Aim for the Stars (Because the Moon is the Consolation Prize)
The Long Run Mindset - For a Life Worth Living #12
In all my years running sales teams, the biggest mistake I saw wasn’t a bad pitch—it was the failure to ask for the order.
I took it so seriously that when I was interviewing candidates, if they didn’t have the stones to ask for the job at the end of the interview, they didn’t get it. Period. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. It’s the same in life: You only catch the fish in the pond you are fishing in. If you fish in a small pond, don’t be surprised when you only catch minnows.
The Power of the BHAG
I’m a big believer in the BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal).
There’s an old saying: “Aim for the stars and you might hit the moon.” Most people do the opposite. They set “realistic” goals. They decide to build a business that makes £50k a year, or they decide to run a 10k. The problem? Once they hit that 10k or that £50k, they stop. They’ve arrived.
If you decide you’re going to run 100 miles or become a multimillionaire, the scale of the ambition changes your behavior. Even if you “fail” and only get halfway to a 100-mile goal, you’ve still run 50 miles. That’s five times further than the person who set the “realistic” 10k goal.
Grow or Shrink
My dad taught me a vital lesson in business: You are either growing or you are shrinking. There is no such thing as standing still.
I’ve found this to be a universal law. Whether it’s your finances, your fitness, or your health—the moment you stop pushing for growth, you’ve started the process of shrinking. This doesn’t mean you don’t use S.M.A.R.T goals for the day-to-day tactics, but those small steps must be leading toward something audacious.
The Missing Link: Constant Assessment
The part people miss isn’t the “setting” of the goal — it’s the relentless review.
In business, you don’t just set a budget and check it a year later. You assess, review, and amend constantly. When I’m training or running a long race, I’m doing a continuous audit of my pace, my fuel, and my form. If the “market” changes (or the weather turns), you pivot.
The Lesson: Don’t be afraid to fish in the big pond. Set a goal that scares you a little, ask for the order, and never settle for “standing still.” If you’re not growing, you’re shrinking. Which one did you do today?