Mission or Vision?

You know the drill. Every new CEO or fiscal year brings about another fabulous tweak on a company mission statement or vision - to be shared around each and every cubicle.  Most folks would say that the two - mission or vision - are really interchangable parts.  I don't believe so.  An articulated VISION is far more compelling and potentially impactful for employees and all suppliers and biz constituents.  Here's why.  The MISSION is simply the nuts and bolts.  The competitive reason for being, a position in the marketplace and perhaps a mention of the company's future goals.  The VISION has a far greater role to fill.  It can inspire and provide a guideline for all aspects of the company or your division.  It should also inform people and provide meaning, substance and direction.  A well articulated vision should release us from the weight and confusion of day-to-day local problems and concerns - and provide a beautifully poetic clear long-line to latch onto.  A vision can articulate a possibility.  Benjamin Zander, the Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, believes visions are all powerful (in music & business) - and should include the following criteria:
 - A vision fulfills a desire fundamental to humankind, a desire with which any human or employee can resonate.
 - A vision is not about a right way of doing things.  It INSPIRES, and cannot imply that anything is wrong.
 - A vision is stated as a picture for all time, using no numbers or comparatives.
 - A vision is free-standing - it points neither to a rosier future, nor to past in need of improvment.  It gives over its beauty and bounty right now.
 - A vision is a long-line of possibility radiating outward. For that moment, the "real world" becomes a universe of possibility and any & all barriers to the realization of the vision simply disappear.
In this Presidential election year, let's hope we elect a President with a Vision to inspire ALL of us.  But based on the dreadful political TV commercials - the candidates & parties are obviously all focused on the win or lose mission at hand and calling-out faults.  Wouldn't it be just beautiful if the candidates instead shared an inspiring VISION for each and every one of us.