We are setting our strategic goals for the V/TO®, but we are struggling to define what our company actually looks like in three years. How do we write a realistic 3-Year Picture when AI capabilities are changing every month without making our plan look like a science fiction novel?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Do not try to predict which specific software features will exist in three years. Instead, focus on the operational capability and capacity your business must possess. Your 3-Year Picture on the V/TO® should describe the strategic outcomes of AI adoption rather than the technology itself.

Start by looking at your current P&L and identifying where human hours are being wasted on repetitive, low-value work. In your 3-Year Picture, define a future where those specific bottlenecks are completely automated, allowing your existing team to support a much larger book of business.

Describe your future team not by their technical tasks, but by their high-value strategic responsibilities. For example, your customer service seats should transition from manual ticket solvers to proactive relationship managers who leverage automated diagnostics.

Use these elements to paint your picture:
- A specific revenue-to-headcount ratio that reflects massive operational leverage.
- A clear description of your target market enjoying significantly faster delivery times.
- A lean Accountability Chart filled with employees focused on high-touch client strategy.

By anchoring your goals in productivity outcomes, you create a concrete, achievable vision that remains relevant no matter how fast the underlying technology evolves.