Fast Company offers an excellent article from Marshall Goldsmith on the differences between goals and the larger mission. The message? Don't get so focused on goals that you lose sight of the larger mission. Here's my favorite excerpt from this article.
The canyons of Wall Street are littered with victims of goal obsession. I asked one hard-driving deal maker, "Mike, why do you work all of the time?" He replied, "Why do you think? Do you think I love this place? I am working so hard because I want to make a lot of money!" I continued my inquiry, "Do you really need this much money?" "I do now," Mike grimaced. "I just got divorced for the third time. With three alimony checks every month, I am almost broke." "Why do you keep getting divorced?" I asked. The answer came out as a sad sigh. "All three wives kept complaining that I worked all the time. They have no idea how hard it is to make this much money!"
Fast Company | Goal 1, Mission 0