Setting big, hairy, audacious goals (BHAGs) are exciting. They make us dream of what is possible and then push us to achieve it. In June 2010, we asked some rockstar lululemon athletica employees to set (and write down) some BHAGs. As with any other goal, it’s a good idea to review your BHAGs on a regular basis. Ali sat down with Matt, a member of our Leadership & Development team, to review her BHAG – let’s listen in:

Matt: Tell me about your BHAG.

Ali: Well, it’s changed. I originally set it as owning an online eco-friendly urban gift basket store by January 2015. But when I knew we were meeting, I reviewed and changed it.

Matt: That’s perfect. Goals should always be reviewed and modified. So what is it now?

Ali: I will be a professional wrapper and own a wrapping business by January 2015. I will be the one to go to that is able to wrap anything. You want me to wrap up a car for you? I can do that!

Matt: So why the change? Is it more in line with your vision of where you’d like to be in 10 years?

Ali: I changed it because, when I was reviewing the goal, I realized what I really love to do is the wrapping of the gift baskets – not creating the mix of the consumable products in the basket itself. And it would still have an eco-friendly, philanthropic twist to it, obviously. This is also still in line with my vision. In five years I will start the business, and in 10 years I want to be a stay at home mom with the business on the side.

Matt: That’s great to hear the goal is still aligned to your 10 year vision and your true passion. When you revisit your goal and it doesn’t inspire you – you know it’s time to change it. So – what are you going to do next to help you achieve this goal?

Ali: I want to start small to test out the demand and my own capacity. I’m going to offer my great wrapping services to my colleagues during Christmas through our company newsletter – helping them to wrap Christmas and Secret Santa presents.

Matt: Nice! Let’s follow-up after Christmas to see if that experience helped reaffirm your BHAG or if it highlighted what may need to be altered.

*high five*

Do you have a question around goal-setting that you'd like some guidance on? Visit the lululemon Facebook wall on Sept. 8th at 4 pm PST and ask Matt! Event details are here: http://www.facebook.com/askagoalcoacher.. Hope to see you on the wall!

Name: Liz
BHAG: I run a 1 hour 25 min. half marathon by 2012.

what is a bhag?

A BHAG (pronounced "bee-hag") is a big, hairy, audacious goal!

why share your bhag?

The more you share your goals, the more likely it is you will achieve them. For the month of June we will be sharing a BHAG every day on lululemon.com. Want to share your BHAG with the world? Send your high-res photo to blogs@lululemon.com and we'll publish a few of our favourites here on the lululemon blog.

Name: Shawna

BHAG: I have been featured on lululemon.com in a sports bra by July 1st!

what is a bhag?

A BHAG (pronounced "bee-hag") is a big, hairy, audacious goal!

why share your bhag?

The more you share your goals, the more likely it is you will achieve them. For the month of June we will be sharing a BHAG every day on lululemon.com. Want to share your BHAG with the world? Send your high-res photo to blogs@lululemon.com and we'll publish a few of our favourites here on the lululemon blog.

Look inside some of your gear to see if there is a little motivational message for you!

Yoga makes you stop and just be present.

What are you doing today that is outside of your comfort zone?

Share your big hairy audacious goal with someone. People will hold you accountable to your goal's once they know about it.

What words of wisdom inspire you when you work out?

"Which road should I take?" (Alice)

"Where do you want to go?" (Cat)

"I don't know," Alice answered.

"Then", said the Cat, "It doesn't matter. If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."

- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

How true. The path to self development is often as winding and unpredictable as Alice's journey through Wonderland. Just this year I set out on a similar adventure: What is my Big Hairy Audacious Goal?

Who knew that these little statements of "I will…" would became so powerful and life-changing once they hit the paper… As soon as I wrote my goals out I began working harder at the things that I loved, and am passionate about. In sequence, I got closer and closer to achieving the things that I wanted to achieve! For example: this year I set out to decide to really "jump in" to writing, and more frightening, having my writing read and shared by many different people. Once I put "I will join the lululemon blog team" on paper, it was all i wanted to make happen. I began looking at what I could do to qualify, finally leading into applying through email. I worked to make it happen, and it did, and it can happen to you right now.

I encourage you out there (at least I hope you're out there ) to take the time today, sit down with a good coffee and think of a goal you want to accomplish this week. Maybe its finishing your 5K strong or just polishing off that paper you were procrastinating on. Meeting goals feels AWESOME, so why not? Dare to step out on a ledge today and you might just find out that your ledge wasn’t as tall as you thought it was!

Feel free to comment below with your goals and successes!
M

[Editor's note: Welcome to the team, Matt!]