Vision Vs. Goals - YasGorji

What Are The Differences Between Vision And Goals?

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” -Anthony Robbins

What Are The Characteristics Of A Goal/Target And How Is It Different From The Vision/Perspective?

What do you think the goal really is?

Before you read the rest of the article, think about these questions for a moment!

It is true that these questions seems very simple. But you should know that the answer is very important!

The wrong idea that people have about their goals makes them never reach their goals. Therefore, let’s once again explain this seemingly simple word.

In addition to answering the question of ‘what is a goal?’, This article also examines the characteristics of the right goals. (In this way, probably after reading this article, you can set the right goals for yourself.)

What Is A Goal?

There are different definitions for it.

But in a simple definition, it can be said that ‘A goal is an idea of the future or a desirable result.’ A person or a group of people visualize it. They plan for it. And commit to achieve it.

In general goals are like decisions and commitments that people take to eliminate a bad habit, add a useful habit to their life cycle or achieve success and happiness.

But that’s not all you need to know about the goals!

The most important thing about a goal is to get familiar with it’s features, which will be mentioned in the next section.

But before that, let’s specify our task with another word:

‘What does vision mean?’

And, what is the difference between target and perspective? Or, What Is The Difference Between Vision and Goals?

One of the terms that may be associated with one’s goal is their perspective or vision. Although these two words convey different concepts, they are usually related to each other in the personal growth path.

If you want to set effective goals for yourself, you need a clear vision. In addition, having goals without clear vision, does not lead to good results in most cases.

To better understand the difference between vision and goals, take a look at the table below:

Vision/Perspective	Goal/Target
Vision is imagining a future with introspection. A person visualizes a goal without knowing how they want to achieve it.	The goal refers to your specific and desired results. Goals are milestones that help you achieve your dreams.
Visions are like dreams. They may be vague and even impractical. They remain as ideas until they are realized by goals.	Goals are achievable and practical.
Visions/perspectives do not consider your location and resources.	Goals need the resources you have to make them happen.
The visions are limitless. Because there is no end to human imagination.	Goals are not unlimited.
Vision is a gradual process. To realize it, more time is needed than the goals.	Goals are usually in a checklist with a relatively short life. After completing one goal, the person goes to the next goal.

What Characteristics Does The Vision Have?

A personal vision is a clear picture of how you see your future. The vision is aligned with your values and priorities. You can set a vision for what you want to do, what you want to be, or what you want to have.

Since the path to reach the vision is not clear, people create milestones for themselves by setting goals. These milestones show the way to the person.
Goals help people stay focused on their path.

What Characteristics Should The Goal Have?

Now that you understand what a goal is and how it differs from a vision, it’s time to address a very important question, What characteristics should a goal have?

One of the important things that everyone should do for their progress in life or in business is goal setting. But not every goal can be useful for this. Objectives must have ‘certain’ characteristics in order to perform well and give us the desired results and achievements.

Goals Should Be Challenging

Based on a goal setting method called OKR, people should choose goals that they are 70% sure they can achieve.

Goals should be ambitious. They should be challenging and exciting and wake a person up from bed with enthusiasm. The goals should not be such that a person is sure that they will definitely reach them.

Goals Should Be Focused And Not Overwhelming

The set of goals that you choose in a period of time should not be too complicated and overwhelming.

Also, these goals should be focused. When the number of goals increases, people get confused overwhelmed and sometimes without the right guidance and support, they may have trouble prioritizing their tasks, and cannot be sure what their next step or next goal is.

Goals Must Be Relevant

Goals can change too!

You should constantly review your goals to see if they are related to what you are trying to achieve now at this point of your life or not.

If goals are not related to the big picture you have in mind, they will only waste your time.

Goals Should Be Positive

You must express your goals positively.

Humans perform much better when approaching what they want, than when they want to avoid something… So your goals should be giving you positive vibes.

What Are The Signs Of A Purposeful Person?

People who are purposeful have characteristics and behaviors that distinguish them from aimless people. Unlike what many people believe, a purposeful person is not only a person who has won a prize in a big competition or has done something very important. A person can be purposeful without having the characteristics that we always see in media. It is purposeful to live beyond these issues.

Therefore, if you want to know what are the signs of a purposeful person and whether you belong in this category or not, follow the list below:

You always have a clear vision of where you want to go and you allow yourself to learn and grow.
Even if the situation becomes difficult, you continue on your way and give yourself permission to fails or rest sometimes.
Even with the mistakes, obstacles, trials and errors and disappointments that have happened to you on the way, you look back with pleasure and have no regrets because you know that you have done your best at that time with the resources and knowledge and experiences that you had then.
You live in the moment and focus only on what you can change, achieve and make better for your future, You will focus on what you are doing right now.
When you want to make a change in your life, you start right now and don’t delay it.
You are really honest with yourself beyond excuses and explanations. So whatever promise you make to yourself, you will believe and deliver it.
You know what you want and why you want it.
You have personal discipline.
A purposeful person Never gives up easily. In a part of the book Don’t Destroy Yourself, we can read a quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger that points out this point well. They believe that most human successes are the result of enduring discomfort, risk and uncertainty. Therefore, a person who is purposeful remains steadfast in the path of their goals and does not turn back from the path of reaching their goals very soon with the slightest problem.

Ways To Aim Results Correctly:

Some researches have shown that there is a direct relationship between setting goals, looking for positive results and achieving success.

Of course, just setting goals will not make you successful! Rather, the goals must be set correctly and the resources and the steps that we take towards them matter a lot too.

So, you may ask what is the right way to choose the right goal?

Do not set many different goals at the same time.
Choose a goal that is most important and stick to it.
Write the goal and the motivation you have to achieve it somewhere.
Visualize your goal in your mind to understand what exactly you want and how you want to get there.

It is important to keep in mind that we need to be clear about our goals, while goals should be helping us to stay ambitious, they should also be realistic, specially the first times that we try to set goals.

You should try to find the obstacles that may get in your way while aiming. Then find a solution for them. You should also evaluate your goals to measure their endurance.

Of course we always have to dream big and beautiful but setting goals should be achievable and we have to know about the steps that we need to take to move forward, and the resources that we can use on the road, beside the empowerments and supports that we can have while we are on the path.

These days, especially with the heating up of personal development and personal growth subjects, the word goal is heard a lot! I tried to answer some of the main questions about goals in this article, and address it’s different with a vision, and describe the characteristics of a good and realistic goal.

Some Frequently Asked Questions About This Topic Are:

What is the difference between vision and goal?

A vision is a picture of the future that a person still does not know exactly how they want to reach it. However, goals are specific milestones that lead to specific results.

What are the characteristics of a true goal?

Challenging… The right goal is relevant and positive.

Achieving the right goals are not very exhausting and difficult.

Now this is your turn. What is a good goal and how should it be set from your point of view? (You always can write to me about your opinions in your emails. I really like reading your kind emails.) 🙂

(Click here to read about ‘Leaving Your Comfort Zone’.)