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Ready, Fire ... Aim!

Almost every book about starting a new business begins by telling
you to write a business plan. Many readers run in terror, others
jot some notes on a pad and a very few sit down to write out a
comprehensive strategic plan for their business.

After all, the majority of business owners start their businesses
without outside financing, so why do they need a business
plan?

But, along the way, with millions of great ideas pulsing in their
brains, most business owners begin to write things down. They
begin to devise strategies, set goals, create plans, lay-out
timelines, etc. This is good … unless you get stuck in this stage
like Bruce did.

"I don't believe I'm admitting this to you, but I can't find any other
way around it. I have been struggling with this problem for the
whole time I've been in business, and I'm embarrassed to share
it with anyone else. But, I know I'm holding myself back from
being really successful, and I need some help to work this out,"
he told me.

I was truly surprised by his candor, but not by his problem. Bruce
was suffering from what I had experienced myself .. perfectionism.
And it was draining all of his energy. He started his financial
planning company 2 1/2 years ago wanting to provide clients
with informed and honest advice - things he felt were lacking in
other providers in that field. But since then, he had gone from
being idealistic and enthusiastic to being discouraged and
disillusioned.

"I really thought I could make a difference and make money at
the same time. But my best ideas get stuck on the page. I can't
seem to get any one idea rolled out completely. By the time I
come up with the idea, do some research, pull together some
numbers, lay-out a plan and develop some marketing strategies,
I have about 10 more ideas I want to pursue."

"It feels so invigorating when I'm thinking about the idea and
creating the plan and strategy. I always think that the idea I'm
working on is the one that will truly make my business take off.
But as I look back over the past two years, I feel like a complete
failure."

"I started this business thinking I could provide a great service
and make great money doing it. But, now I'm starting to doubt
if I really have what it takes to be successful. I'm ashamed to
talk to my wife about it after I told her how great I would be at
this."

"I just don't get what I'm doing wrong. My clients really like me,
and I do a great job for them, but I'm stuck at this sort of survival
level and can't seem to implement the ideas that I think would
really establish my business. Maybe I should just go back to
working for someone else."

"Is that what you want to do?" I asked him. He jumped in almost
before I finished, "No, I really want to make this work. I just don't
know what I'm doing wrong."

"Don't sell yourself short, Bruce. You aren't doing anything wrong.
You've done a great job at establishing yourself as an honest and
informed financial planner -- your clients told you so. You certainly
aren't a failure, but I definitely understand why you feel so
disappointed and frustrated. It sounds like there is just one thing
that's holding you back --


fear."

Bruce was experiencing what many perfectionistic people do.
They are so concerned with doing everything right the first time,
they continue to work and re-work their ideas and never reach
the implementation stage.

The planning process is a safe haven for perfectionists. They can
craft the perfect, controlled, predictable strategy. But, they tend
to get paralyzed when it's time to move forward. They fear that
executing the plan will show that the plan was not perfect -- that
they are not perfect. So to avoid being "found out", they continue
to re-work the plan.

It takes awhile for most people to recognize this pattern in
themselves and many never do. But, for Bruce, it was a lifesaver.
After selecting one idea to work one, he created a timeline for
his roll-out plan. Each week, he had specific tasks that would take
him through the implementation of his strategy.

After only three months, he had taken on six new clients, created
an additional stream of income, and established five relationships
with centers of influence who could sell his services to their clients.

The last time I talked with him, he could hardly believe that he
had been so disillusioned about his business only three months
before. "I feel exhilarated again," he told me. "I'm finally having fun,
providing a great service, and making money! Thanks so much
for helping me move forward on my ideas. I was right ... they
were the key to my success!"

Are you anything like Bruce? Are you stuck in the planning mode?
How long have you been working and re-working your strategy?
Could it be fear that is holding you back?

Remember, many times we don't recognize it as fear, so just
look at your patterns. Are you spending a lot of time planning
projects and strategies that never get implemented?

If so, set aside one afternoon this week to look at all of the
potential projects you would like to implement. Force yourself
to pick just one that you will implement now. I know it can
be hard to pick just one but doing so will give you the best
chance of success. I'm not telling you to burn the rest -- just
set them aside. They'll still be there when you come back.

Now, for the project or plan you want to implement, create
a timeline for roll-out. Make a list of everything you would
have to do in order to implement the plan, then assign
realistic dates to each one.

Plot those dates out on a calendar and make sure to set
aside time to complete whatever tasks are necessary in
order to stick with your roll-out plan.

Is this plan guaranteed to succeed? I can't say that and
neither can you. You don't learn anything from your plan
just sitting there. Roll it out and see what happens. That
is the ONLY way you'll ever know.

Good Luck!

About the Author

Kimberly Stevens is a Business Life Coach who supports business owners and entrepreneurs in their pursuit of a fulfilling life and profitable business by offering individual and group coaching, ebooks, teleclasses, and live workshops. To learn more about creating a richly rewarding life as a business owner, visit www.askthebizcoach.com or send a blank email to: kim4-20129@autocontactor.com for an automatic reply.

 

Strategic Planning (in nonprofit or for-profit organizations)
Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation. ... First, a Point About For-Profit and Nonprofit Strategic Planning ...
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Basic Description of Strategic Planning (including key terms to know)
Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation. ... Strategic planning often includes use of several key terms. ...
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Strategic Planning, Strategic Plan, Business Strategy, Strategic ...
Strategic planning advice with free strategic planner & sample strategic plan covering mission statement, SWOT analysis with business plan software for cash ...
www.planware.org
 
Strategic Planning
FAQs regarding strategic planning - geared primarily toward non-profit organizations but with enough detail and general information to provide useful ...
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Frequently Asked Questions
Strategic Planning · Fundraising · Financial Management · Risk Management · Credit Card Acceptance. The FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) listed on this ...
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Strategic planning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strategic planning involves defining objectives and developing ... Strategic planning uses "the big picture" to pursue large scale, long term objectives. ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
08/26/96 STRATEGIC PLANNING
You guessed it: strategic planning. Suddenly, the idea of rising above the ... But if strategic planning is back with a vengeance, it's also back with a ...
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Dr. Strategy - Dr. Pete Johnson, Keynote Speaker, Marketing ...
StrategicPlanning.com “Turning Change Into A Competitive Advantage”. Dr. Pete's Preview Video Click Here. Take-Away Value Sample Program Handouts ...
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Strategic Planning Society: Strategy Development and Implementation
Strategic Planning Society: Strategy Development and Implementation.
www.sps.org.uk
 
Guide 7
Strategic Planning in Smaller Nonprofit Organizations ... In short, as a result of a strategic planning process, an organization will have a clearer idea of ...
www.wmich.edu
 
STRATEGIC PLANNING MANUAL
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
Your browser may not have a PDF reader available. Google recommends visiting our text version of this document.
 
BPubs.com: Strategic Planning & Business Planning Articles
Business Publications related to Corporate Strategic Planning.
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Strategic Planning Tools
Strategic Planning is a method for positioning an organization to take ... A strategic planning process incorporates an in-depth planning model that takes ...
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Center for Simplified Strategic Planning, Inc.
The Center for Simplified Strategic Planning offers training, seminars, consulting, speakers, workshops, a book and a newsletter on strategic management for ...
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LEADERSHIP: Strategic Planning and Strategic Management
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The CEO Refresher Archives - Strategic Planning
When done right, the integrated strategic planning process can take a ... Strategic Planning and Project Management: The Key to Successful Implementation ...
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HEFCE : Publications : 2000 : 00/24 - Strategic planning in higher ...
This guide reviews good practice in strategic planning in higher education (HE). It originated in a consultation exercise which we held in 1998 to review ...
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The Association for Strategic Planning
The Association for Strategic Planning (ASP), is a non-profit professional society whose mission is to enable people and organizations to succeed through ...
www.strategyplus.org
 
Amazon.com: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A ...
Amazon.com: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide and Workbook: Books: Michael Allison,Jude Kaye by Michael Allison,Jude Kaye.
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Amazon.com: Simplified Strategic Planning: A No-Nonsense Guide for ...
Amazon.com: Simplified Strategic Planning: A No-Nonsense Guide for Busy People Who Want Results Fast!: Books: Robert W. Bradford,Robert W. Bradford,J. Peter ...
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