share it with others who share our love for history.

Closing words from history.

My sentiments about this blog found in this excerpt in a letter from Samuel Johnson to Benjamin Franklin. The topic: his publication, for which he's requesting Franklin's review. Click here to read in full, with notes and citations, on Founder's Archives.

To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Johnson, [10 May 1750]

....

I could not forbear having the vanity to wish it might be useful to others, for I was always very desirous if I could, to contribute something towards promoting the Interest of Learning in the Country, and could therefore wish, (tho’ I dare not expect,) that it might possibly obtain so favourable an Opinion with Gentlemen as to be thot not altogether undeserving the Press, but as to this I am intirely resigned to the Judgment of my Friends, and particularly do submit it to your Candid Judgment and that of any Friend to whom you may think it worth the while to give the perusal of it.

....

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There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.

1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.

2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.

3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.