Did you know that 67% of good strategic plans fail due to poor execution?
What is Strategy, and What Makes the 3HAG™ Framework Stand Out?
Strategy is really just a fancy way of asking, “How do we win?” Winning could mean anything from dominating your market to creating a unique niche or achieving consistent, sustainable growth. It’s all about defining what success looks like for your business and creating a clear path to get there. It’s about making smart choices that set your business up for success. But let’s be real—too often, strategies are just wish lists filled with vague buzzwords and no clear direction. That’s where the 3HAG changes the game. It doesn’t just tell you what you’re aiming for; it spells out how to actually hit those targets. With real data, sharp priorities, and a plan that everyone understands, the 3HAG makes it easy to move forward with confidence. The 3HAG framework gets your team on the same page and working toward goals that make sense—and that you can actually achieve.
What is the 3HAG, and Why Does Your Business Need It?
Strategic planning can sometimes feel like trying to predict the weather three years ahead. One moment, everything looks crystal clear; the next, it’s total chaos. Dreaming big is easy, but figuring out how to make those dreams happen? That’s the tough part. That’s where the 3HAG excels. 3HAG™ was created by Shannon Byrne Susko and it stands for 3-Year Highly Achievable Goal. Think of it as your bridge between your big dreams and day-to-day operations. It doesn’t just help you dream big—it gives you a step-by-step roadmap to get there. No more wishful thinking. With the 3HAG, your team stays focused, motivated, and steadily working toward goals that are actually achievable. It’s all about turning vision into action—without the guesswork.
Key Principles and the Philosophy Behind the 3HAG Approach
The 3HAG is built on a simple truth: clarity beats complexity every single time. Instead of overloading your plan with too many goals or chasing the next shiny idea, the 3HAG keeps things simple. It’s all about alignment, focus, and action—the three pillars every business needs to succeed. And here’s why 3HAG works: strategy isn’t something you just write down and forget about. It’s something your entire team lives and breathes every day.
What makes the 3HAG special is its rhythm and structure. It’s a mix of big dreams, like becoming a market leader, with the tactical steps to make them real, such as breaking into three new markets in three years.
The 3HAG framework isn’t static. It evolves as your business grows. For example, your initial focus might be on stabilizing cash flow, but as you achieve that, your focus could shift toward scaling operations or entering new markets. This adaptability of the 3HAG framework helps lead you to the perfect balance between ambition and reality.
It’s strategy made simple—and it works.
Benefits of Implementing 3HAG: Increased Focus, Improved Execution, Accelerated Growth
The 3HAG delivers benefits that are as practical as they are transformative.
- Sharper focus – 3HAG gets your team laser-focused by aligning everyone around the same big goal. No more guessing or mixed messages.
- Better execution – It turns strategy into a clear, step-by-step process, so your team always knows what to do next and who’s responsible for doing it.
- Faster growth – And it drives growth like nothing else. By avoiding distractions and staying locked in on the plan, your business can scale faster than ever before.
It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
Who Can Benefit from 3HAG: Entrepreneurs, Teams, Organizations
The best part about the 3HAG framework is that it works for startups trying to establish a foothold, growing businesses scaling to the next level, and established organizations looking to maintain a competitive edge. Entrepreneurs can use it to cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. It turns the startup hustle into a strategic, unstoppable force. Teams? They’ll love it because it gets everyone rowing in the same direction with no confusion. And for organizations, the 3HAG brings clarity and consistency across departments, making it easier to scale and succeed.
Whether you’re just starting out, in growth mode, or running a well-oiled machine, the 3HAG is the tool you need to hit your next big milestone—and beyond.
Curious on how you can implement 3HAG in your organization?
In the next posts, I will further explore the 3HAG concepts and building block and discuss the steps you need to take to implement them in your business.
Notes
The 3HAG™ framework is described in Shannon’s book: 3HAG Way: The Strategic Execution System that ensures your strategy is not a Wild-Ass-Guess!
3HAG™ is a trademark of Shannon Byrne Susko, Founder & CEO of Metronomics
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