Published on Sept 10, 2024

In business, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations and lose sight of where you ultimately want to go. That’s why setting a clear 10-year target is so crucial—it gives your business a big, bold goal to aim for. The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) helps you set that long-term target and provides the framework to make it a reality.

In this post, we’ll explore the importance of having a 10-year target and how you can set one that aligns with your vision for the future.

Why a 10, or any Future Year Target Matters

Your 10-year target is more than just a target on a board—it’s a clear, aspirational goal that gives your team direction. It provides a sense of purpose and helps guide your decision-making over the long term. This can be 5 years or 30 years, but it needs to paint the picture of the future company.

With a well-defined target, you:

• Keep your team aligned: Everyone in the company understands what you’re working toward and can make decisions that support that goal.
• Stay focused: Having a big goal helps you filter out distractions and focus on what really matters.
• Motivate your team: A big, inspiring target gives people something to get excited about and work toward.

Assuming a 10 Year Target, How Do You Set It

When setting your 10-year target, it’s important to balance aspiration with realism. Here are a few key steps:

1. Start with Your Vision: Your target should align with your long-term vision for the company. Think big—what does success look like 10 years from now? How big do you want your business to be?
2. Make It Believable: Can you feel it? Can the team see that could be a reality? It might be a huge goal, yet does it give the team, and the leaders, energy to go after it? Can they all see themselves there?
3. Get Buy-In from Your Team: Your 10-year target should inspire everyone in the company. Make sure the entire team is on board and excited to work toward it.

Using the 10-Year Target as a Decision-Making Tool

Once your target is set, it becomes a powerful tool for making decisions. Whenever new opportunities or challenges arise, ask yourself: Does this help us get closer to our 10-year target?

By filtering decisions through this lens, you ensure that every action your company takes is moving you closer to that long-term goal. This level of focus is key to gaining the traction you need to make your vision a reality.

Staying Flexible, Yet Focused

It’s important to remember that while your 10-year target should be ambitious, it doesn’t have to be set in stone. As your business grows and evolves, you may need to adjust the target. However, the core idea of having a long-term focus should remain constant. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial in achieving long-term success.

Conclusion: Aim Big and Stay the Course

Setting your 10-year target gives your business a clear, inspiring direction to move toward. It aligns your team, motivates them, and ensures that every decision supports your long-term vision. As we continue exploring the EOS tools, we’ll dive deeper into how to break this big goal into manageable, actionable steps. In our next post, we’ll explore how to craft a 3-year picture that brings your vision into sharper focus.