What is the relation between TASK in your diagram and PURPOSE?’ asked the young chief executive.
‘As I mentioned task is just a general word signifying something that needs to be done. It does, however, usually suggest a limited, particular or non-recurring piece of work, or a circumscribed or short- term undertaking, whether voluntary or not.’
‘And one that will require a relative amount of effort.’
‘Yes, even to the point of being hard and unpleasant. What gives tasks their meaning or value is their purpose, or desired end result.’
‘In that case, how does purpose differ from the other words that we commonly use for the result towards which someone or some organization chooses to direct activity, such as aim, end, goal, object or objective?’
‘Purpose differs from them in two respects. First, it may suggest either a resolute, deliberate movement towards a result – being filled with a sense of purpose – or the desired result itself. It’s energy plus direction. Secondly, and importantly in the context of our present discussion, the specific overtone of purpose in either use is that of significance – a key word that encompasses both meaning and importance. An objective (or one of the other terms) can be specified, quantified and measured – it answers the what question. Purpose is not amenable to measurement and answers the why question.’
‘And purpose refers to those underlying values of good present in some tasks or kinds of work. I can see now why meaning and purpose are so often associated together – they are almost synonymous. Where does vision fit into this framework?’
It Is Provided In The Essence Of Things
That From Any Fruition Of Success,
No Matter What,
Shall Come Forth Something
To Make A Greater Struggle Necessary
Walt Whitman