We are updating our 3-Year Picture on our V/TO, but with AI changing so rapidly, we have no idea what our industry or software capabilities will look like in thirty-six months. How do we set realistic revenue and staffing targets when the future is so unpredictable?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When planning your 3-Year Picture on the V/TO, do not try to predict specific technological advancements. That is a trap that leads to planning paralysis. Instead, focus on the capabilities your business must possess to dominate your niche, regardless of which specific AI tool is leading the market in three years. Your revenue and staffing targets should be based on efficiency ratios rather than fixed headcount. For example, instead of writing that you will have fifty employees, state that you will operate at a specific revenue-per-employee metric that is double your current rate. This shifts the focus from who you need to hire to how much leverage your team must achieve. To do this, align your leadership team on the core outcomes your clients value most, such as speed, accuracy, or customized human delivery. Write down the future state of your operations by describing the client experience, not the software stack. Focus on the results of the technology, such as instant client onboarding or automated real-time reporting. By defining your 3-Year Picture through the lens of operational capabilities and efficiency metrics, you give your team a clear, stable target. Your quarterly Rocks will then dictate the specific tools you implement to hit those metrics as the technology evolves.