BHAGS – BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS to REAL

Do you have them? BHAGS, that is.
BHAGS is a term that was coined by James Collins and Jerry Porras in 1996, and cited in their book “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies”. Collins and Porras talked of big hairy audacious goals as big and bold, often taking a ten to thirty year commitment.




Times have changed, and there’s no need to think in terms of decades to reach your BHAGS. 

Today’s the day to set, start and attain those big hairy audacious goals, by making them R.E.A.L.









The problem with most goal-setting is: we often sell ourselves short. The initial goal is often not the “real” goal. 
You might say:
My goal is to exercise daily, when you actually mean: I want to feel more energy to commit to my business, my family and my life.
My goal is to make x$ (insert number) in my business this year, when you actually mean: I want to feel comfortable with my financial situation, and not worry about making payroll.
My goal is to win a business award, when you actually mean: I want to feel respected as the go-to person in my business sector.

My advice? 
Go for what I call the R.E.A.L. goals. The ones that underlie the ostensible ones. The ones that create a feeling…an emotion…a sense.

Your R.E.A.L. goals will:

Resonate with you, to your core
Evoke emotion: you’ll feel good/happy/challenged/scared/excited about it
Activate: you’ll take action, instead of ruminating and procrastinating
Liberate: you’ll feel free and freed!

You know when you’re on course and when you’re off course. The subtle and not-so-subtle indicators are always there.
You’re on course when you feel empowered, energized, challenged and having fun, even when the going gets tough.
You’re off course when you feel angry, bored, hurt, minimized and frustrated.

To be on course, set R.E.A.L goals.

I like to think about R.E.A.L. goals like a pearl. A pearl is created when concentric layers of a protective coating are deposited around an irritant.


In the case of recognizing your R.E.A.L. goals, the irritant is actually the spark within us: the candle that’s waiting to be lit. It’s a positive irritant, not a negative one. It’s that little voice inside you that’s begging for you to hear it.



Peel back the layers and recognize that your goals, in business and in life, should ignite that spark, light that candle and be BHAGS. And to be BHAGS, make them R.E.A.L. Do it today.