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Crafting a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)
Define one 10-25 year goal so audacious it scares you, uniting leadership around a single ambition.
Goal
Replace short-term budget targets with a long-term audacious aim that reframes today's decisions by a different standard.
Steps
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1
Gather 5-9 senior leaders, ask: "What if we succeed beyond anyone's belief 15 years from now?"
Expected Outcome
Immediate
One goal in one sentence; every leader can recite it instantly without reading.
Evidence base
School: Built to Last / Visionary Companies
Founders: Jim Collins · Jerry Porras (1994)
Coined by Collins & Porras in "Built to Last" (1994) after studying 18 century-lasting companies. Examples: Boeing 707 (1952), Microsoft "computer on every desk" (1980).
Keywords
Frequently asked questions
How long does "Crafting a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)" take?
This exercise takes about 90 minutes, practiced in a group in a Written reflection format.
When will I notice the effect of "Crafting a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)"?
One goal in one sentence; every leader can recite it instantly without reading. In the short term: Within 6 months, 2-3 projects previously accepted now get rejected as "not serving the BHAG".
Is "Crafting a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)" evidence-based?
Yes — it draws on Built to Last / Visionary Companies (Jim Collins, Jerry Porras (1994)). Coined by Collins & Porras in "Built to Last" (1994) after studying 18 century-lasting companies. Examples: Boeing 707 (1952), Microsoft "computer on every desk" (1980).
Is "Crafting a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)" suitable for beginners?
Its difficulty level is: Advanced. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.
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