New Chapter Needs A New Plan: Part 1

When I first heard the term “BHAG” ( Big Hairy Audacious Goal) it was in a business context. I was a company director at the time, and the idea was to set bold, long-term goals that inspired action and kept people moving forward.

But several years on, that concept has come back to me in a completely different context  and with unexpected relevance.

Retirement didn’t arrive as a neatly packaged milestone. It happened quickly and unexpectedly after I hit burnout. At the time, all I could do was stop and give myself permission to rest. I needed to. My health had taken a hit, and the first job was simply to recover.

But when the dust began to settle, I noticed something else. Without the daily structure of work, I began to drift – emotionally flat, mentally restless, unsure what came next. There were good days, but also guilt-ridden ones. Guilt for not “adding value,” not contributing, not being productive. Retirement was supposed to be freedom and yet sometimes it felt disorientated?

That discomfort was a turning point. I realised that if I didn’t shape this next chapter, it would shape me or worse pass me by entirely.

I had to rethink what success looked like, and what kind of life I actually wanted to build now. And so, surprisingly, I went back to the tools I’d once used in business: reflection, strategy, planning. I’d spent decades helping organisations find their direction. Now it was time to do the same for myself.

What Is a BHAG, Really?

The phrase BHAG comes from Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in Built to Last.  A Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal. Something bold enough to inspire, but rooted enough in reality to be actionable. Not a vague wish, but a courageous, future-focused vision.

In retirement, that might sound countercultural. Isn’t this supposed to be the time to slow down?

But what I’ve come to believe is that slowing down doesn’t mean switching off. It’s not about drifting through the years with no direction. It’s about becoming more intentional, for me its about designing a life that is rich in meaning, aligned with my values, and spacious enough for what really matters.

And in that sense, BHAGs still have a place. Perhaps more than ever.

What Makes a Good BHAG in This Season of Life?

A personal BHAG isn’t about achievement for achievement’s sake. It’s not a bucket list of impressive feats. It’s more like a compass pointing toward who you want to become, how you want to live, and what kind of legacy you’d love to leave.

It might involve adventure or creativity. It might focus on contribution, community, health, or faith. But the key is that it stretches you, excites you, pulls you forward with purpose.

What About You?

You might be recently retired, approaching that season, or simply aware that you’ve outgrown the version of life you’ve been living. Wherever you are, perhaps now is the right time to pause and ask:

What would a bold, meaningful life look like for me now?

In Part 2, I’ll share some of my own personal BHAGs — how they’ve helped bring structure, clarity and joy to this new phase of life — and offer a reflective framework that can help you begin shaping your own.