Stay On Track

Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. . . . Meditate on [them] day and night. Joshua 1:7-8

Wordspy.com, an online dictionary of newly coined phrases, defines mission creep as follows: “mission creep noun. The process by which an [organization’s] goals change gradually over time.”

You’ve probably heard someone say, “I don’t know where we got off track, but we’re heading in the wrong direction.”

It happens so subtly that it is barely noticeable, and because it happens over time, the “new mission” is difficult to reverse.

Leaders are often tempted to shift priorities when solving immediate problems. Relaxing your commitment to core values for a quick fix can lead to mission creep.

God told Joshua to maintain his focus by consistently meditating on it. The goal was burned into his heart, and he never took his eyes off the prize.

Every leader faces mission creep. Can you identify areas in which your current activity is not directed toward the primary objective? Be on guard against the lure of short-term solutions.