What are the Differences between these Words.....?

[Kat]

Please help me to difine the following words and make clear distinction.

"GOAL, AIM, DIRECTION, OBJECTIVE, TARGET"

Longing for you response.

Kat

[jupiter]

Hello Kat,

I'm also not 100% clear about the subtle difference between these words. Yet I wanna try my best to share some ideas of mine.

Goal is reason why you do something.
eg. My goal is to master English grammar.

Aim is what you plan/intend to achieve.
eg. My aim is to be a good person.

Direction is what you have to do to meet your need

Objective is like aim but it's more specific. For example, if you are a footballer, your aim is to win a football match so your objective is to get score for your team. First you get good score (objective) then you win (aim).

Target is like aim but it's kind of flexible. For example, your aim is to be a good student but your target is to what degree/percentage, that is, are you 100% a good student or are you 70% a good student and so on.

Just some ideas

Will be right back

Jupiter

PS. Hope others will shed some light on this matter.

[Nolan]

Dear Kat & Jupiter,

Jupiter, you gave a great explanation about the words above, but now I?d like to try my best to explain more about the differences of those words.

I think that goal, aim & objective have a very similar meaning, but direction & target is much different.

Here?s my explanation:
* Goal = an aim or purpose that a plan is intended to achieve sth and when achieved it, our intention will be finished.
E.g. our goal is for the country to be fully independent within two years. (After the country is independent, our goal will finish).

* Aim = the ambition intended to be reach and which is believed to be possible.
E.g. my main aim in life is to be a good husband and father. (To be a good husband and father is not so difficult, so it?s possible for him to make his ambition becoming true)

* Objective = sth which you plan to do or achieve but you need to do sth in order to reach your objective.
E.g. In a game called ?Age of Empire?, the main objective is to conquer your enemies. (It means that you need to battle for victory in order to achieve your objective that is to control your opponents).

* Direction = an instruction that was given by other people in order to achieve your goal.  
E.g. I complete this project as a result of my colleague?s direction.

* Target = a level or situation which you intend to achieve:
E.g. the government's target of 4.5% annual economic growth seems easily achievable.

That is my explanation but I can?t guarantee it?s a 100% perfect, it?s just my opinion. Hope that other members will give clearer explanation.

Have fun,

Nolan

[Keo Somala]

Dear Jupiter and Nolan,

You both have shed so much light on this matter already. Those are fabulous explanations. Wow, I am learning from them. :lol:

[Kat]

Hi all,

Jupiter and Nolan, thanks for your nice explanations.
I've been trying to find the meaning of those words and now come out with a conclusion that:

GOAL is something one wants to reach in a long period, let's say more than 5 years. It is invisible so that one does not know whether he can get it or not.

AIM is someting that one sets to achieve. It is visible and achievable. The expected time to obtain is shorter than that of goal.
Ex:  My goal is to have a good family and live happily
       My aim is to graduate with good marks and get a good job.

TARGET is like AIM, but is it flexible, as Jupiter and Nolan declaired.

But, I'm still not clear about DIRECTION and OBJECTIVE.
I'm not sure whether DIRECTION is the set point or the instruction. :?:
And I read a book; It says an objective is the out come of the action. :?:
Could anyone help to clarify these?

And what do you think about my idea stated above? Is that correct?

Thanks alot. Looking for your ideas.

Kat