Golden Gate Bridge Swim
Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals
I’m a huge believer in the value of goal setting. Each year in December, I invest a chunk of time thinking about what I want to accomplish in the next year on both a professional as well as a personal level. Eventually, I create a list, which I carry with me throughout the year. This gives me the opportunity to periodically measure success.
Among this year’s goals, I listed participating in a swim across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge—a big hairy audacious goal (BHAG) if ever there was one. (Thank you very much James Collins and Jerry Porras, who coined “BHAG” in “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies.”) It seemed particularly fitting given that all of San Francisco has spent the year celebrating the 75th anniversary of the bridge.
Last Saturday, after a heavy fog lifted, 100 other swimmers and I jumped into the Pacific, and we swam and swam. After awhile, the coldness of the water—it was a frigid 60 degrees—got to me, and I pulled myself out and onto a boat. God bless that boat captain. He tootled around a bit, then headed toward Sausalito, at which point he turned to me and asked, “Want to finish your swim?” I eased myself back into the water and swam to the finish line.
It was an absolutely thrilling experience, one that left me feeling simultaneously exhausted and more alive than you can imagine. Already, I am contemplating how best to acclimate myself to the Pacific’s cold water with the idea that I may try to accomplish the feat without a boat assist next year. But most importantly, I am reminded that we never accomplish the goals that we don’t set.
What Do You Need to Know?
If you’re starting work as an intern, summer associate or new hire, create some BHAGs today! You'll surprise yourself with what you accomplish.
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