A Big Hairy Audacious Goal Could Change Everything
By Ann Justi
Let us be honest when someone asks, “Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?” it can feel like a trap. You mumble something safe. Something smart. Something that fits. But what if you let yourself say the real answer? The one that scares you a little (or a lot)? That is what a BHAG is.
Big. Hairy. Audacious. Goal.
It is not cute. It is not cozy. It is bold, intimidating, and if it is done right, it will stretch your soul.
I recommend that you find a large goal to achieve not just this year but over many years because in doing so it creates internal transformation for you. You develop a vision, knowledge, and habits that serve you and propel you into the future. This can also apply to your business. The goal needs to be clear enough to guide decision making but flexible enough to adapt in changing circumstances.
What Is a BHAG?
It is not a to-do list item.
It is a life-defining mission.
Big Monumental, meaningful, and way beyond your current horizon.
Hairy Messy, complex, and outside your comfort zone.
Audacious Courageous, crazy seeming, and completely exhilarating.
Goal Yes, still measurable, and time-bound, but deeply personal.
This is not about impressing others.
This is about waking up with fire in your belly.
Why Even Bother?
Because comfort does not build legacy.
And small dreams do not change lives.
A BHAG makes you grow in discipline, in vision, in courage.
It transforms who you are, how you think, and how you lead.
And let us be real: if your goal does not scare you a little, you are not dreaming big enough.
What You will Discover Along the Way
Pursuing a BHAG will:
Reveal who you are under pressure.
Stretch your capacity for risk and resilience.
Teach you what actually matters.
Show you what it means to be driven.
And most of all: it will teach you to fall in love with the process, not just the prize.
Ask Yourself Why (Then Ask Again)
There is a technique from Dean Graziosi called the 7 Levels of Why.
You ask “Why?” seven times, each one deeper than the last.
By the end, you find the heart of your goal the part that hits your gut.
When you know that, quitting stops being an option.
The Long Game: Hal Elrod’s Story
Author Hal Elrod set a goal: to sell 1 million copies of The Miracle Morning in one year.
He gave it everything interviews, podcasts, speeches, daily hustle.
And in that first year? He sold 13,000 copies.
Not even close.
But he did not stop.
He evolved the book, listened to readers, and kept showing up.
Six years later, he crossed the million mark and then some.
What if success is guaranteed… if you simply refuse to stop?
Tony Robbins quote:
“Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in a decade.” This quote emphasizes the importance of long-term vision and sustained effort in achieving significant goals. It suggests that while short-term goals may seem daunting, the cumulative impact of consistent progress over time can lead to remarkable results.
Story of how I have made a million dollars:
If you asked me if I were a millionaire I would say no because I do not currently have a million dollars. What I did not realize until I received a cumulative Social Security lifetime earnings statement that showed that over a period of more than 10 years I had earned in gross wages over a million dollars.
A BHAG Is not Always Your Idea
Sometimes the world hands it to you.
COVID forced all of us into unexpected BHAGs learning remote work, adapting to change, and innovating in real time.
That was not a plan. That was a necessity.
But the results? Growth, resilience, and new levels of creativity.
Why You will Want One (Even If It Terrifies You)
A BHAG will:
Light a fire in your daily routine
Give you something worth fighting for
Focus on your energy and creativity.
Build long term grit.
Anchor your identity to make something true.
You want to wake up and be driven by something greater than yourself.
BHAG is big enough to stretch you beyond your comfort zone, audacious enough to inspire, and bold enough to inspire you to take action.
If the BHAG scares you, it should.
Going somewhere you have not been or doing something you have not done may not look like anything you recognize.
Leaving a legacy – Have a goal that may live on beyond you.
Being comfortable with being uncomfortable – When you grow just like working out at a new level or in the beginning you are sore and uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable or in unfamiliar territory and at a new level will be constant.
And in the process, it may just change the way you see the world and yourself.
The Anatomy of a True BHAG
Long term: 10–25 years
Bold enough to feel nearly impossible.
Clear, yet flexible
Deeply aligned with your core values
Capable of rallying others to join the mission.
It is not just what you want.
It is who you are becoming on the way there.
How to Start (Without Overthinking It)
1. Write it down. Make it real.
2. Give it a timeline.
3. Break it into tiny brave steps.
4. Do the first thing.
5. Then the next.
6. Keep going.
7. Believe—even when the voice in your head says, “Who do you think you are?”
How to formulate a BHAG:
- A Single target.
- Inspiring
- Okay if it is nearly impossible to achieve.
- Revenue based.
- Outcome goal
- Brainstorm aspirational, bold, and compelling ideas.
- Break the goal down into manageable achievable steps over time.
Some Inspiration for the Road
Miracle Year from the Miracle Morning book and app live events by Hal Elrod:
- The Miracle Morning: Your practice for personal development.
- Cultivate an optimal mental and emotional state.
- Affirm your commitment to your goals.
- Mentally rehearse today’s actions.
- Generate physical energy and mental clarity.
- Gain knowledge and strategies to implement.
- Acknowledge progress and priorities in writing.
- Miracle Equation book by Hal Elrod:
- Faith in your limitless abilities – unwavering faith.
- Consistent effort over time – extraordinary effort.
- I have the ability to overcome and accomplish anything I am committed to, and I will put forth consistent effort over an extended period of time until I achieve my goals.
- Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi
- Achieve Your Goals weekly podcast with Hal Elrod
- The Mel Robbins weekly podcast
- From the song Trust in the Vision by Lauren Nikol:
Speak from the heart.
and people will listen.
Be who you are.
You don’t need permission.
because you are different.
Don’t fear what is different.
Know your own worth.
You’re here for a reason.
Complete your mission.
Trust in the vision.
I hope I have inspired you to think of a big goal that scares you and will completely change you, your business, and your life for the better even if you do not completely achieve it. Now go out there and play big!
You do not have to be ready.
You just have to be willing.
So, take that wild, too big dream of yours, and breathe life into it.
Call it your BHAG.
And then start walking one bold, imperfect step at a time.
