Reach your biggest goals this year by making them micro.


You may be familiar with the terms BHAG: Big Hairy Audacious Goal. We hope you are. BHAGs (pronounced bee-hag) are the lifeblood of personal success, innovation, and great achievement. But why are they so big and hairy? Must they be? 


Our good friend James Clear - author of, and expert on Atomic Habits - says no. 

Credit: James Clear, Atomic Habits


There’s a point at which you’ll do almost anything, not because there’s a gun to your head, but because it’s so stupid easy that why not? That’s the point to which you’ll want to boil down your BHAG in order to promise yourself success. 


It really should feel stupid easy:

  • “Today I’ll eat a single carrot.”
  • “I’ll save $5 for retirement this week.”
  • My goal is to put on my running shoes and go outside.” 

  • With all these stupid easy examples these are the thoughts that will almost certainly follow:

  • ‘I’m already outside. I’ll just jog to the corner… I’m already at this corner, might as well jog to that corner.’
  • ‘The carrots are already out. May as well grab a handful.’
  • ‘Would I like to supersize it? That’s an extra $2 I could save.’ “No thank you!”

  • Your BHAG might be to reverse insulin resistance. Great goal. But we suggest breaking down your BHAG into a SEMG (pronounced see-mag): Stupid Easy Micro Goal. When you’re at the point where you can say, “Of course! Why would I NOT do that?” That’s a SEMG. 

    Experiment with that SEMG for a week, and see how it goes. After all, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Lau Tzu.

    January 12, 2022 — ERND marketing

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