Why Would You Want To Have A Business Plan?

We had fellow Squidoo Rocket Mom, Abundant Babe Master Mind member and online business genius on "Moon, Moo & You: The Collective Wisdom" June 2, 2009, Charly Leetham.

We were going to discuss "Women In Business" but a day or two before the show, I began to feel adrift in my business. I attributed this to the drive to make Giant Squid by the end of June by creating 100 quality lenses. I am usually very good at juggling the various weekly tasks I set for myself, but the sheer energy involved with creating theses lenses, and full time work, blogging, getting ready for a Rally For Single Payer began to cloud my sense of overall vision.

And Charly was just the person to address the void I was feeling by leading the
discussion we ultimately had:- Creating and Holding To A Business Plan.

Charly has been working with unemployed men and women in her local area, Canberra, Australia. Her main focus has been helping these men and women develop well thought out business plans for future business or job ventures.

Most people approach their business in this way: Ready, Fire, Aim!

Joan and I are goal setters but neither of us have a business plan. We understand
various aspects of the online business puzzle--but have not learned to juggle all aspects of it efficiently or proficiently.

Running an online business is not so different from having a brick and mortar business. The principles for running both are exactly the same.

You must look at your business as a Business and not a Hobby.

What are your raw materials, your strengths and your weaknesses?

If you are feeling scattered, this is a great opportunity to tame the wild beast and
become the main orchestrator of your Business Creation.

Achievement has to do with single minded focus and absolute determination based
on the plan and vision you create for your business.

Once you have this, you are unstoppable.

Think of your vision as an extension of your business.

We discussed that great universal common thread that so many of us talk about: feeling scattered. Charly said that often, feeling scattered is a sign of getting out of your comfort zone. This means you are in a good place but also means you have to take steps to get where you
want to go.

Do one thing everyday that moves you towards your ultimate goal. Always look and review the big goal and break that down into bite sized chunks.

Where To Start: The business plan is a living, breathing document. Once you work it out, don't put it in a drawer and forget about it.

Breakdown the business plan in this way: 1) Overview 2) Resource Management 3) Marketing Plan 3) Communications 4) Customer Service 5) Financial

Describe what kind of business you want to have, with all four senses. Who are your clients? What do they love? and hate? eat? what cars do they drive? Get to really know your target audience!

If you've been in your business for awhile, take time to reflect on what drew you to
the business vision that got you started on the path you are now on.

You may need help with certain components of the business plan. In a word--Outsource.

Look at your business in 3 and 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 1 year.

Them 2 years, 5 years, 10 years out. Be flexible and adapt where needed.

You certainly could utilize a coach during these times of planning.

How much money do you want to make? Go quarter by quarter and make adjustments as necessary.

Take this particular page out of the business plan and stick it up on your wall, computer or vision board.

Look at this daily to gauge whether or not you are on track.

Make sure all of your online pursuits are adding to your overall business plan. For instance, I belong to an online forum, created by Pat O'Bryan, called the Milagro World Forum. The amount of information exchanged here is invaluable. And it's free to join.

The Squidoo Lens making experience has helped me gain credibility and trust within and also outside the Squidoo Community. This is also a service that is free of charge.

Twitter and Facebook, and all the Nings are a way to further broaden relationships and trust all across the world.

We addressed refocusing our efforts to the immediate localities where we live. We discussed niches and broadening niches to include many more people.

As an example, my original niche was always healing and self-healing, but my original target audience was nurses--and still is to a certain degree. However, I am now expanding my focus to include all caregivers, healers in all walks of life, always with a spiritual focus.

So perhaps we will pick Charley's brain on this topic further. I know I will!!