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Late last century, E.B. White unwittingly penned the entrepreneur’s
planning mantra: “I get up every morning determined to both change the
world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning
my day difficult.” At the other extreme of self-determination is the proverb: “If you don't have a plan for yourself, you'll be part of someone else's.” |
The bottom line is that action without a plan will send you round in circles faster than a one-armed canoeist! Whether it is a business plan, a project plan or a ‘to do’ list of daily priorities, it is essential to have a written reference point that will keep you focused and motivated. (By the way – your business plan needs to be strategic and action focused - forget 50 or 100 page doorstoppers – make sure you use a 5 page “door opening” business plan instead!).
Management guru, Peter Drucker got it mostly right when he contended: “Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” Once you have a plan, you have goals and parameters for action – whether or not you make it into hard work or easy work is up to you!! The important thing is to take action.
You can use your plan to:
- Stop chasing ‘shiny new objects’ – you know what you need to focus your energy on to be successful.
- Identify and remove inefficiencies, tolerances and frustrations – and watch your productivity increase!
- Leverage the right opportunities and say no to the opportunities which don’t fit your plan.
- Prioritise daily actions that will make the biggest difference to your business success – stop running from crisis to crisis.
- Recognise and address the constraints and gaps between where you are now and where you plan to be in future.
- Minimise procrastination and maximize motivation as you see results from your focused efforts.
- Create stability and sustainable decision-making practices in your business.
What is your biggest planning challenge as a small business owner? Share it in the comments section below. If you need to know more about door-opening business plans, call the Revitalisation Experts!
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