Quick. Name a product or service that you or your business will gain more satisfaction from while it’s being developed or produced than when it’s finished.
Your answer?
“My tax return?”…Wrong answer….“Chocolate chip cookies?”…You’re getting much closer….“I give up.”
Your strategic business plan….“I never would have said that.”
Well, don’t feel embarrassed. Most business owners and managers do not consider developing a Strategic Business Plan for their organization. In fact, less than 20% of all small businesses have any type of plan in place including operating plans, marketing plans, succession plans, etc.
They deny themselves such pleasure for a number of reasons: ·“It’s far too difficult to do.” ·It’s far too costly to do.” ·“I don’t have
time.”
Imagine that you have hired a builder to construct your dream home. You have this rather vague picture of this house in your mind and you communicate this image to builder.
Now imagine that your builder plunges into construction of your home without any architectural plans. No drawings.
In a panic, you stop construction and ask builder why he isn’t using any plans or drawings?
He responds, “It’s far too difficult to do.” Or “It’s far too costly to have done”. Or “I don’t have time.”
It would be crazy to build a home without plans. How long would that “dream house” of your last if it was not built to any type of specifications? How long do you think your business will last without any direction or strategy?
Now back to my original question.
What is fascinating about developing a business plan is that greatest satisfaction is derived from development of plan itself. Just like baking chocolate chip cookies. I get more enjoyment from eating delicious cookie dough while I’m baking than I do from baked goods upon completion. Sometimes I get halfway done baking and stop completely. On rare occasion, dough never makes it to oven.
