Are you planning to Succeed in your business?

Failing to plan is planning to fail. This simple and straightforward adage really says it all. Why don’t business owners plan? Smart and ambitious people who are excited and passionate about creating their own mini-empires often don’t create plans! Why not?

They believe they can keep it all in their heads. They don’t know what to do so they just hunt at what might work. Or perhaps, they completed a plan and never looked at it again. Often a business plan seems daunting. Learn how to create your one-page business plan that works. One client recently reported after working with Carol Naff that after 25 years in business, she finally has a business plan that works.

Don’t allow the simple excuses of: “I don’t know how.” and “Why do I need it?” stop you from taking proactive steps to create your much needed business plan. The following are other common scenarios that people use to procrastinate developing a business plan: 

1. Avoiding pain? For some people, the idea of writing a business plan makes them long for something less painful (such as a root canal!)  Most small business owners keep their plans in their own heads instead, but the plan needs to be expressed first on paper, and then through action.  It is very difficult to plan action steps if the ideas on what needs to be done aren’t organized.  Writing out a plan provides clarity on the purpose and steps needed to be successful. Working through a planning process, such as the One Page Business Plan, doesn’t have to be painful. It can even be fun! Putting your plan on paper is the first step towards making a dream “real.” 
2. Taking the time to write it down. If you want your business to grow beyond your capability to keep track of every little detail, you’ll have to provide written plans for someone else to follow. If you want to take a vacation, retire, or sell your business, it simply can’t happen if everything needed to run your business resides only in your mind.
3. Overwhelm. It’s a buzzword right now, but it speaks to a large group of people who suffer from not enough time, not enough money, too many commitments, and too much stress. They have no balance between their personal and work life; it all blends together. Almost invariably, these folks don’t have a formal plan, or if they do, they created it once and never looked at it again. A business plan is a blueprint for the success of your business. Creating and using your business plan will also help you distinguish between pipe dreams (in your head) and the goals that can make your business a reality. 
4. Goals. Also known as “objectives” in business planning. Goals are what keep you going on a day you just don’t want to go into the office. They are realistic and achievable and will compel you to try new things or to continue doing what’s working. Eventually, you’ll be able to use your business plan to make decisions and set priorities just by looking at your plan every day. 

Plan to succeed! Create your business and marketing plan for your Internet business. If you already have one that’s fallen into disrepair, use the one-page format to fix it! This useful, living, breathing document will put you on the road to success. One-page business plans are easier than you think and are critical to prolonged success. 

You’ll find business-planning resources for your business at Mariner Company.