Big goals are really important. Knowing what you want from your business and where you want it to go provides clarity. It helps you make decisions. It helps you create a company culture. It helps you decide which projects to take on and which products to sell. Setting big hairy audacious goals is an essential part of our marketing planning process and has helped to guide many clients towards success.

In the last blog, we shared some tips for how to come up with a BHAG. But today we want to talk about why. Why should you have a BHAG for your business?

The Evidence for Outrageous Goals

There’s actually research to support making big, hairy, audacious goals! Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, who originally coined the term “BHAG,” came up with the concept during their six-year-long research project into what made companies enduringly great. They found companies that had big goals like this were more visionary and more successful.

Another reason is that by striving for big goals, we’re always giving our customers the best version of ourselves. Goals that might seem “unrealistic” make us more successful because we’re always trying to take the next step to reach them.

Let’s talk about that word, “unrealistic,” for a moment. We often include impossible goals and outrageous goals in this same category – for example, “I want to go to Mars tomorrow” and “I want to go to Mars in the next ten years.” But we should really separate the two. Impossible goals make us feel hopeless and discouraged. But insanely high goals give us clear steps to take towards them, even if they’re hard goals to reach. When I encourage my clients (and myself) to set big goals, I encourage them to think of outrageous, audacious—and yes, maybe even unrealistic goals. But not impossible ones. The trick is to stop yourself from putting everything you want in the “impossible” category.

Why? Because BHAGs Keep You Focused

It’s easy to get distracted by the things that happen day to day so having a big hairy audacious goal can be your north star, your lighthouse, that always brings you back.

Some famous examples of BHAGs help illustrate this. Here are two well-known ones:

• Microsoft in the 1980s: “A computer on every desk and in every home” (This seems obvious and inevitable today, but in the 1980s it was crazy to think of a computer in every home!)
• SpaceX (and Elon Musk): To put a human on Mars and bring them back.

Does this make you feel intimidated! Don’t be! Those are their goals, not yours. But take it as an example of how big you can make your goal. Are these goals big, hairy and audacious? They sure are!

Next, think about how simple these goals are. They’re not vague, they don’t just promise to do “better.” These BHAGs state a concrete vision of the future. So the answer to why create a BHAG for yourself is that such a clear, memorable vision gives you a direction. You won’t get distracted.

You won’t forget what it is. You will know when you’ve achieved it.

But take the time to make sure this goal is what you want. You probably don’t dream about going to Mars! (Or maybe you do—that’s fine too!) When you think about your future, what is something that feels big and scary, but is truly something you want to achieve?

For example, my BHAG is to be able to run my fulfilling, profitable business from my own beach house by 2030. This is my concrete vision that puts together all the things I knew I wanted when I started my business (see above:  earn a good living, work flexible hours, have the freedom to move cities or countries if need be, and get a sense of fulfillment). But a beach house is a straightforward vision I can always keep in the front of my mind. And having this vision means I can keep reorientating my priorities when I see they will not get me to where I want to go.

So there you have it—two reasons for why you should make a big, hairy, audacious goal.

It can be really tough to allow yourself to think big, and decide what you want personally for yourself and for your business but if you take some time it can be a difference-maker in your business.

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Key Takeaway:

Why have a BHAG for your business? 1. Big goals will make your company visionary. 2. A big goal will keep you focused on what you really want to achieve.

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I know you can do it! Want more tips on goal-setting, marketing, and more? Subscribe to our newsletter to get more resources like this straight to your inbox.

Resources:

• Discovering Your BHAG (Fesyk blog)
• Jim Collins on BHAG
• Investopedia definition of BHAG
• A blueprint for setting ambitious goals
• This Is Why You Should Start Setting ‘Unrealistic’ Goals

The post Why Do You and Your Business Need a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)? appeared first on Fesyk Marketing.

It seems like it would be easy to paint a picture of what your dream business and dream life looks like. But for some reason, for most, it’s not. We often get in our own way. The reason this is called a “big hairy audacious goal” (BHAG) is because in this step you allow yourself to believe the big goal you want deep down is actually possible. So, here are three strategies you can use to motivate yourself and push through the obstacles you may have placed in front of yourself.

Ask yourself what do you actually want. And keep it simple.

Chances are, if you close your eyes and let yourself daydream about what your ideal life looks like, you would come up with something pretty great. It might include great health in old age and more time to spend with loved ones. Or maybe it’s a great work/life balance. There are no rules when it comes to setting this goal but make sure it’s a big one. The secret to creating a BHAG is setting aside time to do this. And then setting yourself free from all of the “shoulds” and “hows” to see what you actually do want.

Is it a lifestyle? Is it to sell your business and make millions? Is it to make a difference in the world? Is it a beach house in Mexico or Hawaii? Because this is step one of a marketing plan, you might be tempted to focus on business success or money. Take a moment to free yourself from that and allow yourself to think about your life as a whole. Your BHAG doesn’t need to begin with great detail for this exercise to be effective.

Remove the word “how” from this exercise.

Imagine that your opportunities are limitless—that everything is possible. If the word how starts to creep into your mind, stop it immediately. Get it out of your head. The how is not important when you’re setting a big hairy audacious goal. The how will come in time. It’s all part of the planning process.

Another question that might be helpful when you are at this stage is, “what would you do if you knew you could not fail?” This might be a helpful strategy for removing the fear from blocking your dreams, and another way to set yourself free from thinking about the “how” too early. We easily set aside what we want because the obstacles to achieving that are too daunting. Set aside the fear and the “how” and see where you dreams take you.

Make it easy on yourself.

How do you like to communicate? Do you prefer the written word, or are you more verbal? Maybe you’re more of a visual person, or a crafty person and a vision board will make it easier for you to create your BHAG. When it comes to digging deep and reflecting on what you want for yourself and your business, use the tactic that comes naturally to you.

For me, I am a verbal processor. I need to talk things through and so the easiest way for me to great BHAGS is to talk it through with others and then write it down.

I know you can do it! You have dreams and goals for your life, and by taking time to recognize them and define what they are to yourself you will reconnect with why you have a business in the first place. All the pieces might not be in place quite yet, but that’s okay—once again, this stage is not thinking about the “how.” This is the stage for dreaming big and conceptualizing where you want to go! Deep down, you have strong values that you want to see brought to life. Dare to bring these ideas to the surface and use them to prioritize what you’re doing in your marketing and your business.

Check out our post about creating an action-oriented marketing plan for yourself here. Or learn more about why your business needs a BHAG here.

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The post What do You Want? Discovering Your Big Hairy Audacious Goal   appeared first on Fesyk Marketing.