It’s the new year. The energy’s buzzing. Everyone’s building vision boards, dreaming big, and dropping their 2026 goals.

But before you dive headfirst into the year with a list of big, hairy, audacious goals, I want you to pause.

Because for most business owners I work with, those massive, motivational goals? They’re doing more harm than good.

The Problem with BHAGs No One Talks About

You’ve probably heard the term. BHAG: Big Hairy Audacious Goal. It’s supposed to be bold. Visionary. Inspiring.

But here’s what I’ve seen over and over again.

Most of these goals aren’t based on any data. They’re just numbers pulled out of thin air. Someone says, “I want to hit $500K this year.” And when I ask why or how they came up with that number? It’s just what “sounds good.” Or it’s what someone told them to stretch toward.

But when you actually run the numbers: look at the time, pricing, offers, capacity, it’s not even physically possible without burning out.

That’s issue #1.

You Don’t Even Know Where to Start

Even if the goal were possible, most of the time people don’t know what actions to take to get there. There’s no plan. No support. Just a huge target that you’ve never hit before, and no roadmap to hit it.

So what happens?

You fall back on old habits. The things you’re used to doing. You default to what worked before, even if those actions aren’t designed to get you to where you’re trying to go now.

BHAGs Are Often Detached from Results That Matter

Here’s the third problem.

A lot of BHAGs aren’t connected to anything real. There’s no outcome behind them that ties back to what you actually want in your business or life.

So when you miss the goal one or two months in a row, it’s easy to give up. The goal loses meaning. There’s nothing holding it in place.

You fall into doing random things, with no focused direction, and that’s when the spiral starts.

The Shift: From Stretch Goal to North Star

This is where the Focused Vision Goal comes in. Or what I call your North Star.

It’s still a stretch. It’s still bold. But it’s rooted in something real.

You look at your data: your conversion rates, your capacity, your offer suite, and you build a goal that is both motivating and possible.

That’s the difference.

Your North Star becomes your filter. When a new opportunity comes your way, you ask:

Does this get me closer to my North Star?

Yes or no.

If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no.

How Do You Set a North Star That Actually Works?

This isn’t about playing small. It’s about choosing a guiding light that’s connected to real results.

Start here:

• Look at your data.
  Your past year holds the answers: conversion rates, lead sources, profit margins.
  
• Set a goal that has purpose.
  Why do you want that revenue? What will it allow you to do? Travel? Save? Hire?
  
• Connect it to something personal.
  Your North Star should matter enough that when things get hard, you still move.
  
• Make it your decision filter.
  Every yes or no you make this year should point back to your North Star.
  
• Know the actions required.
  If you don’t have the tools or strategies yet, figure out what you need to learn, who you need to work with, or what needs to shift to make it possible.

Why This Actually Works

I’ve used this with students in the Focused Visionary Accelerator over and over again.

Some have set North Stars around travel with their family. Others have tied it to increasing profit margins. For me? It’s about how many warm leads I need to convert into students. That number is based on real data. And that tells me what actions to take.

When someone asks me to speak in a space that’s not aligned with my ideal client? It’s a no.

Why? Because that action doesn’t get me closer to my North Star.

It’s clean. Clear. Unapologetic.

This Is the Difference Between Growth and Burnout

This is how you stay focused. This is how you make decisions. This is how you build real momentum in your business.

So if you’re setting goals this year, or revisiting the ones you already set, take a step back.

Ask yourself:
Is this goal rooted in anything real? Can I track it? Can I break it down? Will it guide my decisions?

If the answer is no, you don’t have a goal. You have a wish.

Set the North Star. Root it in data. Build your plan around it.

And watch how much more powerful your decisions become.

Need Help Setting Yours?

This is exactly what we do inside the Focused Visionary Accelerator. We take your big dreams and create focused, grounded action that gets results.

Let’s make your goals actually work for you this year.