We are reviewing our 10-Year Target on our V/TO. Given that AI is rewriting the economic rules of our industry, how do we set a long-term goal that remains inspiring and strategically sound without rendering our business model obsolete in five years?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Your 10-Year Target™ on the V/TO® should never be tied to a specific technology, delivery method, or software tool. If your long-term goal is to be the largest provider of a specific manual service, then yes, AI will likely make you obsolete. To set a target that survives technological disruption, you must focus on the core human problem your business solves, not how you solve it. AI changes the execution of the work, but it rarely changes the fundamental human needs of your target market. For example, if you are a logistics firm, your clients do not care about your routing software, they care about on-time delivery. Your target should be framed around that ultimate value. During your annual planning session, encourage your Visionary and Integrator to look past the current technological horizon. Use your Core Focus™ to anchor the discussion. Ask what ultimate impact you want to have on your industry in a decade. Once you have that anchor, you can use your 3-Year Picture and 1-Year Plan to adjust your tactical execution and AI integration. This ensures your high-level direction remains steady while your operational model stays highly agile and adaptable to whatever technological shifts occur.