Future State COO
helping small business achieve their desired future state

thoughts on

closing the gap

Future State is dedicated to providing emboldening insight on optimizing small businesses for sustainable growth. Our focus is on organizational alignment between targets and functions - closing the gap between present reality and vision, between current and future state.

“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.”
— Peter Drucker

Strategic Planning Done Right: Defining Success & Creating a Vision

A well-crafted strategic plan provides a roadmap for organizations to align efforts, prioritize resources, and drive sustainable growth. However, many plans fail because they focus on short-term goals without a clear foundation. The key to effective strategic planning lies in defining success before setting strategies, ensuring alignment with the organization's purpose and long-term vision.

At Future State COO, strategic planning follows a two-step approach:

  1. Clarify the Core Ideology – Define who the organization is and why it exists.

  2. Envision the Future – Set goals and strategies in alignment with that core ideology.

Step 1: Clarify the Core Ideology

A company’s core ideology serves as its anchor, providing consistency in decision-making and guiding the organization's evolution. It consists of two critical elements:

  • Core Values: The principles that guide decision-making and behavior. These should be deeply ingrained in the company culture and serve as a filter for hiring, operations, and leadership decisions.

  • Core Purpose: The fundamental reason the company exists beyond making a profit. This defines the long-term impact the company aims to have in its industry and community.

How to Define Core Ideology:

  • Conduct leadership workshops to identify shared values and principles.

  • Ask, "If everything else changed—markets, products, leadership—what values and purpose would remain?"

  • Ensure leadership alignment by reinforcing these elements in everyday decision-making and communication.

Organizations with a strong core ideology cultivate trust, maintain strategic focus, and inspire employees to align their work with a larger mission.

For more insights on building a strong strategic foundation, check out our detailed guide: Strategic Planning.

Step 2: Envision the Future

Once the foundation is set, the next step is crafting a compelling vision of success. Without a clear picture of the desired future state, businesses risk drifting aimlessly.

A strong envisioned future includes:

  1. A Vivid Description: A compelling and inspiring picture of what the company aims to become in the next 5-10 years.

  2. Long-Term Goals: Measurable objectives that drive progress and maintain strategic alignment.

The general concept is to look into the future, identify Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs), and then work backward to find the smaller steps necessary to reach those BHAGs. This method ensures that short-term actions are directly tied to long-term aspirations, providing a structured path for sustainable growth.

How to Envision the Future:

  • Define what success looks like for the organization in tangible, detailed terms.

  • Set ambitious but achievable goals that challenge the organization to grow.

  • Work backward from long-term BHAGs to outline the necessary milestones and strategies.

  • Align team efforts by consistently communicating and reinforcing this vision.

Bridging the Gap: From Vision to Execution

Strategic planning should not be a theoretical exercise. Once the core ideology and envisioned future are clear, the next step is creating a structured roadmap to achieve them. This includes:

  • Identifying Key Strategic Priorities: What are the most critical areas that need attention?

  • Defining Success Metrics: How will progress be measured?

  • Ensuring Leadership Buy-In: How can leaders model and reinforce the vision daily?

For a deeper dive into how strategic planning, organizational design, and workflow analysis drive success, read our article: Transforming Your Small Business.

Organizations that define success before setting goals create clarity, accountability, and a shared commitment to long-term growth. Strategic planning isn’t about producing a rigid document—it’s about guiding meaningful action and sustainable decision-making at every level.

Taking Action

How well-defined is your organization’s core ideology? Is your long-term vision clear to your team?

Start with these foundational steps to build a strategy that drives meaningful results and positions your business for lasting success.

#StrategicPlanning #BusinessStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #VisionaryLeadership #FutureState

Chad G - FSC