<aside> 🔮 What is a “Desired Future State”?:

1. Clear and specific articulation of some future state YOU want
2. It’s made up (it’s a story and doesn’t exist by definition)
3. Exciting, ambitious and comes from a place of inspiration and curiosity
4. A choice (No must/need/should)
5. Time agnostic (could be a minute or 10 years in the future)
6. Not a “corporate vision statement”
7. Don’t let the current reality limit your desired future state

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<aside> 👀 Acknowledge the current reality by:

1. Developing an awareness of what “is” today
2. Accept reality as it is. (facts, over stories)
3. Avoid judging today’s reality
4. Don’t bring the past into the present

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Key Questions ❓

1. Where do you want to be (desired future state) in 10 years? 3 Years? 1 Year? 3 months?
2. Where are you now (current reality)?

Objective 🎯

First, create your compelling vision for how your business is changing the world, and how you’ll know you’ve achieved it.. Describe your desired state in 10 years, 3 years, 1 year, 3 months. Your 10 year can be least specific, while your 1 year/3 month should be very specific.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• What’s revenue/profit?
• What are your margins?
• How many customers do you have?
• What type of customers do you have? (think about who your dream/ideal customers are)
• What does your organization look like? How many employees? What capabilities are you best in class at?
• How are you helping people/your community?

Second, once you’ve created your compelling vision for each horizon, confront your current reality. No rose colored glasses. No spin. Just facts and reality. See it as clearly as possible.

Try it

Use our Desired Future State (DFS) Worksheet

Example Output (From Aux ‘23 Planning) 🚢

Desired Future State Example [Aux Insights]

<aside> 👀 This is an example of grounding yourself in the current reality via a Current Reality exercise.

Look in the mirror. Focus on FACTS, not stories. Reflect on why you are where you are. Here’s a simple example of accounting from one of my B2B SaaS businesses (Kahani)

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