Niall McGinnity, CEO @ Nuvem9
One of the biggest driving forces in our decision to move to Portugal and live beside the ocean is that the beach, sea and waves bring serenity and calmness to my most stressful days. I am less than 10 minutes walk from our beautiful coast and each day I like to take a trip down and breathe in the air. It’s my wonder drug.
The other aspect of this environment is the change in mindset it brings when thinking about where Nuvem9 is going. Recently, I sat down with a pad and paper, and asked myself, what, if there was nothing to stop us, do I want Nuvem9 to look like in 10 years time. If we had all the right people on the right seats, cash was positive and investment was possible, where would we go. That simple exercise allowed me to create what I am now calling Project 2035. It’s a big, ambitious plan, but I am now focussed on making every bit of it happen.
And I know it will happen. Why? Because I am going to plan in reverse. And because I have done it before.
Moving to Portugal in Reverse
If you have had a number of calls with me I will no doubt have mentioned that I moved to Portugal permanently with my wife and son in 2016. The day we moved was this weekend, 9 years ago (side point: we tend to think of 9 a lot in Nuvem9!). The day after we moved was my 40th birthday. Was that a coincidence? Absolutely 100% not.
A number of years back, we had a discussion about moving and living abroad, to experiment with adopting a new, slower, way of life and giving my son exposure to a new language and schooling experience. We settled on Portugal. This was circa 2008, but the time was not right. I was employed and we had low savings and no access to property in Portugal. What we did have was the vision and the drive to make it happen.
With my wife we planned everything out and worked back. I set up and grew Nuvem9 in a way that would allow it to operate virtually. We bought a small 1 bed apartment to get started, We researched and found a school. We learnt the language. We eventually sold all possessions in Belfast and moved with 2 suitcases of clothes. Every detail was planned and scheduled and we reached our Big Vision goal.
When on holiday recently, I mentioned to my wife that we were almost at 9 years living in Portugal. I asked her was there ever a time she regretted moving. She said not a single day and I said I was about to say the same. To me that was the best way to say it was a success!
Making the Impossible Possible
Elite national sports programs plan not for the next Olympics, but the one after that; 8 years out. Athlete pipelines, coaching development, infrastructure; it all ladders up to a peaking in that specific year’s Games. In these programs, planning in reverse from a big vision creates clarity and focus that short-termism never can. For all countries that will top the medals table in Brisbane 2032, the plan is already 1 year in.
Think about that. Businesses should think the same way: long horizon, clear vision and goal, daily execution.
Start at 10, work back to 1
Great strategic planning starts not with “what can we do this year?” but with “what do we want to be in a decade?” Do you want:
- To be the leading brand in your niche?
- To disrupt and redefine your industry?
- Have a global team with a reputation for innovation?
- Generate consistent, sale-ready EBITDA for an exit?
- Expand into multiple new markets and products / services?
Tip: do NOT under any circumstances think of any reason why these can’t be achieved. The initial urge will be to use short term circumstances and perspective to say you cannot achieve this. At this stage assume there is nothing to stop you from employees, capital, systems, processes etc.
Define your 10 year target. Start there. Then work backwards:
- Year 10 Vision → What would that require in Year 7?
- Year 7 Milestone → What would that require in Year 4?
- Year 4 Objective → What must we achieve by Year 1?
Look at Year 1 now versus your current Year 1 plan extrapolating from last year / Year 0. I bet it looks very different and very exciting. You might also think it looks way more achievable than Year 10. And that this is the point. This cascading approach anchors daily and annual decisions in a long-range strategy. It reframes investment not as a cost to this year’s bottom line, but as a non-negotiable input to future value creation.
From Crazy to Possible: Daily Discipline Toward a Massive Goal
Some of our family still think we were crazy to move abroad, even now, and even though they are happy we are so happy, Ambition is not a mask for craziness or recklessness, The most ambitious goals only seem crazy until you’ve taken that first focused step. Once you’ve taken that step you are working against a plan.
Give yourself permission to think bigger. Don’t settle for incrementalism disguised as “caution.” Map out the outrageous version of your business and then start making it inevitable.
Main Image Credit: Photo by 愚木混株 cdd20
Helping leaders and businesses drive success forward
Here at Nuvem9, we do things a bit differently – we’re not your traditional accountants or financial advisors.
We empower ambitious business owners to grow with clarity and confidence. Based in the UK, we specialise in working in creative and service-led industries that demand a financial partner who gets it — responsive, knowledgeable and always easy to talk to.
Whether you’re scaling up, navigating change, or just need someone who speaks your language, we bring experienced financial and commercial advice and proactive support that keeps your finances clear, compliant, and under control. No jargon. No delays. Just sharp insights and a team who’s got your back.
Want to see if we could be a fit for your business? Let’s connect virtually (we’ll be live, no robots here).
