Ask Erin | Big Hairy Audacious Goals

by Erin Sharpin Love

How are you doing on the goals you set at the beginning of 2026?  Have you fallen off track or are you soaring toward your end goal?  If you are like most people, you have probably fallen off track a bit.  This month’s article will, hopefully, help you unleash your potential and get you ready to crush your big, hairy, audacious goals! 

Now, don’t get me wrong, this article isn’t limited to only big, hairy, audacious goals.  I use these questions to help me with smaller goals and tasks that I procrastinate on. In fact,  I am currently in procrastination mode so we will be going through this process together.

Grab a paper and pen and let’s get started. Answer the questions below to help you unleash the power to crush your big, hairy, audacious goals!

1.What is your goal? Clearly, you should start by writing down your goal! This goal could be as simple as cleaning out a room or closet or as big as starting a new business. 

2.Why do you want to achieve this goal?  You must really want a goal to achieve it.  Unfortunately, it won’t just happen. The reason you are procrastinating is either that you don’t really want the goal or that it is so big that you don’t know where to start.  

3.What will happen if you don’t achieve your goal? One of my favorite quotes is “Nothing changes if nothing changes.” I repeat this quote to myself whenever I am dreading a task. It shifts my mindset from procrastination to action immediately.

4.What will happen if you do achieve your goal? I love this question! You should be able to visualize what life will be like once the goal is achieved.  There is no better motivation.

5. Have you had this goal in the past?  If so, how many times?  This question will help you discover whether you truly want it or if it just sounds good.  A lot of times a goal sounds good, like losing weight or working out, but it really isn’t what is important to you at the moment. A goal must hold high importance for you to be able to achieve it.  

6. When did you first think about this goal?  Is it a life-long goal?   For instance, if your goal is to start a business you may have been thinking about it for years.  

7. Is there someone or something that is to blame for you not working toward this goal?  In other words, are you blaming someone else for your procrastination and not even realizing it? I love this question, too, because it forces you to look at the situation in a new way. 

8. How do you feel about yourself as a result of avoiding and procrastinating on your goal? Procrastination doesn’t typically lead to high self-esteem, which, in turn, keeps you stuck.

9.Would you and/or others treat you better if you achieved your goal? This question may or may not apply to your specific goal.  

10.Who else is impacted by your avoidance of the goal?  Is this a negative or positive impact?  

11.Would any of your relationships be improved if you reached the goal?  

12. Is there anyone in your circle that is not approving of your goal?  If so, why would they not approve?  Will it negatively affect them?

13.What are the long-term advantages of achieving this goal? 

14. What are the long-term disadvantages of achieving this goal?  Hopefully there are none, but it is still a great question to consider!

15. Can you start and maintain what is required to achieve this goal?  After all, you don’t want to quit on a goal once you have reached it.  Most goals will still need to be maintained.

16. What is the biggest obstacle standing in your way?  The two most popular obstacles are time and energy.

17. What will you have to give up to achieve the goal? Are you willing to do that?

18. What resources do you need to be able to achieve the goal?  Do you already have them in your possession or will you need to acquire them?  Put them in a list!

19. What steps do I need to take to achieve this specific goal?  Put them in list order to create a plan of attack!

20. If my closest loved one had this goal, what would I say to them to help them achieve this goal?  Keep this statement close to you and read it every day!  

These thought-provoking questions should help you gain clarity about yourself and your goals.  Remember achievement requires commitment and hard work!