Think About the Growth Curve from Right to Left

Last week, I had a conversation with a successful entrepreneur about how to help other entrepreneurs. We exchanged recommendations and lessons learned, and he shared a concept I had never encountered before, which really resonated with me.

Many entrepreneurs forecast their growth in a linear manner. They might say, “I aim to double our revenue next year,” and consequently map this out on a chart with a left-to-right approach. So if they’re generating $1 million in revenue this year and hope to double it the next, they plot a 100% year-over-year growth on their chart.

However, he suggested that entrepreneurs should think differently. Instead of focusing on short-term, incremental goals, they should envision much greater ambitions and then plan backwards to the present. Start with the end in mind. 

For instance, an entrepreneur aims to grow their business tenfold in three years with much more than 100% annual growth, they should identify that future target first and then strategize backwards to their current position. This approach, working from the right side of the chart (representing the future) to the left side (representing the present), encourages an innovative mindset that breaks from traditional, incremental growth patterns.

This notion of “right-to-left” thinking aligns with other ambitious growth strategies, like the “triple, triple, double, double, double” approach championed by Neeraj Agrawal. The underlying message is clear: set ambitious goals, understand what’s needed to achieve them, and then work backwards to make them a reality.

Adopting this right-to-left methodology where you work backwards from exponential growth is an invaluable approach for entrepreneurs. It emphasizes expansive, long-term vision over incremental, short-term gains. The most significant accomplishments stem from the boldest ambitions.