Having a mission statement and a vision for your future will help you to make good decisions today.

Talking Points:

  • Ownership: When your kids understand their own goals and set those goals themselves, they will be self-motivated to go after them with the structure and guidance you provide rather than terrified of failing and disappointing you.
  • Values: Values are the principles that matter to us. Things like hard work, helping others, having a good attitude, etc. Help your teens think through what matters to them.
  • Mission: Mission is about the “what” of life. What are you trying to do? Maybe your mission is to be the greatest basketball player or the most celebrated pianist of your generation? Whatever it is, it’s what you’re after.
  • Vision: Vision is about where you want to go, meaning, what you want to do with your mission. If mission is the “what” of life, vision is the “why.”
  • Strategy: How do you plan to accomplish your goals. You need a strategy or plan to succeed. 
  • Culture: Culture is about how you actually live- your habits and priorities. 
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Parents: what was the mission of your family growing up? What were your values? Did you have a strategy for being a healthy family? Explain.
  3. Why do you think it’s important to have a clear mission, vision, and values?
  4. Why is ownership a crucial step for teens to develop their mission, vision, and values? What would it look like for a teen to have these three things without a sense of ownership?
  5. What are the values that matter to you? Why?
  6. What would you say is your mission in life? Why?
  7. What would you say is your vision?
  8. Strategy is all about our day-to-day plans to accomplish our goals. What would be some strategic choices for you to make to accomplish your goals?
  9. Download the Family Fundamentals Worksheet and do your best to fill in your mission, vision, values, strategy, and culture. Have some fun with it, and make sure the kids give their input.
  10. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?