Confused about the difference between mission and vision? Or between purpose and mission? You’re not alone. I am frequently asked about the difference between mission, vision, purpose, strategy, and goals, and where do values fit?

Many people don’t care about definitions, and that’s unfortunate. Having clear definitions distinguishes the concepts from each other. And since there is an order of operations, where each one drives the next, it’s important to understand how they relate.

Ken Favaro in the Harvard Business Review says, “Ignoring, blurring, or misunderstanding concepts creates sloppy thinking, deciding, and doing at all levels of an organization.” For example, if you focus on goal-setting without considering the larger vision, you are likely to end up with goals that don’t matter.

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