I thought the idea of creating a family mission statement was GREAT!  Especially with equipping our children with an entrepreneurial mindset!

How to Create a Family Mission Statement The first step in planning a family mission statement is for all members of the family, including children, to sit down together and have a brainstorming session. It is best to choose a leisurely time when everyone is more likely to be in a reflective state of mind. Use a notebook, chalkboard, marker board, or large paper pad on an easel for writing down ideas. At this point, welcome all thoughts and do not allow comments to be made about the validity of any suggestion. Listen respectfully and record everyone's expressions accurately. Be patient, as this process will take time. In some cases, it might take several sessions. While you will have to make allowances for children's differing age levels, it is important to obtain everyone's input. Getting the whole family involved will increase their commitment, since the mission statement is something they must all choose to live by. As a starting point for your family discussion, consider the following questions: What does it mean to be a family? What adjectives describe our family? What things are most important to us as a family? What are our strengths as a family, and what areas could use some improvement? What do other people say about our family? What are the priorities on which we want our family to focus (e.g., trust, honesty, kindness, service)? What guiding principles and values do we want our family to live by? What would we like to accomplish as a family? What do we see in other families that we would like to see in ours? What competencies do we want to develop (physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually)? What are the responsibilities of parents and children? What kind of home environment do we want? What great historical figures have inspired us? What are our long-term goals and expectations for the future? What is our purpose in life? Think about the above issues and talk about them. Separate the responses into categories by dividing them into goals (what you are striving for) and action items (things to do to reach the goals). You can shorten the lists by combining similar ideas. Keep going over the suggestions and rewriting them until everyone is in agreement on what your family mission statement should include. Each family member should ultimately agree, since working together toward the same objective is essential for a family to function properly.

Next, arrange the list of thoughts into an orderly composition. Putting a mission statement in writing makes it stronger, emphasizes its importance, and reinforces commitment. Other than that, a mission statement does not have to conform to any set of rules. It may be in the form of prose or poetry. It can be a phrase, a sentence, or an entire page. It may incorporate a picture, symbol, or motto. A family mission statement may be based on a Bible verse or other suitable quotation. Just don't copy someone else's mission statement in an attempt to make it yours. Their mission statement reflects their unique style and point of view, as yours must reflect your own. Your mission statement will remind you of the discussions you had on each topic, so it will have a special meaning for your family that goes beyond the meaning it would have for anyone else.

Try to keep your family mission statement simple. Each word should be meaningful, clear, and concise. Whether it is short or long, the mission statement must be one that everyone understands and will remember. A mission statement has to be written in the heart and mind as well as on paper. When family members have internalized the principles of the mission statement, they can sense the appropriate practices that pertain to each situation. Thus, a well-thought-out family mission statement will help to ensure a happy and secure family environment, by incorporating important principles which all family members choose to live by at all times.

Once you have drafted a family mission statement, you and your children must follow it. The mission statement can direct the family's day-to-day activities, decisions, and expenditures. Keep in mind that while we can control goals, we cannot control results. If used properly, however, the mission statement will help you stay on the right course. By comparing your actions to the mission statement, you can tell if you are straying off the path. If you have difficulties, the mission statement motivates you to make course corrections and get back on track. Any time a member of the family does something contrary to the mission statement, instead of criticizing the person, simply ask them to check whether their action is in line with the mission statement or not.

A wise man once said, "If you want to see the strength of a nation, look at the strength of its families." By placing a family mission statement in your living room or other prominent place where the family gathers, it will be a constant reminder of your family's purpose and principles. Your mission statement should be a living document. Don't just file it away--use it, review it, memorize it. Look at it often and regularly consider how you are conducting your life in accordance with the mission statement.

Did You Know...?

Bible verses relating to family mission statements include the following: Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Deuteronomy 11:18-20, Joshua 24:15, Psalm 119:33-34, Proverbs 1:2-9, Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 4:1-13, Proverbs 6:20-23, Proverbs 10:1, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 24:3-4, Proverbs 29:15, Proverbs 31:10-31, Isaiah 54:13, Malachi 4:6, Ephesians 6:1-4, I Corinthians 13, Philippians 4:8-9, Colossians 3:20, Colossians 3:21, Colossians 3:23, I Timothy 4:11-13, Titus 2:1-5.

Special Circumstances Teens, singles, stepfamilies, and family businesses have their own specific challenges and requirements when it comes to developing an effective mission. Please see the websites below for advice on creating mission statements for each of these circumstances. (And even if you participate in creating a family mission statement, you may want to make your own personal mission statement as well.) Additional Resources How To Develop A Homeschool Mission Statement - http://www.knowledgehouse.info/hs_mission.html First Things First: To Live, to Love, to Learn, to Leave a Legacy by Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, and Rebecca R. Merrill. How to Develop a Family Mission Statement (The Seven Habits Family Leadership Series) by Stephen R. Covey (Audio Cassette). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families: Building a Beautiful Family Culture in a Turbulent World by Stephen R. Covey and Sandra Merrill Covey. The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement For Work and For Life by Laurie Beth Jones.

Teri Ann Berg Olsen is a home educator, a librarian, and the author of Learning for Life: Educational Words of Wisdom. An AFHE member since 1995, she and her husband have always homeschooled their children. In addition to serving as resource coordinator for the Knowledge House Learning Resource Center, Teri is the leader of Desert Hills Christian Homeschoolers and the Arizona State Coordinator for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Visit her blog: www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/Arizona and website: www.knowledgehouse.info.