From SMART Goals to BHAGs: The Road to 2,025 Members by 2025

In early 2023, we set an audacious goal for BNI United Arab Emirates : to grow our membership from 900 to over 2,025 by 2025, the year we celebrate 20 years of BNI in the UAE. On paper, it sounded almost impossible. It had taken us 18 years to go from 0 to 900 members, and here we were proposing to more than double that in just three years. Understandably, there was skepticism within the team. But today, as I reflect on our journey, the skepticism has been replaced by excitement and determination.

Let me explain how we made this happen—and how the combination of SMART goals and BHAGs can achieve the extraordinary.

What’s the Difference Between a SMART Goal and a BHAG?

A SMART Goal is a practical, actionable plan. It’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, one of our SMART goals was to launch ten new chapters in 2024, each with at least 25 members. These milestones keep us focused and allow us to measure progress along the way.

A BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), on the other hand, is visionary. It’s bold and transformational, designed to inspire. It stretches your imagination and challenges you to think beyond your comfort zone. For us, 2,025 members by 2025 wasn’t just a target; it was a declaration of who we wanted to become—a powerful, thriving community of business leaders in the UAE.

The magic happens when these two concepts work together.

Reverse Engineering the BHAG

The key to turning our BHAG into reality was breaking it down. By reverse engineering, we mapped out what achieving 2,025 members would actually look like. How many new chapters would we need to launch? What would member retention need to look like? What strategies could help us attract new members? Once we had answers, the seemingly impossible became tangible.

For example, to achieve this growth:

• We set specific recruitment targets for each region.
• We focused on member retention strategies, ensuring existing members saw continued value.
• We leveraged recognition and success stories to inspire others.

These smaller, measurable SMART goals became our stepping stones, ensuring progress was both achievable and sustainable.

Celebrating Progress

Fast-forward to October 2024, and we’ve crossed the 1,400-member mark—well on our way to achieving our BHAG. This milestone was celebrated globally when BNI UAE was recognized for having the strongest growth at the BNI Global Convention. That recognition wasn’t just a moment of pride; it was proof that we’re on the right track.

But we’re not done yet. The finish line is still ahead, and reaching it requires the same focus, energy, and teamwork that got us here.

Staying Inspired: The Road to Sydney

Next year, the BNI Global Convention will be held in Sydney, Australia. By that time, we aim to be standing on that stage again, recognized not only for growth but for achieving something truly transformational. This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about what those numbers represent: a thriving community of professionals who support one another, contribute to the UAE economy, and build lasting relationships.

A Call to Action

To my team and our members: Let’s use this recognition as fuel. We’ve already proven that SMART goals can help us achieve the extraordinary, but the BHAG is what keeps us inspired. Together, we can reach 2,025 members by 2025—and when we do, we’ll know it was because we dared to dream big and took the disciplined steps to make it happen.

Here’s to 2025 and beyond!

What's YOUR BNI UAE Success Story this year? - Do share how you or your Chapter have contributed to this incredible journey