--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have a family mission statement…" description: "\"If you have a family mission statement that clarifies what your purpose is, then you use that as the criterion by which you make the decisions.\" — Step..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/stephen-covey-339_criterion_if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-t_2440458.png" --- # If you have a family mission statement that clarifies what… ![“If you have a family mission statement that clarifies what your purpose is, then you use that as the criterion by which you make the decisions.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/stephen-covey-339_criterion_if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-t_2440458.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/stephen-covey-339_criterion_if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-t_2440458.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/stephen-covey-339_criterion_if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-t_2440458.png) > “If you have a family mission statement that clarifies what your purpose is, then you use that as the criterion by which you make the decisions.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A clear family mission guides decision‑making by providing a purpose‑based filter. **In simple terms:** Mission guides decisions. Key Takeaway Create a family mission statement. Themes purpose decision‑making family Mood determined hopeful Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - family meetings - career choices - investment decisions Key Concepts mission clarity values alignment Questions to Reflect On - What core values define your family? - How will you apply them in tough choices? A Different Perspective May limit flexibility in unexpected situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criterion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criterion/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission/) [Mission statement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-statement/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [I don't care who likes it or buys it. Because if you use that criterion, Mozart would never have written Don Giovanni, Charlie Parker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/i-don-t-care-who-likes-it-or-buys-it-because-if-you-use-that-2/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [I don't care who likes it or buys it. Because if you use that criterion, Mozart would have never written Don Giovanni, Charlie Parker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branford-marsalis/i-don-t-care-who-likes-it-or-buys-it-because-if-you-use-that/) [Branford Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branford-marsalis/) > [“power of the personal mission statement lies in your vision and in a commitment to that vision, that purpose, and those principle-centered values. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/power-of-the-personal-mission-statement-lies-in-your-vision-and-in-a/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [A mission statement is not something you write overnight... But fundamentally, your mission statement becomes your constitution, the solid expression of your vision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/a-mission-statement-is-not-something-you-write-overnight-but/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [A personal mission statement becomes the DNA for every other decision we make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/a-personal-mission-statement-becomes-the-dna-for-every-other-decision/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“The goal is not to run a program called “Missional Community.” The goal is to learn how to function as an extended family on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-breen/the-goal-is-not-to-run-a-program-called-missional-community-the-goal/) [Mike Breen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-breen/) > [“FIVE SIGNS OF OIKOS Another pattern we’ve seen is that MCs that really become extended families on mission have several common elements. We call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-breen/five-signs-of-oikos-another-pattern-we-ve-seen-is-that-mcs-that/) [Mike Breen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-breen/) > [Juilliard's mission statement is learn about the classics so you can use that as a springboard to anything that comes your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-breaker/juilliard-s-mission-statement-is-learn-about-the-classics-so-you-can/) [Daniel Breaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-breaker/) > [People lead complicated lives and aren't hanging on your every word or the company mission statement. You have to become a broken record of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/people-lead-complicated-lives-and-aren-t-hanging-on-your-every-word/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [A Mission Statement is a dense slab of words that a large organization produces when it needs to establish that its workers are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/a-mission-statement-is-a-dense-slab-of-words-that-a-large/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [What is SOCOM's mission statement in two sentences? Most people I know in SOF cannot recite it. If it's not clear from the bottom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-webb/what-is-socom-s-mission-statement-in-two-sentences-most-people-i-know/) [Brandon Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-webb/) > [Declare: -- I Am Here To Organize My Feelings, My Heart, My Dreams, My Body And My Sex, To Make Them All Accessible And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drjames-dazouloute/declare-i-am-here-to-organize-my-feelings-my-heart-my-dreams-my-body/) DrJames Dazouloute > [I never start anything with a really overt, political, or even exactly artistic mission statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-never-start-anything-with-a-really-overt-political-or-even-exactly/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [These days, all we hear about is that the industry is in trouble. Everybody is so scared, but our mission statement is having no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/these-days-all-we-hear-about-is-that-the-industry-is-in-trouble/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [The mission statement was ordered, and it sent the 800th MP Brigade, effective the first of July, up to Baghdad. I joined my brigade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-karpinski/the-mission-statement-was-ordered-and-it-sent-the-800th-mp-brigade/) [Janis Karpinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-karpinski/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Criterion quotes > [Sporting events like the Olympics have developed and maintained a clear message of promoting gender equality as an essential criterion in the success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-attias/sporting-events-like-the-olympics-have-developed-and-maintained-a/) [Richard Attias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-attias/) > [The criterion of true beauty is, that it increases in examination; of false, that it lessens. 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The only unfailing criterion is that I can hitch my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/i-read-little-nonfiction-but-i-have-no-boundaries-about-the-fiction-i/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [The criterion for what is good is based on whether it relieves someone, brings joy, or soothes a distress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-hellinger/the-criterion-for-what-is-good-is-based-on-whether-it-relieves/) [Bert Hellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-hellinger/) > [One of the reasons I did 'Louie Bluie' and 'Crumb' with Criterion was because I like a lot of their older French films. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/one-of-the-reasons-i-did-louie-bluie-and-crumb-with-criterion-was/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) > [“Babel, The Collected Stories, Nueva York, Criterion Book,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/babel-the-collected-stories-nueva-york-criterion-book/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the core criterion is the social awkwardness, but the sensory issues are a serious problem in many, many cases of autism, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-the-core-criterion-is-the-social-awkwardness-but-the-sensory/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [One thing that makes the adventure of working in our field particularly rewarding, especially in attempting to improve the theory, is that... a chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-gell-mann/one-thing-that-makes-the-adventure-of-working-in-our-field/) [Murray Gell-Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-gell-mann/) > [I don't care who likes it or buys it. 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Because if you use that criterion, Mozart would never have written Don Giovanni, Charlie Parker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/i-don-t-care-who-likes-it-or-buys-it-because-if-you-use-that-2/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) [Browse all 36 Criterion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criterion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you have a family mission statement that clarifies what your purpose is, then you use that as the criterion by which you make the decisions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-that-clarifies-what-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criterion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-that-clarifies-what-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/stephen-covey-339_criterion_if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-t_2440458.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/stephen-covey-339_criterion_if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-t_2440458.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/stephen-covey-339_criterion_if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-t_2440458.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you have a family mission statement that clarifies what your purpose is, then you use that as the…” — Stephen Covey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Covey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you have a family mission...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-that-clarifies-what-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-have-a-family-mission-statement-that-clarifies-what-your/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```