|
Do You Have A Plan?
Sometimes planning is one of the most dreaded tasks of entrepreneurs. It's like they know their industry and have a vague idea of what they want, but they have no plan. They "go with the flow," they plan day by day, and sometimes it's even like waiting for a miracle to walk through the door.
This is a sure way to wake up without business. It's you that must be in control to survive. And to take control you must plan. The hardest part is getting started, but once you have a plan your life will be less stressful and you'll have clear path upon which to guide your business to success.
Planning is simple. If you're the type that hates to plan, then plan for your business as if you were planning for a vacation in Greece. If you're ready to go on vacation but you don't now which plane you're going to take, or what hotel you're going to stay in, then you're not going anywhere too quickly! All the details have to be worked out in advance, of course.
Planning for your business can be just as simple as planning that dream vacation to Greece. Here are some sample questions that can help you come up with a good plan.
Note: These are just simple samples, given in no specific order:
1. What are the products and/or services you are focusing on selling?
2. Who is interested in buying them?
3. How will you let people know about them?
4. How much money will you invest in advertising?
5. What obstacles must you overcome in your business?
6. What can you do to overcome your most pressing obstacle?
7. When will you start your next promotion?
8. How can you minimize stress in your business?
9. What's the best way to get to where you want to go?
10. Who can help you to reach your goals effectively?
11. How much operating cash do you need?
Writing a plan can be done in a professional way. You can purchase software that will help you to get your plan completed, or you can simple create your own that you understand and use it as a guide. It doesn't really matter the way you choose to create your plan, but it does matter that you do have one and that you use it.
|
