We are setting our revenue and headcount targets for our V/TO Three Year Picture, but we cannot predict how AI will leverage our capacity. How do we build a realistic three year scale projection when technology is moving this fast?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

To build a realistic Three Year Picture on your V/TO®, you must decouple your revenue goals from your headcount targets. Historically, owners assumed that to double revenue, they needed to double their team. AI breaks this linear relationship. Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee highlight that the greatest economic gains come from complementary human assets, meaning your current people will become exponentially more productive when augmented by technology.

First, identify the core processes that currently limit your capacity. If automated, how much more volume could your existing team handle? Use this insight to set a high-efficiency revenue target.

Second, focus your Three Year Picture on output capability rather than staff size. Picture your future organization with a lean, highly leveraged team operating at twice the capacity. Specify the exact technology systems that must be in place to support this.

Third, establish a Rock for your next quarter to audit your internal workflows. Identify every low-value, repetitive task that keeps your employees bogged down in administrative mud. By identifying these bottlenecks today, you can strategically evaluate how automation can free your team up for uniquely human work. This approach allows you to draft a future state based on capability and leverage, ensuring you scale your bottom line without bloating your overhead.