8 Questions: 1 Year Plan

The 3-Year Picture shows you where you’re headed. 

The 1-Year Plan is how you start walking.

In your V/TO, the 1-Year Plan bridges the gap between big-picture vision and day-to-day traction. It’s not a to-do list. It’s a focused, measurable plan built by the leadership team—with clarity, buy-in, and discipline.

Here’s what it includes:

• Revenue Goal

• Profit Goal

• Measurables (the specific numbers you want to hit)

• 3–7 Most Important Goals for the Year (these are company-wide, shared priorities)

That last part is key.

This isn’t about tackling everything. This is about choosing the most important things that will move you toward your 3-Year Picture—and ultimately, your Core Target.

In my restaurants, this was a missing piece for years. I had ideas. Big ones. But they changed constantly. There was no unifying direction, no clearly defined plan. And when you’re chasing too many things at once, everyone around you gets whiplash and even the good ideas go by the wayside.

The 1-Year Plan forces focus.

It gives you and your team permission to not chase the latest shiny idea.

It keeps your weekly meetings, quarterly Rocks, and team energy aligned.

I often tell clients:

“You can’t do everything this year. But you can do the right things.”

The 1-Year Plan helps you figure out what those are.

So if your team is overwhelmed, burned out, or unsure what “success” looks like right now—pause.

Zoom out.

Look at your 3-Year Picture.

Then zoom back in and ask:

What do we need to accomplish this year to move toward that future—together?

Write it down.

Agree to it.

Share it.

Own it.

And then get to work.