Tag: BHAG

Setting stretch goals

“We aim above the mark to hit the mark.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Set lofty, stretch goals that are challenging and make you question how you’re going to actually achieve them.

If you ask big questions, you’re forced to come up with big answers.

You don’t have to know every step to get there. But figure out the big steps you think it will take and start with the first step. Figure it out as you go – following the rough outline you laid out and letting your experience and mentors guide you along the way.

Even if you don’t hit your lofty goal, you should have still succeeded in other areas along the way. Swing for the fences and you might still hit a double. But the key is to strive for improvement, don’t strive for perfection. Keep a positive attitude and enjoy the journey.

Setting goals and dreaming big

Don’t sell yourself short. You can accomplish so much more if you just set your mind to it. Most people just coast through life. They take the path of least resistance. What makes you feel comfortable? What makes you feel uncomfortable? What goals do you have (if any)? Do your goals scare you (“stretch goals”) or are they more of a checklist? Do you review your goals regularly? Do you set your intentions every morning to make sure you move a little closer to those goals every day?

Dream big. Set BHAGs (big, hairy, audacious goals)…at the very least, you’ll miss on your goal of 10X-ing where you’re at and maybe you only get to 7X or 5X. But that’s still better than setting a goal of 2X and not being motivated to hit it.

Big dreams, goals, and questions require big effort, radical thinking, and massive action. You’ll need a BIG answer to achieve what you want and are capable of achieving.

Thinking big when setting goals

Your only limiting factor is how quickly you can accept the expansion. Are you thinking big? Or are you thinking small?

If you set small goals, you might achieve them. But you’ll never truly be inspired to complete them. Without passion/desire, you’ll either achieve your goals and not care OR stop trying to reach your goals because you don’t care. Either way, thinking small leads to small actions.

If you set big, hairy audacious goals, you’ll get excited to work towards them. You’ll hit some bumps in the road, but that is to be expected. Keep going! If you can find ways to persevere and overcome obstacles, you’ll eventually make it to where you want to go. Whatever you think you need to do to achieve your goal, double the action. Some would even say to do 10 times what you think you need to do!

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” –Les Brown

Set big goals. They should excite you. They might make you nervous to say out loud. But speak your goals. Tell anyone who will listen. Write them down. Read them each morning. Think about them throughout the day and ask yourself at night what you did that day to get you closer to reaching your goal(s). Every journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Keep walking in the right direction and you’ll get to your destination.