Should you set a ‘crazy’ goal?

Last week I offered advice about starting a company. I believe it’s important to start small and think big. When thinking big I set what I like to call “crazy goals.”

Some of my goals were so big people thought I was crazy. In fact, in the wake of every great entrepreneur, you’ll find a trail of people who told him he was crazy.

I remember hearing it when I first decided to start an Internet mall. “Terrible idea,” I was told. “Several big companies have already tried and failed to do that. Why are you following that path? It’s crazy.”

And that wasn’t the only time. When I set big sales goals, ambitious expansion plans, or announced that everyone in my Tokyo-based company would embrace English as the common workplace language, I heard it. “That’s crazy. That will never work.”

In many ways, the goals others call “crazy” are the ones that give us the most momentum.

To move ahead in life, it’s important to set goals. The crazy goals are the motivators that will propel you past the easy wins and into the higher levels of success.

What is a crazy goal? One that is so big, most people roll their eyes when you tell them. Don’t be put off by this reaction. If it were easy to achieve, anyone could do it. It’s the achievement of the big goal that is truly inspirational and worth pursuing.

How to set a “crazy” goal:

1. Think big. If the goal is too easy to achieve, it will not have the inspirational resonance you desire.
2. Be concrete. When President Kennedy sought to inspire American scientists to put a man on the moon, he was specific about the time frame – by the end of the decade. If he’d just said “someday” the goal would not have been concrete enough to inspire.
3. Show constant energy. A big goal may be a long way from your grasp, but you must show energy and enthusiasm for it all the time. Even if it is years away.

Not every crazy idea will work out as planned. But every one will help to inspire you to work harder, dream bigger and reach for the outrageous goals. Set your crazy goals today.

This article is published in collaboration with LinkedIn. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Author: Hiroshi Mikitani is CEO, Rakuten Inc.

Image: A flying sushi service tray known as the “itray”, created using miniature remote-controlled helicopter rotor blades, is demonstrated by staff at a “Yo! Sushi” restaurant in London. REUTERS/Neil Hall