A credo is an established statement of belief that influences decisions and actions in life or at work.
This term, which in Latin means I Believe, has evolved in usage over time, now commonly indicating a guiding principle or philosophy.
A credo may be personal or corporate in nature, reflecting either individual convictions or collective organizational ethos.
It serves to shape a person or group’s day-to-day activities and long-term goals by creating a framework of values and principles.
A well-crafted credo can foster cohesion, direction, and purpose, providing a moral compass for navigating various aspects of life or organizational development.
Personal Credo Examples
1. For Aspirational People
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
This credo encourages you to lead by example rather than passively waiting for others. It pushes individuals towards taking active roles in fostering desired changes in their environment.
2. To Follow The Golden Rule
“Treat others how you want to be treated.”
A credo that underscores the value of fairness and respect. This principle fosters empathy, reminding you to consider how your actions might feel from another’s perspective.
3. For Creative People
“Make each day your masterpiece.”
This statement promotes the idea of treating each day as an opportunity to create something beautiful. It encourages striving for excellence in all undertakings, no matter how small they seem.
4. For Ambition
“Stay hungry, stay foolish.”
An inspiring Steve Jobs quote that implores individuals to continually seek knowledge and embrace opportunities for learning, even if they seem unconventional or risky.
5. For the Love of Life
“Live life to the fullest.”
A credo that urges individuals to make the most out of every moment. It encourages individuals to seize opportunities, explore new things, and appreciate life’s experiences.
6. A Traditional Credo
“Family first.”
A personal belief prioritizing family above all else. This credo highlights the importance of maintaining close familial ties and caring for loved ones.
7. For a Better World
“Choose kindness.”
This credo emphasizes compassion towards others in every situation. It serves as a reminder that, given a choice, it’s better to be kind than to be right.
8. For Adventurers
“Leave no stone unturned.”
A personal belief that underscores the importance of pursuing every avenue or opportunity. This motivates individuals to be thorough in their pursuits and endeavors.
9. For Thinkers
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
This affirmation captures a balanced approach to life. It promotes personal growth through introspection, enjoying the present moment, and looking forward to the future with optimism.
10. A Moral Credo
“Never compromise your integrity.”
A credo emphasizing the importance of always adhering to moral and ethical principles. This pledge encourages honest and upright behavior irrespective of circumstances or potential results.
11. For Empowerment
“If not us, who? If not now, when?”
An empowering quote that underlines personal accountability in making positive changes. This credo calls for prompt action rather than procrastination or reliance on others.
12. One to Make you Think
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
This principle promotes the idea of being useful and helpful to others, as opposed to pursuing success as an end unto itself. It underscores the essence of contributing positively to society.
13. For Inspiration
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
This personal credo encourages individuals to embrace challenges and venture into new territories. By doing so, it suggests that one’s potential can be fully realized.
14. A Reminder of Persistence
“The best way out is always through.”
This aphorism advocates confronting obstacles directly to overcome hurdles. It urges individuals to deal with challenges instead of avoiding them.
15. For Unique People
“Keep it simple, keep it honest, keep it you.”
This credo stresses the importance of authenticity, simplicity and honesty in life. The belief is built around the idea that these three core values can lead to satisfaction and fulfillment.
Examples of Corporate Credos
1. Google’s unofficial credo
‘Don’t be evil’
This statement, although simplified and later replaced with “Do the right thing,” reflects Google’s guiding ethics with its enormous impact on users worldwide. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a user-friendly environment that respects privacy rights and fosters trust among its users.
2. Starbucks mission statement
‘To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.’
Starbucks translates its credo into a customer-first service approach. The credo ensures that every customer experience is personal, warm, and enriching, aligning with the company’s aim to create a community around its coffeehouses.
3. Amazon’s mission statement
‘Our vision is to be earth’s most customer-centric company.’
Amazon’s credo foregrounds customer satisfaction above all. It illustrates the company’s commitment to providing high-quality service, competitive pricing, and convenient shopping experiences for their customers globally.
4. Microsoft’s mission statement
‘To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.’
This credo lays out Microsoft’s ambition to design technology that serves everyone, everywhere. It emphasizes inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment as core values across all its innovations.
5. FedEx’s philosophy
‘People-Service-Profit’
FedEx’s credo underscores the interconnectedness of its people, services, and profit. It articulates the belief that taking care of people leads to better service delivery, and in turn, profit will follow.
6. Walt Disney Company’s mission
‘To entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling.’
The credo of Walt Disney demonstrates its commitment to crafting compelling narratives that engage and lift the human spirit. This ethos underscores their wide-ranging storytelling tools, from animated films to theme parks and multimedia networks.
7. Apple’s mission statement
‘To bring the best user experience to its customers through its innovative hardware, software, and services.’
Stating its commitment to innovation, Apple’s credo defines their dedication to creating advanced technologies with a focus on a smooth, intuitive user experience. Within this guiding principle, Apple places its customers’ needs at the heart of every product design.
8. Patagonia’s mission statement
‘Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.’
This outdoor clothing and gear company reflects its strong environmental stance in its credo, committing to minimize its ecological footprint. Patagonia’s principles underscore the harmony between business objectives and environmental considerations.
9. IKEA’s vision statement
‘To create a better everyday life for the many people.’
IKEA’s credo underscores a devotion to offering functional and well-designed furniture at affordable prices. The company’s goal is to enhance daily life for their customers worldwide, emblematic of their democratic design philosophy.
10. Tesla’s mission statement
‘To accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible.’
Tesla’s credo reflects their pioneering role in the transition towards renewable energy and environmentally friendly transport. The company’s focus is not just on making high-performance electric cars but also on driving the shift in consumer preferences towards sustainable mobility.
11. Coca-Cola’s mission statement
‘To refresh the world…To inspire moments of optimism and happiness…To create value and make a difference.’
Coca-Cola’s overarching credo details a threefold goal: to invigorate, to instill positivity, and to create value. This statement epitomizes their aim to uplift lives around the world through their beverages, while continually striving for meaningful impact.
12. LinkedIn’s vision statement
‘To create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.’
LinkedIn’s credo expresses a commitment to open up economic opportunities for everyone, irrespective of location. This goal drives the platform’s design and service delivery strategies, with an emphasis on creating a valuable networking tool for professionals worldwide.
13. Nike’s mission statement
‘To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.’
Nike’s credo underlines their dedication to stimulating groundbreaking designs that enhance athletic performance. The company’s statement, particularly the words ‘every athlete’, suggests a universal approach where everyone with a body is considered an athlete, reflecting their inclusive vision.
14. McDonald’s mission statement
‘Our mission is to make delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone.’
McDonald’s credo epitomizes its commitment to serving tasty meals that evoke positive emotions, coupled with the ease and convenience of service. The statement emphasizes McDonald’s aspiration to be a destination for happy, memorable experiences for customers worldwide.
15. Adobe’s mission statement
‘To change the world through digital experiences.’
Adobe’s credo showcases its ambition to redefine the digital landscape. The principle reiterates their role in fostering creativity, transforming workflows, and enhancing digital experiences at a global scale. This reflects Adobe’s commitment to innovation and their drive to make digital media accessible and intuitive for all users.
Conclusion
The process of coming up with a credo can help you to develop and refine your sense of self and your personal identity. For businesses, it helps refine their vision and values.
When coming up with a credo, reflect on your core beliefs – those that resonate deeply and drive behavior and decision-making. These will likely be central to the credo you end up choosing.
Furthermore, making your credo clear and concise will also help others, be they friends, family, or customers, to understand the ethos you uphold.
Lastly, remember that a great credo, whether personal or corporate, should be catchy and memorable, demonstrating your uniqueness!
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]