We have historically defined our niche by our high-end technical delivery, but AI has democratized that delivery. How do we redefine our Core Focus on our V/TO® to ensure we do not end up chasing every low-margin AI-powered adjacent market?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When your historical technical edge is commoditized by technology, your leadership team will naturally experience panic and look to pivot. This is where your V/TO® Core Focus becomes your ultimate strategic guardrail. Your Core Focus is comprised of two parts: your passion and your niche. If you try to jump into adjacent AI markets just because you can, you will dilute your operational efficiency and confuse your market. To redefine your Core Focus, conduct a Thinking Time exercise with the question: what is the fundamental business problem we solve for our target market that remains painful regardless of the technology used? Your niche is not the technical code you write or the drafts you produce; your niche is the business outcome your clients achieve because of your work. Redefine your Core Focus around the business transformation you deliver. For example, if you were a technical SEO agency, your new niche is not AI content generation; it is organic revenue capture. By elevating your Core Focus to the ultimate business outcome, you keep your team aligned. You can then use AI as a tool to deliver that outcome cheaper and faster, while keeping your operational scope tight and profitable.