3 Big Questions - Standard Objectives

Back to the 3 big questions from Lencioni's book. I mentioned that with question #2 - What is your family's top priority – your rallying cry – right now? - there are two elements.

One, defining objectives... the things you'll have to do to achieve your rallying cry. In my last post I shared our top priority along with the defining objectives.

And two, standard objectives. These are the things we are always about. They were important five years ago, they are important today, and they will be important ten years from now. Lencioni describes these as "regular, perennial responsibilities." These are the things that matter to your family all the time.

Our standard objectives:

• financial stewardship
• strong faith and church involvement
• personal development - education/reading
• strong, healthy marriage
• meaningful family engagement
• intentional travel

We debated whether "intentional travel" was really one of our objectives. With both our extended and immediate family scattered across the U.S. we decided that this one mattered. Plus, we have been involved in numerous missional trips that tie into our uniqueness statement of investing in those involved in ministry both nationally and internationally.

Obviously, these standard objectives will look different for each family/couple. You will know what has been and always will be important to you.

To forget these during the 2 - 6 month rallying cry could do more harm than good. Don't let your rallying cry distract you from the things you are always about.

For example, Dennis and I are currently in the middle of a rallying cry to get healthy in several ways. If we made this our only focus and neglected paying the bills, giving, tax season, etc., our finances would be a mess by the end of our 3-month rallying cry. Or, if we disregarded touching base with our adult children for 3 months... well, in our case, we wouldn't know that we had another grandbaby on the way or that a grandbaby arrived. These are very significant things!

So, it's important to know how you're going to achieve your rallying cry, but also that you remember who your family is in the long run.

All three questions are important, but without the last one... well, the first two may have little benefit. My next post will explain the final question.