What is the difference between goal, vision and mission?

India
July 9, 2010 7:02am CST
There is an organization in India called "Ramakrishna Mission"; it is a symbol of what Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (the "guru" of swamy Vivekananda) wished to achieve in the his life - world recognition of the all-embracing vastness and accommodativeness of Hinduism. His goal was termed a "mission". We also use the word 'goal' when we want to achieve something. The word "Vision", I feel, reflects a deep desire to see something or someone in a particular "state" of idealism or perfection. Can you try and distinguish these three words - goal, vision and mission?
1 response
funorb12
@funorb12 (456)
• United States
9 Jul 10
I see goal as to being a objective that one tries to achieve. A vision is more of a objective that one wants completed during time, because the circumstances as of yet are near impossible to chase the vision. A mission is an objective is not tried, but one's job, and not seeking to, but accomplishing his mission. I feel as if mission is a more stronger word to use if your going to strive for something of greatness. A vision is what you see in life of which you want an objective to be implemented. A goal is your average objective that you may or may not achieve.
1 person likes this
suryachalla
@suryachalla (1369)
• India
10 Jul 10
Very enthusiastic attempt funorb! See how difficult it is to say what we know, yet are unable to find the words to express. You have got across your idea though not the right, and orderly choice of words! Good!
suryachalla
@suryachalla (1369)
• India
10 Jul 10
The Apollo Mission - Before 1960's, the dream of landing a man on the moon was merely a vision. In the '60s it became a "mission", an "achieve at whatever the cost or time involved" type of goal.
A vision is utopian, or idealistic, whereas a mission is something tangible, an objective or goal that is attainable at great involvement and intensity which you are totally committed to achieving, whatever the cost or sacrifice; a goal is akin to mission but less intense and usually involves pragmatic planning, rather than the "devil-may-care", or "do-or-die" attitude of a mission;