Business Plan Helps Insure Sweet Success

Written by Tim Fulton


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 haverepparttar 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 torepparttar 106336 builder.

Now imagine that your builder plunges intorepparttar 106337 construction of your home without any architectural plans. No drawings.

In a panic, you stop construction and askrepparttar 106338 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 haverepparttar 106339 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 thatrepparttar 106340 greatest satisfaction is derived fromrepparttar 106341 development ofrepparttar 106342 plan itself. Just like baking chocolate chip cookies. I get more enjoyment from eatingrepparttar 106343 delicious cookie dough while I’m baking than I do fromrepparttar 106344 baked goods upon completion. Sometimes I get halfway done baking and stop completely. On rare occasion,repparttar 106345 dough never makes it torepparttar 106346 oven.

Harness The Power of a Strong Vision

Written by Wendy Hearn


What is your vision? How is this vision communicated to inspire you and your organisation? You don't have a clear and powerful vision? Joinrepparttar club. When I'm working with individuals, I've noticed that generally they fall into two distinct categories regarding having a strong vision. Either they've never really hadrepparttar 106335 opportunity to understandrepparttar 106336 concept of having or defining their vision. Or they have a vision statement because they think they 'should'. Remember, 'shoulds' represent other people's expectations and therefore not things to which you a personally committed.

The one thing I've noticed in my work is that very few individuals or organisations really harnessrepparttar 106337 power generated by a strong vision. Clear definition of your vision acts as a magnet to pull you forward inrepparttar 106338 direction you truly want to take. Your vision provides inspiration for you and, if communicated well to your team or organisation, inspires them too.

What do you refer to when you want to make decisions, when you have to decide which opportunities to say 'yes' or 'no' to, or which direction to go with your business? When you have a strong vision in place and refer to it regularly, it helps to resolverepparttar 106339 conflict which can occur within you.

Teams or organisations who have a powerful vision, inspire individuals to pull together. It's so much easier for everyone when they all know clearly where they're heading.

Many organisations publish mission statements but often, these hold no real meaning forrepparttar 106340 individuals withinrepparttar 106341 organisation. A strong vision and a clear mission statement go together like 'bread and butter'. The components of a mission statement stem from having a clear vision to startrepparttar 106342 process. Individuals and organisations can define their mission and purpose with more meaning and clarity if they are provided with a powerful vision. A strong vision challenges people to achieve more and encourages them to think 'out ofrepparttar 106343 box'. It inspires you andrepparttar 106344 people you work with.

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