Are your goals more important than your mission?

Colleagues,

Don’t confuse the mission with the goals!
 
Mission: the purpose for which your organization exists
Example from our (Pam and I) recent cross-country trip: the purpose (mission) of our trip was to reconnect with family and friends and to have memorable experiences in nature.
 
Vision: The ideal outcome resulting from enacting or fulfilling your mission.
Example: we will arrive home renewed in multiple ways (relationship with each other and others) with a new set of memories and a great appreciation for our country, its people, and beauty.
 
Goals: Achievements that will help you fulfill your mission.
Example:
1.Backpack in the Badlands
2.Backpack in Glacier Park
3.Visit friend Nat in Klamath Falls
4.Spend time with mom in San Francisco
5.Visit other family on the way home
 
As it turned out, we did not meet goals one and two, but we still achieved our mission and fulfilled our vision.
 
How?
 
With record heat across the West, goals one and two become unreasonable. While keeping in mind our mission (memorable experiences in nature), we set new goals:

1. Backpack in a high elevation national park
2. Enjoy mountain top vistas

 
These new goals allowed us to escape the heat and fulfill have some remarkable outdoor moments.
 
Sometimes we cling to goals even when they no longer serve their purpose. Every now and then, step back and check your alignment. Especially if it is hot outside!

Cheers!

​Frederick