Mission and goal are two terms that often confuse people due to their similar sound and meaning. While both of these concepts discuss what one desires in life, there are distinct differences between the two.
Key Takeaways
- Mission is a long-term objective or result one wants to achieve, while goals are smaller milestones within the journey to the mission.
- Goals can change over time, depending on age and perspective, whereas a mission usually remains consistent.
- Organizations often have a mission statement that reflects their long-term goals, while individuals set goals to help them work towards their personal missions.
In a simple example, imagine playing a game of football. The ultimate objective is to win the game, which represents the mission. In order to achieve this mission, players must score goals. However, merely scoring goals does not guarantee victory, and failing to score a goal at times does not necessarily mean failure in achieving the mission. This analogy illustrates that goals are designed to push one in a particular direction towards their ultimate mission.
A mission is a long-term objective that individuals, groups, organizations, and governments set for themselves. There may be various strategies, plans, and goals employed to achieve the mission. Goals, on the other hand, are the ends towards which effort and action are directed. They are not the supreme goal, which is always the mission of the individual or organization. There can be many goals, but there is always one mission.
It is important to understand the difference between goals and missions to avoid confusion and circular progress. The mission of an organization should be clear and supreme, while goals are smaller milestones that need to be achieved in order to reach the final objective.
