---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: every executive and department, in…"
description: "\"“every executive and department, in addition to delivering specific and achievable and timely objectives, would also have to identify a stretch goal—an..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dd/charles-duhigg-1088_goals_every-executive-and-department-in-additi_645066.png"
---

#  every executive and department, in addition to delivering…

![“every executive and department, in addition to delivering specific and achievable and timely objectives, would also have to identify a stretch goal—an aim so ambitious that managers couldn’t describe, at least initially, how they would achieve it. Everyone, Welch said, had to partake in “bullet…” quote by Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dd/charles-duhigg-1088_goals_every-executive-and-department-in-additi_645066.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dd/charles-duhigg-1088_goals_every-executive-and-department-in-additi_645066.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dd/charles-duhigg-1088_goals_every-executive-and-department-in-additi_645066.png)

> ““every executive and department, in addition to delivering specific and achievable and timely objectives, would also have to identify a stretch goal—an aim so ambitious that managers couldn’t describe, at least initially, how they would achieve it. Everyone, Welch said, had to partake in “bullet train thinking.””

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Managers must set stretch goals that seem impossible at first, encouraging radical thinking and collective effort to achieve them.

**In simple terms:** Set ambitious, unclear goals to spark innovative thinking.

Key Takeaway

Define bold, collaborative objectives.

Themes

innovation goal‑setting teamwork

Mood

motivational strategic

Type

business inspirational

When to use this quote

- product launch
- organizational change
- R&amp;D projects
- market disruption

Key Concepts

bullet train thinking stretch goals strategic vision

Questions to Reflect On

- How can teams stay motivated with vague, ambitious targets?
- What structures support “bullet train thinking”?

A Different Perspective

Stretch goals can demotivate if perceived as unattainable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bullet Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullet-train/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/)

## Related quotes

> [“The reason why we need both stretch goals and SMART goals is that audaciousness, on its own, can be terrifying. It’s often not clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-reason-why-we-need-both-stretch-goals-and-smart-goals-is-that/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [In the 1970s the government propped up managers who couldn't run their industries properly. Nowadays they prop up our lousy managers who can't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/in-the-1970s-the-government-propped-up-managers-who-couldn-t-run/)

[Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/)

> [Gritty people train at the edge of their comfort zone. They zero in on one narrow aspect of their performance and set a stretch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/gritty-people-train-at-the-edge-of-their-comfort-zone-they-zero-in-on/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [I swam in the Great Barrier Reef when I was five months pregnant. I went on the bullet train in Japan, which was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanola-hampton/i-swam-in-the-great-barrier-reef-when-i-was-five-months-pregnant-i/)

[Shanola Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanola-hampton/)

> [Like Maharashtra, the people of Gujarat also do not want a bullet train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-thackeray/like-maharashtra-the-people-of-gujarat-also-do-not-want-a-bullet-train/)

[Raj Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-thackeray/)

> [I would like a bullet train which connects my state capital and the second capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uddhav-thackeray/i-would-like-a-bullet-train-which-connects-my-state-capital-and-the/)

[Uddhav Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uddhav-thackeray/)

> [Social and digital media is a bullet train, and that bullet train is not coming home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/social-and-digital-media-is-a-bullet-train-and-that-bullet-train-is/)

[Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/)

> [In Japan, you get on the bullet train or the airplane, and I loved the little speeches the stewardesses would do. They even do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/in-japan-you-get-on-the-bullet-train-or-the-airplane-and-i-loved-the/)

[Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/)

> [“…I'd rather travel in Cargo-nanoships than a Bullet-train to reach my target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farooq-a-shiekh/i-d-rather-travel-in-cargo-nanoships-than-a-bullet-train-to-reach-my/)

Farooq A. Shiekh

> [The train is where you can have the best party, especially the bullet train in Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redfoo/the-train-is-where-you-can-have-the-best-party-especially-the-bullet/)

[Redfoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redfoo/)

> [When I stopped touring, it was like trying to stop a bullet train or a giant lead ball falling from a 100 stories up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/when-i-stopped-touring-it-was-like-trying-to-stop-a-bullet-train-or-a/)

[Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/)

> [I guess my favorite way to travel is in a car, especially if you get to go some place cool. The bullet train in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kimock/i-guess-my-favorite-way-to-travel-is-in-a-car-especially-if-you-get/)

[Steve Kimock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kimock/)

> [If people don't want a bullet train, then it will not happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uddhav-thackeray/if-people-don-t-want-a-bullet-train-then-it-will-not-happen/)

[Uddhav Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uddhav-thackeray/)

> [If it is the choice between a bullet train and a three-wheeler, I will choose the latter as it is the traveling mode of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uddhav-thackeray/if-it-is-the-choice-between-a-bullet-train-and-a-three-wheeler-i-will/)

[Uddhav Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uddhav-thackeray/)

> [Bad television is three things: a bullet train to a morally bankrupt youth, a slow spiral into an intellectual void, and of course, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/bad-television-is-three-things-a-bullet-train-to-a-morally-bankrupt/)

[Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/)

## More by Charles Duhigg

> [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America has always had an apocalyptic strain. Yet it also seems to believe that if, or when, The End comes, it will still come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-has-always-had-an-apocalyptic-strain-yet-it-also-seems-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Bromates are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but officials are required to test for them only when water leaves a treatment plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/bromates-are-regulated-by-the-safe-drinking-water-act-but-officials/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/habits-scientists-say-emerge-because-the-brain-is-constantly-looking/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Between calculated risk and reckless decision-making lies the dividing line between profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/between-calculated-risk-and-reckless-decision-making-lies-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Older Americans are perfect telemarketing customers, analysts say, because they are often at home, rely on delivery services, and are lonely for the companionship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/older-americans-are-perfect-telemarketing-customers-analysts-say/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/all-our-life-so-far-as-it-has-definite-form-is-but-a-mass-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Someday soon, say predictive analytics experts, it will be possible for companies to know our tastes and predict our habits better than we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/someday-soon-say-predictive-analytics-experts-it-will-be-possible-for/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“I love Paul O'Neill, but you could not pay me enough to work for him again" one official told me. "the man has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/i-love-paul-o-neill-but-you-could-not-pay-me-enough-to-work-for-him/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“THE FRAMEWORK: • Identify the routine • Experiment with rewards • Isolate the cue • Have a plan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-framework-identify-the-routine-experiment-with-rewards-isolate/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Barium, which is commonly found in power plant waste and scrubber wastewater, has been linked to heart problems and diseases in other organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/barium-which-is-commonly-found-in-power-plant-waste-and-scrubber/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [A movement starts because of the social habits of friendship and the strong ties between close acquaintances. It grows because of the habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/a-movement-starts-because-of-the-social-habits-of-friendship-and-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“In some sense, he said, a community was a giant collection of habits occurring among thousands of people that, depending on how they’re influenced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/in-some-sense-he-said-a-community-was-a-giant-collection-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

[Explore all 293 Charles Duhigg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## More Goals quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/)

[Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/)

[Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/)

> [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/)

[C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/)

[Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“every executive and department, in addition to delivering specific and achievable and timely objectives, would also have to identify a stretch goal—an aim so ambitious that managers couldn’t describe, at least initially, how they would achieve it. Everyone, Welch said, had to partake in “bullet train thinking.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Duhigg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/every-executive-and-department-in-addition-to-delivering-specific-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Goals"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/every-executive-and-department-in-addition-to-delivering-specific-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dd/charles-duhigg-1088_goals_every-executive-and-department-in-additi_645066.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dd/charles-duhigg-1088_goals_every-executive-and-department-in-additi_645066.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dd/charles-duhigg-1088_goals_every-executive-and-department-in-additi_645066.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“every executive and department, in addition to delivering specific and achievable and timely objectives…” — Charles Duhigg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles Duhigg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“every executive and department, in addition...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/every-executive-and-department-in-addition-to-delivering-specific-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/every-executive-and-department-in-addition-to-delivering-specific-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
