Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Casual Articles - Coaching Your Business To The Next Level Series Part 4 – Strategic Plan
Anyone who says you cannot brand a small business have never studied how Franchise Companies start and grow in their communities and then end up taking out the competition for regional domination. Sure you can brand a small business, heck I did and within a 8-year period I took my well-branded small business and turned it into a much larger business in 23-states, 4-countries, 450 cities and 110 major markets, it can be don
If you think this is a lot of work, you are absolutely correct. Yet, returning to the grocery list scenario. If you determine that you save an estimated $10 per week or $520 annually in food expenditures by investing 30 minutes per week( 26 hours annually) in list writing, reviewing advertisements and cutting coupons, then why wouldn't you invest <
Believe it or not, I know dozens of people who have put off completing a college degree because they were afraid to take the dreaded public speaking class. I have met business owners who have avoided opportunities to present their products or services to potential prospects because they were terrified of getting up there in front of an audience. When I hear that, I want to both hug them and shake them at the same time.
You go to the grocery store. Upon entering the store, you grab your grocery list and realize you left it at home or in the office. As you are walking up and down the aisles, you try to remember everything you need. When you come home, you check what you purchased against the list and discover the following:
- You forgot several items.
- You purchased some things you didn’t need.
- You spent more money than you budgeted.
- You spent more time than you planned.
- You need to return to the store costing you additional time, money and energy.
- You are possibly frustrated, distracted and unhappy.
Based upon this scenario, the every day simple grocery list has significant value because of the expenditures of time, energy and dollars. So since this simple, common list has significant value, then where is the plan for your business or the rest of your life?
Develop a strategic plan
Mistake: If you don't have a plan, you are on someone else's plan. A strategic plan indicates who does what by when. Remember, hope is not a strategy.
Let me repeat: When you don't have a plan, you are on someone else's plan.
Think back to that grocery experience. Whose plan were you on? Who made more money? Answer: The grocery store, of course. And let's not forget the oil companies and all those other related companies because it costs money to travel from the home or office to the grocery store.
A solid strategic plan is really a systematic, higher order thinking process and includes the following characteristics:
- Vision statement
- Values statement
- External assessment
- Competitive analysis
- Trend analysis
- Internal appraisal
- Structure
- SWOT analysis
- Mission statement
- Critical Goal Categories
- Market Plan
- Sales Plan
- Financials
- Review Process
- Summary
- What needs to be done
- When things need to be done
- How will we prioritize what needs to be done?
- Who will do what needs to be done
- How will we know what needs to be done is done?
- How will be make necessary course corrections due to unanticipated changes?
If you think this is a lot of work, you are absolutely correct. Yet, returning to the grocery list scenario. If you determine that you save an estimated $10 per week or $520 annually in food expenditures by investing 30 minutes per week( 26 hours annually) in list writing, reviewing advertisements and cutting coupons, then why wouldn't you invest
We all take time to celebrate when we finally find a good position. But that can take weeks, or months, even a year or two in the highly competitive labor market we now face. That can mean a very long period of stress, uncertainty, and financial pressure.Take care of yourself by making sure that you stop to celebrate any small successes you enjoy along the way. Obtaining an interview, even if no job offer is forthco
Based upon this scenario, the every day simple grocery list has significant value because of the expenditures of time, energy and dollars. So since this simple, common list has significant value, then where is the plan for your business or the rest of your life?
Develop a strategic plan
Mistake: If you don't have a plan, you are on someone else's plan. A strategic plan indicates who does what by when. Remember, hope is not a strategy.
Let me repeat: When you don't have a plan, you are on someone else's plan.
Think back to that grocery experience. Whose plan were you on? Who made more money? Answer: The grocery store, of course. And let's not forget the oil companies and all those other related companies because it costs money to travel from the home or office to the grocery store.
A solid strategic plan is really a systematic, higher order thinking process and includes the following characteristics:
- Vision statement
- Values statement
- External assessment
- Competitive analysis
- Trend analysis
- Internal appraisal
- Structure
- SWOT analysis
- Mission statement
- Critical Goal Categories
- Market Plan
- Sales Plan
- Financials
- Review Process
- Summary
- What needs to be done
- When things need to be done
- How will we prioritize what needs to be done?
- Who will do what needs to be done
- How will we know what needs to be done is done?
- How will be make necessary course corrections due to unanticipated changes?
If you think this is a lot of work, you are absolutely correct. Yet, returning to the grocery list scenario. If you determine that you save an estimated $10 per week or $520 annually in food expenditures by investing 30 minutes per week( 26 hours annually) in list writing, reviewing advertisements and cutting coupons, then why wouldn't you invest <
In sales it’s always said that if you understand your product and solve your customer’s problems then you’ll do well in the sales environment. But this presupposes one thing … that you have really listened and understood what the customer is saying. We’re talking about the importance of active listening in sales.What Is Active Listening?You may have heard this phrase before but what does it really mean
Let me repeat: When you don't have a plan, you are on someone else's plan.
Think back to that grocery experience. Whose plan were you on? Who made more money? Answer: The grocery store, of course. And let's not forget the oil companies and all those other related companies because it costs money to travel from the home or office to the grocery store.
A solid strategic plan is really a systematic, higher order thinking process and includes the following characteristics:
- Vision statement
- Values statement
- External assessment
- Competitive analysis
- Trend analysis
- Internal appraisal
- Structure
- SWOT analysis
- Mission statement
- Critical Goal Categories
- Market Plan
- Sales Plan
- Financials
- Review Process
- Summary
- What needs to be done
- When things need to be done
- How will we prioritize what needs to be done?
- Who will do what needs to be done
- How will we know what needs to be done is done?
- How will be make necessary course corrections due to unanticipated changes?
If you think this is a lot of work, you are absolutely correct. Yet, returning to the grocery list scenario. If you determine that you save an estimated $10 per week or $520 annually in food expenditures by investing 30 minutes per week( 26 hours annually) in list writing, reviewing advertisements and cutting coupons, then why wouldn't you invest <
Prime directive: Make sure your claim is reasonable! Otherwise, forget it.First thing: If you have a legitimate claim denied or a beef with a company (my method can be applied to insurance companies, dealerships, bad fish, or whatever), prepare yourself for the likelihood of frustrating conversations with people who either can’t think for themselves or have been told by their boss not to.If whoever takes your
- What needs to be done
- When things need to be done
- How will we prioritize what needs to be done?
- Who will do what needs to be done
- How will we know what needs to be done is done?
- How will be make necessary course corrections due to unanticipated changes?
If you think this is a lot of work, you are absolutely correct. Yet, returning to the grocery list scenario. If you determine that you save an estimated $10 per week or $520 annually in food expenditures by investing 30 minutes per week( 26 hours annually) in list writing, reviewing advertisements and cutting coupons, then why wouldn't you invest <
A job offer can reveal a great deal about a prospective employer. It can convey the seriousness of the employer; a candidate’s value to the company and most importantly, the very decision of taking up the offer. It is usually based upon a number of factors out of which only some are flexible. While a factor may be of prime importance to one candidate, it may not be of much significance to another. Here are a few key points
If you think this is a lot of work, you are absolutely correct. Yet, returning to the grocery list scenario. If you determine that you save an estimated $10 per week or $520 annually in food expenditures by investing 30 minutes per week( 26 hours annually) in list writing, reviewing advertisements and cutting coupons, then why wouldn't you invest at least the same amount of time in creating a solid strategic plan? Believe me, many of your competitors are doing just that. As the old adage goes, You can plan to succeed or fail to plan. The choice is yours.
P.S. If you missed the previous article, click here Coaching Your Business To The Next Level Series Part 3 - Assessments
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.casualarticles.com/article/44988/casualarticles-Coaching-Your-Business-To-The-Next-Level-Series-Part-4--Strategic-Plan.html">Coaching Your Business To The Next Level Series Part 4 – Strategic Plan</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.casualarticles.com/article/44988/casualarticles-Coaching-Your-Business-To-The-Next-Level-Series-Part-4--Strategic-Plan.html]Coaching Your Business To The Next Level Series Part 4 – Strategic Plan[/url]
Related Articles:
7 Tips to Deal With a Bad Performance Review
Sales Training Fails for a Reason
Bookmark it:
|