Strategic Planning
At the end of 2009 I had the opportunity to be mentored by a business coach. He helped me through the process of creating a strategic plan, and I must say, I'm very pleased with the result.
I admit that I was of the opinion that vision statements, mission statements and the like were 'soft' concepts that felt good to create but that were nothing more than a lot of work with no bottom-line pay off. I was wrong!
A properly created strategic plan includes a detailed action plan that, when implemented, drives the business owner to creating his or her desired future. As my business coach kept saying: "OK, Mark, what are you going to put on your calendar to do tomorrow?"
That works for me because, once I put something on my 'to do' list, I do it. My problem was, like most small business owners, I had so many things to do, and because I prioritized nothing everything seemed to be critical, I did those things I liked to do.
Here's the rub: those things I like to do are, more often than not, not the things that I need to do to advance my business.
I would often find myself, at the end of the day, patting myself on the back for working so hard all day long. But, when I analyzed what I had done, I discovered I did a lot of 'stuff' that was important, but in no way critical. For example, I spent several hours one morning working on my brochure. Now, I can make a case that I need a brochure. But, is working on it from 8am-11am on a Monday morning the most effective thing I could have done with that time? Or, would I have been better off using that time making cold calls to prospects that might give me an appointment to discuss how I could help them grow their business? There's no way around it: cold calling for appointments, while not all that much 'fun' in my opinion, is a far better use of my time.
My mentor suggested that I include strategic planning as one of my services. I've taken his advice and have done so. The experience of helping several business owners through the process has convinced me that strategic planning is an essential part of growing a business. A business plan presents the vision, the end-result, in the form of financial projections, of successfully growing your business. The strategic plan shows you , step-by-step, the path you will need to follow in order to reach your financial goals.
Working through the steps of the strategic plan require a commitment to the process. I admit it: there were many times I wanted to 'bail' on the process. Thinking is hard. It requires focus and effort. It's a smack upside the head when you have to admit to yourself that, to get your business to where you want it to be, you must do those things that, in the back of your mind you know you need to do, but you've not been doing because you don't like doing it.
On the other hand, implementing a plan is somehow very freeing. I'm convinced that I'm now doing what I need to be doing (most of the time), and that gives me a feeling of confidence, even when the end result of my actions aren't what I was hoping they would be. It's just easier, mentally, to do what you know you need to do than it is to tell yourself you're working effectively when you know that, in reality, you aren't.
If you're ready to take the next step, to grow your business to the next level, I highly recommend you put yourself through the process and create your strategic plan. That way, each and every day, you'll be doing the most productive thing to achieve your business vision.
Thanks, and sell a bunch!
Mark Dahl
I admit that I was of the opinion that vision statements, mission statements and the like were 'soft' concepts that felt good to create but that were nothing more than a lot of work with no bottom-line pay off. I was wrong!
A properly created strategic plan includes a detailed action plan that, when implemented, drives the business owner to creating his or her desired future. As my business coach kept saying: "OK, Mark, what are you going to put on your calendar to do tomorrow?"
That works for me because, once I put something on my 'to do' list, I do it. My problem was, like most small business owners, I had so many things to do, and because I prioritized nothing everything seemed to be critical, I did those things I liked to do.
Here's the rub: those things I like to do are, more often than not, not the things that I need to do to advance my business.
I would often find myself, at the end of the day, patting myself on the back for working so hard all day long. But, when I analyzed what I had done, I discovered I did a lot of 'stuff' that was important, but in no way critical. For example, I spent several hours one morning working on my brochure. Now, I can make a case that I need a brochure. But, is working on it from 8am-11am on a Monday morning the most effective thing I could have done with that time? Or, would I have been better off using that time making cold calls to prospects that might give me an appointment to discuss how I could help them grow their business? There's no way around it: cold calling for appointments, while not all that much 'fun' in my opinion, is a far better use of my time.
My mentor suggested that I include strategic planning as one of my services. I've taken his advice and have done so. The experience of helping several business owners through the process has convinced me that strategic planning is an essential part of growing a business. A business plan presents the vision, the end-result, in the form of financial projections, of successfully growing your business. The strategic plan shows you , step-by-step, the path you will need to follow in order to reach your financial goals.
Working through the steps of the strategic plan require a commitment to the process. I admit it: there were many times I wanted to 'bail' on the process. Thinking is hard. It requires focus and effort. It's a smack upside the head when you have to admit to yourself that, to get your business to where you want it to be, you must do those things that, in the back of your mind you know you need to do, but you've not been doing because you don't like doing it.
On the other hand, implementing a plan is somehow very freeing. I'm convinced that I'm now doing what I need to be doing (most of the time), and that gives me a feeling of confidence, even when the end result of my actions aren't what I was hoping they would be. It's just easier, mentally, to do what you know you need to do than it is to tell yourself you're working effectively when you know that, in reality, you aren't.
If you're ready to take the next step, to grow your business to the next level, I highly recommend you put yourself through the process and create your strategic plan. That way, each and every day, you'll be doing the most productive thing to achieve your business vision.
Thanks, and sell a bunch!
Mark Dahl
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