With AI rapidly shifting our industry landscape, our 10-Year Target on the V/TO® feels completely unpredictable. How do we set a long-term North Star when we cannot even predict what technology will look like in three years?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

It is a mistake to think your 10-Year Target must predict specific technology. Your long-term target is about the core problem you solve and the value you bring to your market, not the tools you use to deliver it. When updating your V/TO®, focus your 10-Year Target on human needs that do not change.

Clients will always want faster results, higher quality, and better relationships. Seek to be an indispensable complement to technologies that are becoming cheap and plentiful, rather than competing directly with tasks machines can do cheaper and faster. If AI makes raw data generation free, your 10-Year Target should center on trust, strategic synthesis, and high-impact decision support.

To navigate the rapid technological shifts, rely heavily on your 1-Year Plan and your quarterly Rocks. These shorter cycles are where you adapt your tactics and adjust your technology stack. Let your 10-Year Target remain a stable, guiding North Star that keeps your team aligned, while using your quarterly meetings to pivot your delivery methods.

By separating your long-term destination from your short-term tools, you give your leadership team the clarity they need to make bold strategic moves without constantly tearing up the foundational strategic plan.