Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens Mission Statement

Teenagers face many challenges in their lives.

Teenagers' lives can be full of challenges on a daily basis. Sean Covey, in his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens," provides tips to help teens navigate the issues that cause worry and indecision. Covey put seven steps in place to help teenagers cope with life: be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first things first; think win-win; seek to understand; seek to be understood; synergize; sharpen the saw. Preparing a mission statement about how you want to live your life is part of step number two, "begin with the end in mind." Covey's book outlines tips on how to write your mission statement and how to find where your real goals lie.

Personal Mission Statement Overview

Covey encourages teens to write their own personal mission statement.

Covey recommends having an ending in mind as you go through your life. He says a personal mission statement is like a motto or a blueprint. Just as big corporations have mission statements that summarize their business goals, so should teens as they navigate the challenges they face. The statement can be in any form you wish: a poem, a song, a story or a favorite quote. It can be short or long, private or shared. The most important things are that it is your own and you read it every day.

Quote Collection

A famous quote is a good place to start your mission statement.

To get started on a personal mission statement, Covey recommends collecting up to five quotes that are your favorites. This is a way for you to get started thinking about what is important to you, by using the examples of others.

Brain Dump

Write continuously for 15 minutes, brainstorming ideas for the mission statement.

The brain dump step has you write for 15 minutes about any goals that come into your mind; no editing, no cross-outs, no stopping. When there is no censor, you are more likely to be honest about the things that are important to you. When 15 minutes are up, take another 15 to edit and sort out what you've written. In 30 minutes, you have a good start on a mission statement. This can be edited and altered over a week or so, to come up with a statement that you are happy with.

The Retreat

Take some time alone to reflect on your life.

Solitude is another way to get to the bottom of your personal goals. Take a day or a large chunk of time to think and reflect on your life, by yourself. When you have no distractions, many ideas come through that you may not have thought of before. Bring a journal or a notepad to write down your most important thoughts.

The Big Lazy

Covey warns that teens may try to construct the perfect mission statement. Then, because it is not perfect, they abandon the idea all together. Your mission statement doesn't need to be perfect, it only needs to be your own. It's personal, so it should not look like anyone else's. You are only writing for yourself, not your teacher or your parents; it is your secret document and does not need to pass inspection by anyone but you.

The Finished Product

When your mission statement is finished, put it in a place where you can easily see it on a daily basis. Cary it around with you; read it every day. Reading it aloud is best. Refer to it often, or even memorize it.

References

• "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens"; Sean Covey; 1998
• Education.com: 7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish