Effective Business Planning

D3SUbCbvMGhWENUh-uyUdML1LShkkrNU9p3eyQGuDdYAs a business growth and promotions company, strategizing and business planning is a core component to who we are at Propel Businessworks. It’s something we do day in and day out; creating plans has become very second nature to us. We are convinced that determining goals and action steps is the best way to set yourself and your business up for success.

So where to begin? Easy: right now, start creating a business plan for 2013. You’ve got plenty of time to put together a well-thought-out plan including details of how you’ll get there. To give you an idea of how to get it done – and hopefully to get you inspired! – here’s how we do business planning at Propel…

First, we schedule the time to get away from our normal routine. We won’t lie and say it’s easy to carve out those couple of days, but we see business planning as an invaluable and non-negotiable necessity for continued growth. We remove the distractions so we can spend concentrated, focused time strategizing and planning.

Next, we review the last year: what we’ve learned, how far we’ve come, our accomplishments, and what’s changed for our business and industry. Our strategy for making sure we cover all the bases is simple: we use our document filing system as our checklist. We have folders for accounting, advertising, clients, networks/associates, customer service, HR, marketing, sales, products & services. Going through each area with a fine-tooth comb makes sure all the details get a close look.

Our third step is to identify goals. We start by making data-driven projections for our business. Then, we specifically quantify our business growth goals, including numbers, dollars, and measurable targets. Part of setting goals is also establishing an implementation strategy. We estimate what it’s going to take to reach our goals, and determine what resources we’ll need to use for the implementation. Some goals might require strategically partnering with someone else to make sure they actually get done.

Finally, we plan to review quarterly… at the least! Visualization has incredible motivating power. Keeping your head down doing the same-old, same-old day after day narrows vision and restricts growth. Stopping from time to time and looking up at our goals helps them stay front and center, propelling us forward.

Don’t think of business planning as a task of drudgery you have to complete. Instead, think of it as a way to outline the possibilities of what you could accomplish and bring them to reality. As Zig Ziglar said, “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”

Propel Businessworks is a business growth project management company dedicated to helping you plan, promote, and prosper. For any and all your business planning needs, contact us at info@propelbizworks.com to learn how we can help propel your business forward.

About Jamie Teasdale

Jamie Teasdale founded Propel Businessworks, a small business development company, in 2009. Since then, she has been lending insight and creativity to businesses all over the U.S., giving them the tools they need to plan, promote, and prosper.