You can’t grow long-term if you can’t eat in the short term.

Any successful business has to balance two different time horizons; long-term and short-term strategies. In the short term, a business needs to cover its costs, pay salaries and function on a day-to-day basis.

However, if it focuses too much on the present, there is a risk that potential opportunities will be missed.  Conversely, if a firm’s sole focus is on long-term opportunities, it could quickly become unprofitable. In the words of Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, “you can’t grow long-term, if you can’t eat short-term.”

The foundation of this hypothesis lies in the understanding that short-term success provides the financial stability needed to pursue long-term goals. In practical terms, short-term revenue, profits, and cash flow ensure that the business can meet its immediate obligations – such as paying employees, suppliers, and operational costs –while also delivering value to shareholders.

Without this short-term stability, businesses are less likely to secure funding for future investments, whether in research and development, new technologies, or market expansion.

To achieve a good balance, businesses need to develop a strategic framework that aligns both long-term and short-term strategies and objectives. One approach is to prioritise short-term wins that also contribute to long-term goals.

For example, a business may implement new technology to streamline current operations (a short-term benefit), while also positioning itself for future innovation (a long-term advantage).

Regularly reviewing and adjusting strategies based on performance metrics ensures that short-term actions do not undermine long-term ambitions.

Another key factor is leadership. Leaders must communicate the importance of both long-term and short-term strategies and goals to stakeholders, ensuring that employees, investors, and partners understand the need for both immediate results and future planning.

Resource allocation is important in terms of maintaining a balance between long-term and short-term objectives. This includes balancing investment in immediate projects, such as marketing campaigns, with investments in long-term growth areas like research and development or new market expansion. Properly managing resources ensures that both current and future needs are met.

Finally, it’s important to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure both short-term and long-term progress. By doing so, the firm can find the right balance between current performance and future growth.

Read more: How to align your team on executing your firm’s strategy