New Chapter Needs A New Plan: Part 2

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

But after retiring (abruptly, following burnout), I began to realise something surprising: the need for bold, purposeful direction doesn’t end when the paychecks stop.

In fact, retirement, especially if it arrives unexpectedly, can leave a vacuum. No targets. No KPIs. No role to inhabit or structure to rely on. And that’s where the idea of personal BHAGs came back to me — not for business, but for life.

Why BHAGs Still Matter (Even in Retirement)

I spent the first few months of retirement resting and healing. I needed to. But once the urgency of recovery passed, I found myself drifting – emotionally flat, mentally restless, unsure of what came next. That drift, and the discomfort that came with it, was what pushed me to reassess.

That’s when I realised: I couldn’t just retire from something. I needed to retire into something.

So I reached back into familiar territory. I borrowed from the toolkit that had once helped me lead teams and navigate change — the good old faithfuls of vision-setting, strategic planning, reflective thinking. Except this time, the “business” was my own life.

I began shaping a new kind of vision,  not based on performance but on purpose.

Crafting Life-Focused BHAGs

I asked myself some searching questions:

• What kind of legacy do I want to leave in this next season?
• What brings me joy and energy now ?
• How can I live out my faith more authentically and practically?
• What does “whole-person wellbeing” look like without the identity of work?

My answers didn’t become a perfect roadmap, but they did form the basis of a new way of living, one built on direction, not drift. These BHAGs weren’t about pushing harder; they were about going deeper.

A Few of My Own BHAGs

Everyone’s BHAGs will look different — but here are mine, shaped by where I am, and who I’m becoming:

• Health & Wholeness: Prioritise physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, with rhythm, not rigidity.
• Creative Expression: Reignite creativity through writing, photography, and making . Not for an audience, but for joy.
• Faith in Practice: Live out my Christian faith through community, service, and connection to the land.
• Enjoying the Outdoors: Build my mountain biking skills and explore the Peak District with curiosity and gratitude. Enjoying the adventure as much as the exercise.
• Meaningful Contribution: Support others on similar journeys. Think of mentoring, volunteering, or simply sharing my story.
• SLOW Living: Cultivate a lifestyle rooted in simplicity, local community, and nature’s pace.

These goals are not tasks to tick off. They are guideposts helping me shape a life that feels rich, spacious, and true to who I am now.

What About You?

If you’re approaching retirement — or already there and wondering what now? Then may be the BHAG Discovery Template could be a good starting point – it is simply a reflective framework to help you begin naming your own bold goals: