Personal Mission Statement
Write a constitution for your life to guide every decision
Habit 2, Begin with the End in Mind, is based on the principle that all things are created twice: first mentally, then physically. A Personal Mission Statement is the written first creation of your life. It functions as a personal constitution, a fixed reference point from which you can evaluate every decision, opportunity, and use of your time.
Covey argues that without a personal mission statement, you default to scripts written by other people: parents, society, media, culture. These scripts may not reflect your deepest values. The mission statement process forces you to examine those scripts, decide which to keep, and proactively write your own. It centers on identifying your roles, the principles you want to live by, and what you want people to say about you at your funeral.
The power of a mission statement comes from its rootedness in principles rather than circumstances. Unlike goals, which change, a principle-centered mission statement remains stable through changing conditions. It becomes the criterion against which everything else is measured, providing both direction and the courage to say no to things that don't align.
- All things are created twice: first in the mind, then in reality.
- A personal mission statement based on correct principles becomes a changeless core in a changing world.
- Whatever is at the center of your life becomes the source of your security, guidance, wisdom, and power.
- Effective people begin each day, task, and project with a clear vision of their desired direction and destination.
- Writing forces clarity; a written mission statement is qualitatively different from an unwritten one.
- Conduct the Funeral VisualizationSit alone and vividly imagine your own funeral three years from now. Picture four speakers: a family member, a friend, a work colleague, and a community member. Write down specifically what you would want each to say about your character, contributions, and the difference you made.Pro tipDo this in a quiet, unhurried setting. The depth of insight is directly proportional to how seriously and emotionally you engage with the exercise.
- Identify Your Life RolesList the key roles you play: spouse, parent, manager, community member, individual. For each role, write 2-3 sentences describing the kind of person you want to be in that role and the outcomes you want to create.WarningDon't skip roles you're currently neglecting. The mission statement should capture who you want to become, not just who you currently are.
- Identify Your CenterExamine what currently sits at the center of your life (money, work, spouse, family, pleasure, self). Covey argues that only a principle center provides consistent security, guidance, wisdom, and power. Consciously choose principles as your center.Pro tipCovey provides detailed analysis of how different centers (spouse-centered, work-centered, money-centered) distort your judgment. Review these to identify your default center.
- Draft Your Mission StatementUsing your funeral insights, role descriptions, and chosen principles, write a first draft. It can be a paragraph, a set of statements, or even a poem. There is no correct format. The key is that it resonates deeply with you.Pro tipCovey emphasizes this is not a weekend project. Plan to revise it over several weeks or months. Use your right brain (visualization, imagery, emotion) as well as your left brain (logic, words, sequence).
- Review and Refine RegularlyReview your mission statement weekly during your personal planning time. Revise it as your understanding deepens. Over months it will stabilize into a document that truly represents your deepest values. Use it as the criterion for weekly and daily decisions.WarningA mission statement that sits in a drawer is useless. It must be a living document that you actively consult when making decisions, especially difficult ones.
Covey describes visiting a Ritz-Carlton hotel where every single employee, from the desk clerk to the room service team, operated from a deeply internalized organizational mission statement. The mission statement for each department was connected to the overarching hotel mission, and employees had written their own team-level mission statements.
Covey shares the personal creed of his friend Rolfe Kerr, which served as his personal constitution. It included commitments like succeeding at home first, seeking and meriting divine help, never compromising with honesty, and maintaining a long-range perspective while keeping discipline in daily priorities.
Covey opens the chapter on Habit 2 with a powerful thought experiment: imagine attending your own funeral three years from now. Four speakers represent your family, friends, work, and community. What would you want each to say about you? The gap between those desired eulogies and your current trajectory reveals your mission.
This approach was influenced by Covey's study of Viktor Frankl's logotherapy and the principle of mental creation. Covey observed that the most effective individuals and organizations all operated from a clear, written sense of purpose that preceded their daily actions.