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In the book “Built to Last,” authors Jerry Porras and Jim Collins introduce the Big Hairy Audacious Goals, or BHAGs, concept as a way for companies to enhance team spirit, reach goals and become profitable visionary companies. Porras and Collins describe BHAGs as “nearly impossible, but possible with confidence and a bit of arrogance on behalf of the company.”

A great example of a Big Hairy Audacious Goal was President John F. Kennedy’s vision, spelled out to Congress on May 25, 1961, of putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. On July 20, 1969, that dream was fulfilled by Neil Armstrong’s moon walk.

According to the authors’ research, $1 invested in a visionary company produces six times that of a dollar invested in a non-visionary competitor and 15 times more than $1 invested in the stock market.

Since vision improves results for corporations, doesn’t it follow that personal big, audacious dreams should help us improve our individual performance?

Recently, I had the privilege of advising a student who was disgruntled with his job. He has a boss who micromanages him and is terribly indecisive. The student was getting ready to quit what is a pretty nice deal — except for his boss. I asked him about his dreams for the future, and he lit up like a candle. He knew how to set BHAGs. I asked him how his job was helping him get to his future. A light went off in his eyes, and he decided to stick it out and continue being a stellar employee.

I suggested he write down his BHAGs, then add a couple sentences about how his job was helping him move toward his future. Finally, I asked him to read that document every day before going to work.

Sixth-graders know how to make big goals. They are the big kids in the elementary school, and they dream big. When I was a sixth-grader, I was going to fly F-14 Tomcats off aircraft carriers.

Then comes middle school in which big sixth-graders become little seventh-graders, and this continues throughout high school, college and adult life.

By the time most people are in their 30s, the dreams and goals of youth have been replaced by the grim realities of everyday life.

Long before the movie “The Bucket List,” I created a “Must do before I die” list. Some things on my list are big and some are Little Hairy Audacious Goals, but just like corporations, the world belongs to those who make their dreams come true. Do you have a “Must do before I kick the bucket list”? Is it written down? Do you read it every day?

In addition to career, educational, financial, physical fitness and family dreams, it is appropriate to have a list of at least 10 outrageous, fun dreams. I have checked six off my list and have six more to go before I die. A couple of them will happen next year.

Businesses need to develop the mindset of start-up companies that are exciting and filled with possibilities without limits. As part of those businesses, we need to develop the mindset of sixth-graders who can fly F-14s off aircraft carrier decks. I have absolutely no idea how to pull it off, but someday, I will catch a ride in the back of an F-16 soaring across Alaska. We are what dreams are made of. Remember:

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.” — Karen Ravn