Think as big as you can! With a BHAG – essentially a hugely ambitious goal – you motivate yourself and your team to achieve the unimaginable today. Learn in the article why especially self-employed trainers and coaches benefit from this type of goal setting.

The Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)

The abbreviation BHAG stands for Big Hairy Audacious Goal – a large, hairy, and audacious aim. It contrasts with common goals, which should typically be as SMART as possible: A BHAG is not directly planned, not time-bound, and at first glance, not even realistic.

What a BHAG is, however, is a motivation to overcome boundaries and think “big”. If you could achieve anything, what would be your long-term goal, your dream? – Formulate your BHAG so that you and outsiders perceive it as extremely audacious and ambitious. Your Big Hairy Audacious Goal should still somehow be achievable – being able to fly with a wave of your hand would be more fantasy than an achievable goal.

What is your Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)?

Examples of Famous BHAGs

| Microsoft | A computer on every desk and in every home || --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ || Google | Organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful || Facebook | Connect the world || Amazon | Be Earth’s most customer-centric company |

You see that BHAGs can also vary in specificity. Facebook's “connect the world” could be achieved in countless different ways. This Big Hairy Audacious Goal could certainly also belong to a telecommunications provider or an airport operator.

The examples show, that a BHAG can indeed become reality. Yet during the founding times, most would probably have just smiled at these audacious goals.

For Self-Employed: An Audacious Goal as Fuel

What is your BHAG? Particularly self-employed individuals and founders should ask themselves this question. Just like the motto “Think big”!

Once the BHAG is formulated, you can hang it up visibly over your desk. As fuel for your daily work. If you collaborate with others, a BHAG also serves as fuel for team spirit.

For self-employed trainers, coaches, and consultants, a BHAG could go in the following directions:

All people in Germany apply method XY.

All European companies with more than 10,000 employees recognize and appreciate me.

Everyone in the world has access to my concept about XY.

Depending on whether you want to focus more on your personal brand (Everyone should know my name) or on your content (Everyone works according to method XY), your BHAG can aim in different directions.

With Digital Training to the BHAG?

Even large, hairy goals are only achieved in small steps. Once your BHAG is set, you should ask yourself: What does the path to achieving it look like? You don’t need to create a detailed plan just yet – but every step you take should go in the direction of your BHAG.

The next step for many trainers, coaches, and consultants is: Independence and broad accessibility through digital training! For some audaciously conceived goals, the Internet is a fantastic opportunity to significantly expand the customer base.

With one click reach the whole world: Digital devices are an important tool for many on the way to the BHAG.

Your Next Step Towards the BHAG

To extend your existing training as efficiently and simply as possible with a digital accompaniment, the Blended Learning method is helpful: Keep your face-to-face courses and offer additionally a pre- and post-accompaniment as E-Learning. This way, you not only differentiate yourself from the competition but also provide a significant added value for your clients: The knowledge gained lasts much longer in memory with Blended Learning and is actively applied.

We have compiled 7 selling points for your online accompaniment that you can use to convince your next customer of the new concept. Here you will also find additional materials about methods for digital training – such as guides for starting with Blended Learning or step-by-step instructions for self-produced learning videos.

Let’s get started on your journey to the Big Hairy Audacious Goal!