SO WHY IS BUSINESS PLANNING SO IMPORTANT?
.No-one sets off on a journey without knowing where they are going and having a pretty good idea of how to get there.
Business is the same.
You need to plan in the first place, but you also need to check constantly that you are on course.
There are 3 simple questions that many businesses don’t ask themselves – but should
1. Do you really know what your business is good at?
2. Do you have a good idea of where you want to be in 3 yrs time?
3. Do you know if you are doing well enough to get there?
One of the reasons why many business owners fail to plan properly is that they are too close to their business – you are all emotionally involved and your time is taken up with solving the day to day problems.
As a result you may not have time to step back from the business and take a long look at it.- that’s where an impartial adviser can help you most.
We’ve all said it – “I have more important things to do than plan”
But people who say that end up working longer hours for the same profit,
They chase sales in the belief that turnover is the key to success.
You know if you are in this trap if your turnover rises and your profit are static or falling.
Remember Turnover is vanity profit is sanity
Your aim should be to improve profitability by at least at the same level as turnover.
You will only be able to do this by planning ahead, analysing your performance and keeping your finger on the pulse of the business.
So to recap 5 key tips to remember
- If you don’t know where your business is going, any road will do – (so set yourself some goals)
- Be proactive in your planning, not reactive – ( plan longer term not just day to day- business is a marathon not a sprint)
- Implementation is key – (a plan in isolation is worthless – put it into action and not in a drawer!)
- Monitor performance and effectiveness – in terms of financial/sales/people/ your happiness factor
- Adjust your plan as necessary –it’s not set in stone, if markets change then the plan has to change, Seek advisers help.
To summarise why Business Planning is vital
A good business owner wants to control the business rather than be controlled by it.
If your focus is short-term then you are being controlled by your business.
By taking a longer view and having a direction, you have a better chance of controlling your own destiny.
Regularly ask yourself
- Where am I now?
- Where do I want to be?
- How am I going to get there?
- What might get in my way?
It is better to use the help of an IMPARTIAL ADVISER to help you answer these questions to give you an objective picture of your business- which means you have to be forward thinking enough to ask for help. Are you?
Remember to fail to plan is to plan to fail
“contact me at Award Winning Business Consultants Janette Whitney & Associates”
Filed under: Business Planning & strategy | Tagged: Business advice, Business Growth, Business planning, Business strategy, small business advice, start ups |
Janette Whitney & Associates, Business Consultants 
Couldn’t agree with you more Janette.
I know some people don’t think there is any point planning, because things just change, but there is much value is in the planning activity itself – it helps clarify direction as well as identify obstacles.
A quote from the Association of Project Management sums up, for me, why a plan matters: ‘A project that is properly planned will have a far greater chance of success than a poorly planned project.’
Thanks Dawn
Yes. Its all about taking control of the situation rather than letting it happen to you/your business.
Thanks for the comment.
Janette
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Janette, Many thanks for really informative talk yesterday at the Women in Business Club meeting and for your follow up notes. You have a fantastic way of bringing clarity in any business situation. Everything you said makes absolute sense but, equally, many of these steps get completely forgotten or overlooked. I will be in touch again soon to talk about my business.
Thanks, Suzie
Thanks Suzy for your kind feedback. Its always good to know that I deliver what people need.
Speak to you soon. Regards
Janette
Thanks for your talk Janette – It has made me sit down and think hard about where the business is going. I have also reviewed my marketing plan, which you helped set up – so great things ahead.
Thanks Katrina. Excellent that you are putting into practice my advice and that it is delivering the benefits that you hoped for. Regards
Janette
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Thanks for your positive feedback on my posts Clyde. Will get get the promotion working better.
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Thanks for your comments. Come back and visit again soon.
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Thankyou Valorie. I will be posting some more articles soon, hope you like those too.
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Great that you found my business planning tips useful. Thankyou for the comment. Come back and read some more articles soon.
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Thanks for taking the time to comment, but I am not sure I understand you? I hope that you found the article useful.
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Thanks for your comment, but unfortunately your question doesn’t make sense? If you wish to contact me by email I will see if I can help you.