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Read time: 2 mins
When you think about your business, are you thinking in days or decades?
Last week, we were chatting with a client about hiring.
He said, “I'm swamped. I need someone now. I’ll figure out the rest later.”
And look, we get it.
When you’re running a small business, it’s easy to get caught in short-term thinking, where you're solving today’s problems and hoping tomorrow sorts itself out.
But the best CEOs think differently.
They make decisions with the next 10 years in mind, not just the next 10 days.
That mindset matters.
Because when you’re focused only on the short term, you:
Make reactive decisions instead of strategic ones
Prioritise quick wins over lasting impact
Miss opportunities to build something that compounds over time
So today, we're diving into Shift #3 in our Think Like a CEO series: How to start thinking in decades, not days, to grow a great business without burning out.
SHIFT #3: FROM DAYS TO DECADES
Long-term thinking changes everything: the people you hire, the systems you build, and the choices you make when things get tough.
Here’s how to start applying it to your business:
1- Set a long-term vision
The client we were discussing hiring with has a clear long-term vision to grow their business significantly over the next few years.
So, when we talked through their immediate hiring need, they recognised something important.
They didn’t just need capacity right now, they needed capability.
Because their vision was clear, they recognised they needed someone who could come in and help build the team, processes, and systems that would allow the business to scale.
They ended up outsourcing some work temporarily to solve the short-term problem,
and then refocused their time and attention on hiring a more skilled Operations Manager who could lead growth properly.
That’s what thinking in decades looks like: making the right decision for where you’re going, not just where you are.
2- Build systems that outlast you
That Operations Manager’s role isn’t just to make things run smoothly today.
It’s to help build systems that will outlast the owner.
When everything in your business depends on you, growth will hit a ceiling.
But when you create systems that can be replicated and allow others to do what you do, you create scalability.
Doing something once in a way that can be repeated is rarely wasted effort.
It’s an investment that pays off again and again.
3- Invest in people, not just projects
The best leaders don’t just build businesses, they build other leaders.
As John Maxwell says, “A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.”
Train your team.
Give them ownership.
Help them develop the capability to lead others.
When you grow leaders, not just doers, you create a business that can scale far beyond you.
Bottom line:
Thinking like a CEO means making decisions your future self will thank you for.
You’re not just building for next quarter, you’re building something that will still matter in 10 years.
That’s how you move from short-term reaction to long-term success.
👉 Know a business owner who’s constantly focused on the next fire?
Share this with them, with our genuine thanks.
Speak soon,
Lynne and Steve
P.S. You can catch up on the rest of our Think Like a CEO series in our newsletter archive here.
TLDR:
The best CEOs think in decades, not days
Make sure you know your long-term vision
Build systems that outlast you
Invest in people, not just projects (grow leaders who can lead others)
Make decisions your future self will thank you for
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