I started on my biz plan a few months ago for eSelfHelp, and put it down for a while to get the site up and running. But the site has enough content and ads now :: I need to get back to the plan and refine my strategy.
I’m taking a forward/backward thinking approach. I could determine my next steps by looking ahead, and thinking about where I want to go. But I have found it more valuable to sort of step into the future first. I am taking the time to envision how I want my business to be – and then really getting in touch with WHO I would need to be in order to take my business to that level. Then I am creating a business identity, and creating a list of values that a business like that would have, as well as standards, goals, etc. I then work my way back to today, and make my future plan based on who I and my business will become, and ask myself, “If I were that person and my business was that business today, what would I be doing to get myself there?” It’s a great exercise that allows me to tap into a completely different resource pool within myself as I create my action plan.
So my to-do list for today is to completely walk through my forward/backward process, then open up my business plan software and get to work. I found a good entry today from The Entrepenurial Mind about The Danger of Short-cuts in Writing Business Plans. Though this entry is geared more to businesses that will be seeking serious VC funding for companies that plan on growing huge, it does give GREAT advice on how to write a business plan, as well as how NOT to use business plan software. Knowing my marketing plan needs some serious immediate attention, I’m glad to see that Jeff agrees that this needs to be one of the first parts to develop.
I know I need my software to help ensure I get all of the info I need into my plan – and to be my roadmap to completion. With Jeff’s insight, I will refine the plan to pull it all together and create a compelling, powerful ’story’.
If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:
- To Business Plan or Not to Business Plan, That is the Question!
- Plan a 2007 You Can Be Proud Of
- Nine Tips For Writing An Effective Task List
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Jim Pearson has spent more than 25 years helping small and mid-size businesses find solutions to their business problems. He specializes in sales, marketing and rapid revenue growth and has helped hundreds of companies make more money.
Gene Culver has more than 15 years of diverse business experience across the music industry, telecom network marketing and business coaching. His specialty is helping individuals with marketing, their internet presence and lead generation.
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