Business: Secure The Paper Source

Calling all industrialist!

H ow excited were you to start your small business? I was stoked! But you know, I really didn’t consider it to be a business at first. And that’s how it should be, right! It was exciting to start a new business journey, and its human nature to just want to dive right in. However, it would be a big mistake to march forward without a plan. The old saying “failing to plan is planning to fail” is never truer than in a business. Be prepared to start your business on a solid foundation by having a plan. This past weekend, while clicking around for hours on social media, I signed up for some random business webinar about your business action plan ( and no I don’t mean B*A*P*S- lol )  What’s that you ask?  Here are some of my notes. 

A business action plan is different than a business plan. Although some of the same principles are incorporated into each.

A business plan outlines your vision for your business. It helps you gather your thoughts on how you want your business to function. A business plan helps you determine the structure of your business and prepares you for requesting business funding or a business partner. I remember doing this in high school and college, and although at the time, I thought it was a complete waste of time, it really paid off!

A business action plan helps you execute your vision by providing you a map of what you need to accomplish to make your vision a reality. A business action plan forces you to think through where you are going and what you will be doing. It’s more than a to-do list. A business action plan helps keep you focused and promotes action and progress.

Here are my 5 reasons you should have a business action plan.

1. It’s Your Business Blueprint (and don’t we love blueprints)

A business action plan is a blueprint for your business. You wouldn’t build a house without a plan, and you shouldn’t start a business without a good set of directions. Your business action plan will help you create a road map that will help you build, maintain, and later, expand your business. It will help you begin your business journey more confidently.

2. Creates Transparency

By thinking through what you will do, how you will do it, and when you will do it, you will be more focused, maintain momentum, and minimize blockages and stagnancy in your business. A business action plan helps you envision how you’ll turn your vision into reality.

3. Creates Focus and Awareness

A business action plan helps you clearly identify potential risks that may prevent your success and helps you plan for overcoming them so they don’t get in your way.

4. Promotes Movement

Having an action plan takes the guesswork out of what to do next. Let’s face it, a lot of the time you procrastinate because you just aren’t sure what it will take to get things done. A plan eliminates stagnancy and promotes action, so you can make things happen.

5. Sense of Achievement (writing it down and scratching it out)

We all want to know we’re successful. If you have an action plan, you’ll accomplish what you set out to do and check in regularly to see how you’re doing. It’s the most satisfying feeling knowing you’re accomplishing things. Feeling accomplished continues to give you the momentum to keep your business going and growing.

Business Action Plan, It Wasn’t That Bad, Right?

Another thing that I took from my webinar is that your business action plan is not a one-time event. Creating an action plan should be a recurring event in your business to ensure you keep moving and don’t miss important steps in your process. It can be a powerful tool to continue to grow your business, help you develop new products or services, and keep you on top of the daily tasks.

You can also schedule regular reviews of your action plan ensures you’re heading in the direction you intended, helps you identify potential roadblocks, and keeps you moving.

Lastly, DON’T GIVE UP!

You are doing a great job! Many potential business moguls give up too soon because they get stuck and don’t know what to do next. Do your homework, be thorough, and start your business off strong. You should be so knowledgeable in your area of expertise, that when someone approaches you with ideas, you’ve already heard about it.

You can do this if you do it right!

No Pressure, sis. ♥

Xoxo,