{"id":8509,"date":"2026-01-18T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ellevatedoutcomes.com\/?p=8509"},"modified":"2026-06-15T19:37:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:37:07","slug":"whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\/","title":{"rendered":"What&#8217;s Your Long Term Goal for Business? 3 Paths to Help You Decide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week, we kicked off the year with <a href=\"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/ceo-mindset-my-annual-activities-for-goal-setting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">goal setting activities<\/a>. Today, I&#8217;d like to follow up with an objection I often hear: \u201cI don\u2019t want to set a long term goal for business. It feels too limiting. Too final.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And you know: <a href=\"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/how-to-win-proposals-what-no-one-tells-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">I love an objection<\/a>. A response like this means that someone is <em>critically <\/em>about their goals. So let me assure you: I don\u2019t want you to pursue goals blindly, for the sake of checking off accomplishments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good goals should give you focus and simplicity in the short-term and create <em>optionality<\/em> in the long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your Optimal Growth Path<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have an Ellevated Outcomes vocabulary to help our clients think about their long term goal for business. It\u2019s all in the spirit of what I call <em>Optimal Growth<\/em>. For small, creative businesses, there are 3 paths you may pursue for your own optimal growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The Start-Up (Scale to Sale)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Start-Up is one of the business types you hear most about in the media. It\u2019s because when one is successful, it\u2019s <em>hugely <\/em>successful. And to the contrary: when one fails, it really fails. There\u2019s not much in-between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The term &#8220;startup&#8221; refers to a company in the early stages of its operations. Startups are founded by one or more entrepreneurs who want to develop a product or service for which they believe there is demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These companies generally launch with high costs and limited revenue, which is why they look for capital from a variety of sources such as angel investors and venture capitalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Startups typically require several years to make a profit, so significant, high-risk investments typically are needed to get one off the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/s\/startup.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">-Investopedia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This model focuses on scaling a product quickly. If you&#8217;re aiming for large-scale growth and <em>profitability isn\u2019t your goal<\/em> (this is so important), this could be your path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It may be for you, if you&#8230;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don&#8217;t mind giving up product and creative work (and control).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aim to build systems that are replicable and scalable (technology and operational efficiency needs to be a significant part of the business model).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seek opportunities for significant financial growth or eventual acquisition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have access to funding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have a high risk tolerance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t mind giving up control and literal ownership (you trade that for funding).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key challenges:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maintaining quality and consistency at scale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You give up control and ownership.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fundraising.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All or nothing success \/ failure (there\u2019s a reason they call success stories \u201cunicorns\u201d).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your life will all work for a number of years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Airbnb<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The (Solopreneur) Lifestyle Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some business owners come to Ellevated Outcomes, thinking they want to build a team. Then once we work with them for a couple years and get things running optimally, they realize: \u201cThis is pretty good\u2026 maybe I don\u2019t want to grow beyond myself.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want an optimally running Solopreneur Lifestyle business, the idea is to get things as tight, light, and as systematized as possible. These businesses are intentionally small, offering flexibility and the ability to manage all operations under one brain, with the help of technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It may be for you, if you&#8230;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prefer minimal overhead and maximum control\/creativity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are focused on maximizing short-term personal income, rather than long-term wealth. There are other ways to create wealth, but it won&#8217;t be directly from the business.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t have the capacity or aren\u2019t desiring to stretch yourself emotionally at work (more on that below).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Challenges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Continuing to grow oneself in skill, business acumen, and new tools (when you\u2019re only accountable to you).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoiding burnout as the sole operator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Risk of being owner-operator: if something happens to you, your ability to generate income is at risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Real revenue ceiling is generally ~$250K (and note: this isn\u2019t the same thing as take-home pay).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Example: our beloved <a href=\"https:\/\/embodydesign.co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Embody Design Studio<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. The Studio (People-Powered Business)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Studio model, client intimacy is at the heart of your strategy. \u201cClients are your value, and people are your power.\u201d This approach emphasizes developing and training a team, who consistently replicate your brand experience and deliver high-touch value. Think about it this way: it\u2019s the Solopreneur model, magnified. The core, imperative difference is: a team carries out the work, <em>as the same level as you<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It may be for you, if you&#8230;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are disciplined for process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have the emotional capacity to build a team (no part of business is more emotional than this).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enjoy creating personalized experiences for clients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See growth as a way to serve more people, internally and externally, not just generate revenue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are comfortable capping your salary in the short to medium term, to reinvest in people and the business\u2019s long-term value.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have endurance for <a href=\"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/learning-pit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">learning pits<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/vitality-and-longevity\/\">lo<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/vitality-and-longevity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ng-game<\/a>. Lots and lots of endurance!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Challenges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Balancing in-the-business work with on-the-business work. Continuously evolving and tweaking this as time goes on. Even if done well, it can take 7-10 years to fully get \u201con\u201d the business.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teaching others the \u201cwhat\u201d <em>and the \u201chow\u201d<\/em> your business does things. We call this <em>transference<\/em> of the brand experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Balancing client satisfaction with letting your team make errors, as they grow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Example: your friendly team at Ellevated Outcomes \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Choose Your Path<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Ellevated Outcomes, we have our favorite path(s). They&#8217;re the ones pointing to <em>sustainable scaling.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, we don\u2019t work with true start-ups because in that case, the owner has ceased control by accepting funding. The start-up goal is typically to grow as fast as possible, not profitably. And make no mistake about it: some do have large financial payoff in that model; but it\u2019s not our specialty. We like to help people make profit (and not kill themselves along the way).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have many clients we help become optimal solopreneurs. As described, if you\u2019re totally clear about your short and long term goal for business, along with your personal preferences (that\u2019s a big part), it can be a great means for lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But you won\u2019t be surprised to hear me say: personally, my heart will always be with the Studio model. IMO it\u2019s the hardest and at times: most heartbreaking. But I love it for optimal growth. It takes the upside from the Start-Up and Solopreneur models, packaged up in a way to scale sustainably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It reminds me of how Scott Galloway says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s wealth. There are numerous paths to it; the reliable ones take time and hard work but are within the grasp of most people.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s not a \u201cright\u201d answer for your optimal growth. You need to know yourself, your resources, your opportunity, and the trade-offs you\u2019re willing to make. Once you&#8217;re clear-eyed on those elements forming your north star, then you can set your long term goal for business. And I promise: that clarity and focus will not limit you. To the contrary, it will open you up for opportunity. For optionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PS \u2013 if you\u2019d like an audio\/visual teaching to sit alongside this reading, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/tlqqb1282utz270pgb2r9\/01-Your-Optimal-Growth_v3.mov?rlkey=ht7vysmeg15no19gbrc39bj49&amp;st=6y1gdr7e&amp;dl=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here you are<\/a> (19 minute video).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week, we kicked off the year with goal setting activities. Today, I&#8217;d like to follow up with an objection I often hear: \u201cI don\u2019t want to set a long term goal for business. It feels too limiting. Too final.\u201d And you know: I love an objection. A response like this means that someone is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[479],"tags":[146,136,195,128,431,97,37,149,432,433],"class_list":["post-8509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ceo-skills","tag-business-advisor","tag-creative-business-advisor","tag-creative-business-strategy","tag-goals","tag-long-term","tag-scaling","tag-small-business","tag-small-business-strategy","tag-solopreneur","tag-studio"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What&#039;s Your Long Term Goal for Business? 3 Paths to Help You Decide - Ellevated Outcomes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I often hear: \u201cI don\u2019t want a long term goal for business because it feels restrictive. 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I want to be open for opportunities that come my way.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ellevated Outcomes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/web.facebook.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-18T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-15T19:37:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/zudigitest.com\/ellevatedoutcomes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/modern-studio-business.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Julie Sellers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Julie Sellers\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Julie Sellers\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/22cba89f7e5da6fb31694648eebefcfc\"},\"headline\":\"What&#8217;s Your Long Term Goal for Business? 3 Paths to Help You Decide\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-18T13:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-15T19:37:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1198,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/modern-studio-business.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"business advisor\",\"creative business advisor\",\"creative business strategy\",\"goals\",\"long-term\",\"scaling\",\"small business\",\"small business strategy\",\"solopreneur\",\"studio\"],\"articleSection\":[\"CEO Skills\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/\",\"name\":\"What's Your Long Term Goal for Business? 3 Paths to Help You Decide - Ellevated Outcomes\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/whats-your-long-term-goal-for-business-3-paths-to-help-you-decide\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/zudigitest.com\\\/ellevatedoutcomes\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/modern-studio-business.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-18T13:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-15T19:37:07+00:00\",\"description\":\"I often hear: \u201cI don\u2019t want a long term goal for business because it feels restrictive. 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