November 2006
Plan With Enthusiasm
"I want to write a business plan," the young woman on the other end of the phone line said. "Do you help people to do that?" She fairly bubbled over with excitement about a retail gift shop she wanted to open. Her vision of her business was clear and detailed. Her eagerness to get started was so engaging that I was delighted she had asked me to work with her. With my guidance the plan flowed easily. She also was able to get funding for her shop.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year's I always write my own business plan for the following year. Somehow this period has become synonymous with planning for me. Have you done a plan for 2007? If you are not in business do you have a career or job search plan for next year?
The client I just mentioned not only wrote the plan but she also had a strong commitment to implement the plan just as she had written it. Her mailings and advertising were all detailed in the plan so she was ready to work in her shop from day one with a steady flow of customers coming in.
As I write these words I know many will feel pangs of guilt either because they don't write a plan yearly or because once they write the plan they never look at it. If you can hear your inner voice saying "I really should write that plan," stop yourself. Thinking you should write a plan is taking on someone else's suggestion as your own.
My client had said "I want to write a business plan." That is very different. The idea was hers and she was excited about it. She was writing the plan for herself no one else. Sure she needed funding from a bank but she also wanted to prove to herself that what she wanted to do would work. The plan did that.
When people are asked to make a change in the way they do things, often they are resistant. Unless they see an immediate benefit, they'll drag their heals. Sometimes they will go so far as to try to prove the idea is a bad one! I've seen that happen in corporations trying to get employees to do something a different way.
So how can you make the "should" into a "want"? One way is to get really excited about the business, job, or work experience that you are trying to create. If you are happy where you are, think about what would make it even better for you and/or your customers/clients.
Spending some quiet time thinking about what you want in your life and in your business or job can help you to get clear about your vision. Focusing on that vision and clarifying it will help you to imagine an even better business or job situation. This is not the time to figure out how you will do it. (You can do that when you write your business plan.) This is a time to dream and envision what you want. Go for Technicolor and 3D!!
Once you have the exciting picture of what you are trying to create, it will be easier to sit down to write the plan. You don't have to write a plan that immediately gets you to the vision. It might require several steps. The plan is the vehicle that allows you to think through a logical path.
The real secret to implementation is to focus, focus, focus! Keep recalling your vision and re-reading your plan so that you are clear on your path and you are really engaged in the process. If by the end of March the plan isn't working well, it is time to consider making some changes and tweaking the plan. Quarterly reviews and updating will keep you focused on reaching your goal for the year. The reward of a good plan well executed is a business that is both satisfying and successful.
Take Action:
- Set aside some time to envision your business or new job. How is it different from the business or job you have today?
- Once your vision is clear think about the steps you will need to take to get your current state to that which you have envisioned.
- Write your 2007 plan.
- Here are some resources for writing your plan:
- http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/writeabusinessplan/index.html This is the Small Business Administration (USA) site and has a good explanation of a business plan. Some samples.
- http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html The SCORE website (SBA business counselors) has templates.
- http://wsj.miniplan.com/ - I haven't tried this one yet but the Wall Street Journal has a great career site (http://www.careerjournal.com/) so I am optimistic this is good too.
- http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891315099/parkerassociates/ - The One Page Business Plan is what I've been using this for the last 3 years. The plan is easy to review because I have it all on one page.
- http://www.quintcareers.com/career_plan.html - If you are interested in writing a career plan, here is an article that will help.
- Here is an article I wrote on believing your plan: http://www.asparker.com/rts0803.html