Every so often, a moment arises that challenges the status quo, not with spreadsheets or strategy decks, but with boldness, belief, and a little bit of cheek. That moment came to me recently when I asked Tiffy; one of our young, passionate social media staff members a simple question: “What would it take to get our TikTok page to 10,000 followers?”
She paused, thought deeply, and returned with a confident proposal: “Trust me to do my thing. If I make it happen, I want a day off.”
No budget requests. No long-winded pitch. Just a promise, a timeline, and a public challenge. I said yes.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that I had just greenlit a BHAG—a Big Hairy Audacious Goal.
Coined by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in Built to Last, a BHAG is a long-term, compelling vision that feels nearly impossible, but isn’t. It’s the kind of goal that makes your stomach flip and your heart race. It’s not just big, it’s bold, uncomfortable, and transformational.
Key Characteristics of a BHAG:
- Big: It’s a large-scale, not a quick or easy win.
- Hairy: It’s unfamiliar, risky, and pushes boundaries.
- Audacious: It demands courage, creativity, and a leap beyond current capabilities.
BHAGs aren’t just about the goal itself; they’re about what happens when people rally around it. They:
- Inspire Unity: Everyone knows what the mission is, and they want to be part of it.
- Spark Innovation: Conventional thinking won’t cut it, new ideas must emerge.
- Build Momentum: Progress becomes visible, energizing, and contagious.
So back to our TikTok BHAG… our social media star didn’t just set a goal, she created a narrative. Her hook? “If I don’t hit 10,000 followers, I lose my job.”
It was dramatic, yes. But it galvanized the team. Suddenly, everyone was invested. We tracked metrics like sports scores. We brainstormed content like campaign strategists. We celebrated every milestone like a mini victory.
And guess what? She did it.
10,000 followers.
One day off.
No job lost.
Plenty of lessons gained.
Sometimes, the best thing a leader can do is step back and say yes. Yes, to trust. Yes, to risk.
Yes, to letting someone run with an idea that feels just a little too wild.
BHAGs aren’t just strategic tools, they’re invitations to dream bigger, act bolder, and believe harder. And when they’re embraced with authenticity and support, they don’t just change metrics, they change culture.
So, the next time someone on your team proposes something that makes you raise an eyebrow and hold your breath, pause … It might just be your next BHAG, and it might just be brilliant.