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I have yet to meet anyone in business that looks forward to doing their business plan. It is generally accepted that a business plan is a valuable tool in business, and with software to help us develop this comprehensive manuscript, most businesses have one. The problem is, we rarely use our business plan as we should, and when we take it out of the archives... we're already way off track. You see, If You Don't Use It, You'll Lose It - That is... your business.
As a consultant in business, I listen daily to clients who give numerous reasons for their delay in: starting, using, reviewing, or modifying their business plan. I believe the real reasons are one or all of the following:- Business plans are: monotonous, clinical, dry, boring, lengthy and certainly not on your top 10 most favorite novels - so what are the chances of reading your business plan once, nevertheless often? Well that's why we sit it in the bottom of the filing cabinet, we then have an excuse to say "I can't find it" or "OH! I forget about it". But the problem is, a business plan is a must and you need to refer to it often. I have devised a solution....and it works, so read on.
First thing you need to do is to change the name of Business Plan to Business `Mud Map'. We can all relate to this term, it's much less daunting, has visual connotations and implies a workable document. Using these words alone will change your attitude and approach to using your new creation, and induces a 'I can, and, let's do it' feel to it. You see, you can visualise a `mud map' but not a business plan. If you have done a business plan then you can extract the useable parts from it easily. Indeed, I would recommend that everyone still have a business plan as well as a `mud map'. However, if you are starting out fresh, you'll need to do some homework and: access information on the ingredients of a business plan; do the research; complete the financial component; and create strategies to obtain objectives....all before applying them to your Business `Mud Map'.
With the information you have available, begin your `mud map' by listing the key elements that are necessary for you to achieve your goals. Place them on a large sheet of paper (far apart from each other) and begin drawing branches off each of them that have the components that are necessary to maintain the key elements. You continue to build on the branches according to the complexity and requirements of your business. What you are doing is transcribing a written document onto a `mud map' which is workable, time saving, and takes 5 minutes to ever modify. It's a quick and effective method to develop a framework of your business of where your business is now, where you want it to go, and how you are going to get there. This `mud map' can also be divided into sub `mud maps' for the staff within the various departments of an organisation to use, this way everyone can easily identify their part in the process and aim for a common goal. Now wouldn't that be a great achievement when everyone is pulling in the same direction?
When constructing your `mud map', use different coloured lines that connect each step. You could even use different colours to represent the various sections extracted from the business plan eg. Marketing, Staffing, Management, Production Plan, etc. This way, you can easily keep a close watch on your progress. Once you have constructed this `mud map', my guess is a piece of butcher paper would have done the job. You're ready to place it on a wall or door of your office (or work area) where you'll be onstantly reminded to visit it, and where modifying it would only take: 5 minutes ith the use of liquid paper, a rubber or some coloured pencils. To get you started, I have only offered you the most simplistic way to develop your business `mud map'. The technique is not quite the graphic artist impression, but nothing is stopping you from being more creative which I strongly suggest you be. You can develop a `mud map' computer generated, add some pictures for creative visualisation, and cover half your wall if you like....as long as you use it.
Depending on your commitment and determination to wanting your `mud map' to materialise, you can add pictures as I suggested. This will help you to maintain your motivation to succeed. You can include pictures of a new premise that you wish to have in the future, pictures of yourself in a brand new office, new product lines, etc. whatever your goals are. reatively building a picture will impact significantly on your attitude and application to create reality. It will help you move mountains and eliminate any constraints. The use of pictures to reinforce the words on your business `mud map', will give life to your dreams and help keep you focused to achieve them.
One of the fundamentals of success in business is `don't take on board any baggage that weighs you down' - if you do, get rid of it or change it to work for you. You see, your business plan might not be earning its keep - so.... Take It Out Of The Draw And Put It On Your Office Door, that way, You Will Use It Before You Lose It ...Your Business.
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