Want help setting your personal BHAG for 2012? Check out these inspirational examples
30 Dec
Writing books, starting businesses and leading movements are just some of the Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group
Update to this post: On January 19, 2012, we changed the name of the DIYTogether Incubator Group to DIYTogether Beta Group, mainly because it's shorter and snappier.
By Amy Schroeder
With all the losing, getting rid of and, eventually, giving up on and feeling guilty about that surrounds New Year’s Resolutions, it’s no wonder most people resent them.
That said, why not pull a maverick move and join the movement to set a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal for 2012?
The BHAG (pronounced “bee-hag”) is a term coined by Jerry Porras and James Collins in their book Built to Last, which 
examines the qualities of successful visionary companies. They found that one factor that distinguished successful efforts from unsuccessful ones was the use of ambitious—even outrageous—goals to motivate people and focus them toward concrete accomplishments.
To gear up for what’s sure to be a huge year for the Entrepreneurial Era, we’re inviting you to apply the BHAG philosophy to your passion project, entrepreneurial endeavor or awesome startup.
And, since this is also the Age of the Artist as Entrepreneur, we’re going to spend an entire year developing communities, technologies and promising practices to help creative self-starters, new businesses and ambitious people accomplish their Biggest, Hairiest, most Audacious Goals.
On January 5, we’re kicking off the #BHAG2012 campaign with our brand-new #diychat 
Twitter chat, co-hosted by the members of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator group and by Busy Beaver Buttons Founder Christen Carter and The Handmade Marketplace author Kari Chapin. You’re invited. Read all about the international event here: Top DIY business leaders to co-host #diychat on January 5”.
So, before we give you our DIYTogether members’ #BHAGS2012, let me ask you this: What’s your Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal for 2012? And, how can our community of ambitious self-starters help you accomplish your BHAG?
Some of the members of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group, from left: Shaminder Dulai, Amber J. Adams, Rebecca Jackson (we haven't told you about her yet), Niema Jordan and Colleen Ryan. This photo was taken on December 15, 2011.
DIYTogether Incubator Group Member BHAGs for 2012
Amber J. Adams: The Gen Y Journalist
amberjadams.com • @amberjadams
“My Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal for 2012 is to promote Gen Y happiness in work and life, and become a thought leader for the unstoppable Generation Innovation movement.”
Shaminder Dulai: The Nomadic Storyteller
Co-producer (with Amber J. Adams) of 77, the documentary about the back stories of Gen Y and how they’re affected by the recession.
“I want to backpack around the globe in 2012.”
Golzar Selbe Naghshineh: The Activist
Producer, JustTheTipOfFeminism.org
@JustTheTipMovie • @FeministGolzar
“I want to finish Just the Tip and get the film into SXSW. … Is that big, hairy and audacious enough? It’s kind of just THE goal.”
Me, Amy “Collaboration” Schroeder
Founder/CEO, DIY Business Association and DIYTogether
@diybusiness @amyschroeder
“My #BHAG2012 is to become a leading actualizer of collaborative entrepreneurship.”
Sammy Davis: The Martha Stewart of the Vintage World
Founder, Sammy Davis Vintage
sammydvintage.com • @sammydavis22
“My #BHAG2012 is to be cast in my first TV show for 2012!”
Shaina Feinberg: The Funk Fixer
Inventor of Alignment and HyperCrafting; This American Life contributor, audio producer, writer, and collaborator with comedian Dave Hill
“My BHAG is to finish my feature-length movie.”
Frieda Klotz: The Irish Journalist Does New York
@FriedaKlotz • friedaklotz.com
“My BHAG2012 is to write and publish a non-fiction book. I also want to hone my niche and get my work featured in national U.S. print magazines.”
Colleen Ryan: The Get Sh** Done-er
“My BHAG is to contribute to getting at least one startup up and running in 2012 where they are in a financial position to operate and market themselves to becoming a profitable national brand within two to four years.”
Lesley Ware: The Friendly Fashionista
Founder/Blogger, The Creative Cookie
creativecookie@me.com • @CreativeCookie
“My #BHAG2012 is to write and publish a fashion-instruction curriculum and guide for pre-teen fashionistas.”
Meet the newest members of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group
Niema Jordan: The MultiTasking Writer
Freelance journalist, blogger, fiction writer, and poet. Her work can be seen in ESSENCE, EBONY and Venus Zine. She also contributes to OaklandLocal.com in addition to documenting the Bay Area arts scene for 38th Notes.
@niemajordan • niemajordan.com
“My #BHAG2012 is to start my own media company that incorporates content creation and curriculum development.”
Tamara Warren: The First Lady of Automobile Journalism
Self-made Writer; Founder, gotryke.com: Where Culture and Transportation Converge; Forbes blogger (blogs.forbes.com/tamarawarren: The Return of Street Savvy)
(@tamaratam) • tamarawarren.com
“My #BHAG2012 is to finish my book. Easy to say, tough to write.”
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I keep a journal about the progress of the First Official DIYTogether Incubator Group. Get up to speed here:
“Introducing the members of the first DIYTogether Incubator Group” Chapter 2 (November 15, 2011)
“The Diary of DIYTogether Incubator Groups” Chapter 1 (October 25, 2011)
#diychat 1 Feed from December 1, 2011 (December 3, 2011)
Our BHAG: “To be the most effective, the most successful and the largest ‘online marketing for companies’ agency in the United States” In-The-Flow