BHAG (Posted by Nick Booth)
Posted by Oliver Nyumbu
January 14th, 2007
Last week I experienced a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. I have ’seen’ them before, a couple that spring to mind are wikipedia and one laptop per child, but this was the first I have ‘experienced’…
To walk into the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is to understand the uncompromising pursuit of brilliance. Every square inch oozes artistry.
Pictures of the building left me with an impression of something vulgar. Touching it dispelled all that, indeed being there touched me emotionally.
Anton Gaudi’s design was cetainly audacious, so much so that bringing others on board was a challenge. His ambition was to make this the “the last great sancturay of Christendom”
From this short visit I appreciated a couple of simple things about big goals. A great vision can have value in itself. This church is such an extraordinary experience that it is now the most visited building in Spain. People want to share in the vision - whether or not they agree with it. The other is how best to share a BHAG.
Gaudi demonstrated what he wanted by pursuing his vision without compromise. The quality and the evident value of what he left behind after his death has provided a focus for those who follow (and they don’t expect to finish for at least a decade). He showed them what success will look like and they have not slavishly copied him. Instead they have taken his accomplishment, understood it in their terms and applied the same pursuit of excellence.
