Terry Starbucker

NOVEMBER 20, 2016

I’ve experienced that plenty of times in my career, at one moment preaching about a “BHAG” – the Big, Hairy Audacious Goal – and just a few moments later drilling down and coming to terms on a missed quarterly target) . Unrealistic budgets and operational goals are morale (and job) killers.

BHAG 391

BHAG Company Short-term Long-term 391

The Practical Leader

APRIL 27, 2022

” That’s a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) I’ve pursued most of my career! Let purpose drive your strategy and operations. The CEO’s redefinition of his role from operational manager to purposeful leader , has been one of the key factors in the strong success this hospital had in shifting its culture.

Leadership 75

Leadership BHAG CEO Cooper 75

Terry Starbucker

JULY 12, 2015

We had just finished a review of one of our operating centers in Cheyenne, Wyoming. After all, this was a telecommunications and cable TV operation, and they were used to observing a far different situation. “How did you do this? I mean, to get from where you started to where you ended up must have been a hell of a story.”.

BHAG 150

BHAG Leadership Telecommunications Metrics 150

CO2

AUGUST 16, 2012

To protect us, however, they operate as inner critics. In doing so, they sabotage us and prevent us from achieving (or even trying to achieve) a big, hairy, audacious goal (a BHAG as it is sometimes called). They don’t want us to be embarrassed, feel rejection, or be uncomfortable. They limit us.

BHAG 117

BHAG Resistance Goal Commitment 117

Terry Starbucker

FEBRUARY 13, 2011

This was a goal typically tied to an operating metric, like the Net Promoter Score, or the company’s “fault rate&# (i.e. the number of times a customer called in with any kind of problem with their service).

Goal 283

Goal CPA BHAG Kaizen 283

Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 14, 2012

Big Hairy Audacious Goals (or BHAGs, as they're known to the inner goal-setting crowd). The Pinto resulted in 53 deaths and many more injuries because workers omitted safety checks in pursuit of Lee Iacocca's BHAG goal of a car that would be "under 2000 pounds and under $2,000" by 1970. And not just any goals, but stretch goals.

Goal 21

Goal BHAG Wilde Class 21