Goals vs. Projects: What's the Difference?

If you're anything like me, Christmas is super busy, so I end up working on my annual goals the first week or two of the new year. This week we had 3 days of executive meetings to set our personal and professional goals - for the organization and for each of us in our various roles.

Today I attended a Best Year Ever presentation by Full Focus, presented by Michael and Megan Hyatt, a father-daugther duo. Part of the exercises included goal setting for the year, and a question that came up was, "What is the difference between a goal and a project?"

All goals are a project, but not all projects are a goal.

When it comes to achieving success, it's important to have a clear understanding of the difference between goals and projects. While both are crucial for achieving success, they are not the same thing and require different approaches.

Goals are long-term objectives that you want to achieve. They are broad and often require a lot of time and effort to accomplish. Examples of goals might include:

• Starting your own business
• Losing weight and getting in shape
• Earning a promotion at work

On the other hand, projects are shorter-term tasks or activities that contribute towards achieving a goal. Projects are more specific and have a clear start and end date. They are often smaller in scope and more focused than goals. Examples of projects might include:

• Researching the market for your business idea
• Creating a meal plan and grocery list for healthy eating
• Setting up a meeting with your supervisor

It's important to understand the difference between goals and projects because they require different approaches. Goals often require a long-term mindset and consistent effort, while projects are more "in the weeds," and fairly easily checked off your to do list. By understanding the difference between the two, you'll be better equipped to set and achieve your goals.

Write your goals for the year, but keep a "to do" list for any projects that don't rise to the level of a goal. For me, if I have assigned a goal to a staff member, that goal goes on my Project List, because I keep track of it, but I don't "own" it.

One of my goals is to open a satellite drop in centre in Sydney. One of my projects is to write a new staff evaluation form. One will take several months. The other can be done in an afternoon.

As the Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

What is one goal and one project you've got planned for 2023?