Vision, mission, values

Rev Fr Paul Lelen Haokip *

“Now that we have learned to fly in the air like birds and dive in the sea like fish. Only one thing remains – to learn to live on earth like humans.” (George Bernard Shaw)

The very fact that you are able to read shows that your physical eye vision is fine. Your action of actually opening this page to read is a mission in miniature. The thought of trying to practice the lesson from these pages so as to uphold yourself and other will form part of the values.

If you are a keen observer, you will notice that every organization, institute, company or firm has its Vision Mission Values (VMV) Statement clear and loud. This becomes their passport that travels to the hands and eyes of prospective customers or employees or admirers. This represents them strongly in many ways. This is the Identity Card, this is the message.

Vision: A concrete goal set to be achieved in the near future is called a vision. We hear words like – a visionary man, vision of the village, vision for the youth club, vision of this political leader, a vision oriented work, etc. All these words speak of a particular goal to be achieved within a set time. Vision is the reason a particular organization or institution lives and exists for.

Vision is the one and only prime aim for the existence of a particular institute. An organization without vision has no meaning for its existence. It is just a mere number added to the society. On the other hand, a vision oriented organization is an asset to the society. For example – the vision of a particular educational institute is “Forming a nation of responsible individuals”.

Mission: Every vision has some implementable mechanism to achieve that priced vision. These day-to-day works are called ‘mission’. To reach the summit, one needs to take steps that are achievable and slowly but steadily move up the ladder to reach the summit. These works are done on need basis that are solely oriented towards achieving the Vision.

For the above vision “Forming a nation of responsible individuals”, the mission could be – compulsorily educating every child in the vicinity of the educational institute, retention of the enrolled pupils, cut-down on dropout rate, seeking better educational avenues after the completion of tenth standard.

This is not just minimum literacy but forming people with a view to sustainable livelihood and survival. This is one way of forming a nation of responsible individuals.

Values: To achieve the Vision, we employ Mission hand-in-hand with Values. Values are helpers and principles you employ to achieve your Vision. These may be like – hard work, perseverance, transparency, generosity, truthfulness, service, dedication, etc. These are your well built support systems you use to achieve your Vision.

Let your values lead you to walk daily, consistently to arrive at your priced goal. So, to arrive at “Forming a nation of responsible individuals”, you employ the above values.

At a personal level: In our personal life too, we should carefully frame our own VMV. We have just but one life. This life is the most precious gift from God. We can either waste it or use it. We all try every means to protect and prolong this fragile life. Don’t we? Then, why not formulate a Vision Mission Values for your most precious gift?

The VMV will differ from person to person, from profession to profession.

Being the person you want to see and meet is a way of preparing as a good and responsible citizen. One such concrete way is to form your VMV. We all have choices in life. The courage of taking a leap for change is the solution.

Even a new born child cries when out from that warm and cosy mother’s womb. But we cannot be at one place all the time. We need to move, for we have a vision formulated, a mission to accomplish and values to be faithfully guarded.

Sugar and salt may be mixed together but ants reject the salt and carry away the sugar pieces for themselves. We are also surrounded with infinite choices and possibilities. The secret art is to select the right choices of life like making our MVM. Now you may. Do it even if it is a rough one. You can slowly modify and better it in the days to come by.

Scientific researches tell us that, 60,000 thoughts passes through our mind on an average day. By writing down my top most desire, aim or goal on a given paper, rock or cloth – I send a red flag to my subconscious mind that this thought is much more vital than the remaining 59,999 others. Then my mind takes the form of a guided missile looking out for the target using all the available opportunities.

To achieve anything new and worthwhile, the recipe of enthusiasm is a key ingredient for it. Postponement is a slow poison of life. Seeing the target rather than the surrounding is the all road for getting the desired goal. And you know it.

Write your own Vision, Mission, Values. Work for it. There is no one who can work for you. You are the sole actor.

Why do you expect others to write your destiny when you can. You can. You should.