think long-term

Meaning

To plan, make decisions, or evaluate situations based on their future consequences and benefits rather than immediate, short-term gains. It is a key concept in strategic business planning and investment.

Examples

• Instead of focusing on this quarter's profits, we need to think long-term.

  Instead of focusing on this quarter's profits, we need to think long-term.

• Successful businesses think long-term when investing in research and development.

  Successful businesses think long-term when investing in research and development.

• We should think long-term and build strong relationships with our clients.

  We should think long-term and build strong relationships with our clients.

• Hiring junior developers and training them is a great way to think long-term.

  Hiring junior developers and training them is a great way to think long-term.

• If you only focus on quick wins, you aren't thinking long-term.

  If you only focus on quick wins, you aren't thinking long-term.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to think long-termly about our career goals.

  ✓ We need to think long-term about our career goals.

  There is no adverb 'long-termly'. 'Long-term' acts as an adverbial phrase directly modifying the verb 'think'.

• ✗ The board is thinking in long-term.

  ✓ The board is thinking long-term.

  Do not use the preposition 'in' before 'long-term' when it is used directly with the verb 'think'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Rather than cutting costs immediately, we must ___ and invest in our brand.

  💡 Plan for the future.

  Show answer

  think long-term

• A good leader doesn't just worry about today; they ___.

  💡 Focus on future success.

  Show answer

  think long-term