Planning: That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It – Part 2

“If you don’t write it down, you don’t own it.” ~ Michael Gerber

I know that planning is a game-changer because I didn’t do it for a decade and a half! I never planned in the first 15 years I was in business; I just went to work. And then, I read Michael Gerber’s words, “If you don’t write it down, you don’t own it.” So I’ve been writing it down for 25 years.

An annual business plan; it’s the most significant change we ever made in our process. In the late 90s and early 2000s, I hired a consultant to help me make a plan. I did that for a couple of years until I was confident and capable enough to start doing it in-house. That’s a good option. If you want some hard-copy tools, sign up for my book; I will include a copy of my company’s business plans at the end of chapter 5 that should get you going.

There is no right or wrong way to plan. We have accomplished our planning in various ways throughout the years: retreats, off-site meetings at hotels, conference rooms at the Chamber of Commerce, and a suite downtown that we turned into a weekend with dinner and spouses. Some years we do a series of meetings over a six to eight week span, with dinner at a steakhouse after our last meeting. Any method is suitable; just do it!

Timing matters a lot. While there is no right or wrong way to plan, timing matters a lot; get started at the beginning of the 4th quarter. So you can be done by December 31.  

Lots more to say about planning, so I’ll see you back here on Monday.

Build muscle.