Create A Successful Business Plan

If you are a business owner, or are contemplating starting your own business, if you do not have a
strategic plan, you are destined to fail. The task to structure a thorough and strategic business plan
can mean the difference between, the need to work long arduous hours each week all year long only
to find out that your business is barely breaking even, or even worse, losing money and going bust;
or do what   brings success.

Many successful business owners and entrepreneurs who have created and implemented a business
strategy generally work for less hours, and produce a more sizeable income and profit margins. You
will also find, that in general, those who are successful with their own business, attribute their success
to having a strategic plan.

Ok, we've discussed that having a good business strategy plan is essential, but what really is "strategic
business management"? In its most basic form, it is the process in which the goals and objectives for
your business are defined, and an action plan is then created so you may reach your goals and
objectives. All prospective ventures begin with an idea that evolves into what I call I.D.E.A.S. In Action
Plan, which in brief involves the following theme of thought.

Ingenuity �       Inquire, be informed, imaginative and innovative in your construction of a strategic business plan.
Decisive �        Determine course of action required to organize and operate a planned venture.
Efficiency �      Establish ethical practices and proficient procedures that produce goal oriented results.
Alternatives -   Adjust course of action with alternative back-up plans that achieve preferred objectives.
Stay Focused� Schedule periodic assessments, secure financial strength, stabilize operations and review customer service.

You now know what it is. So how do you go about creating a strategic plan for your business?

1) Any business owner should know, and be able to describe in detail, the vision for his or her business. What is the image that you want your business to have?

2) Any operating business should have clear and concise company values and guiding principles. For instance, what are the reasons you are in business? Serve and protect? Provide quality soap? And how do you do business? Do you treat your customers like trash; or another form of royalty?

3) It would also be a good idea to create a 3 year and 5 year plan. Any business should implement a long-term plan in which the basis is on broad objectives that will assist you in getting your business from where it is today, to where you want your business to be.

4) Thinking not only long-term, but also short-term, will also greatly help your business develop. Each year, you should create, define, and plan specific objectives that when accomplished, will help you on the road to achieving your long-term goals. It is also worth noting, then when setting and planning your annual goals, is pays to be "SMART". Make sure your planning incorporates the following points:

- Be very specific

- Show measure

- Make the goals realistic and attainable

- Make sure they are time-oriented

Include a list of obstacles and barriers which could halt your progress to achieving your goals. In any case, you will need resources to get where you want your business to be. Fashion and describe a list of resources you already have and the other resources which you will need to achieve your goals. At this point, you should also create a concise action plan that clearly defines how you will actually achieve the necessary goals. If your business has any employees, it is of great importance to involve them with this part of the business planning process.

5) In your business plan, you should create simple and concise milestones or benchmarks that will define when you have actually reached a goal or objective. This is an essential part of the planning, as it will enable you to measure your progress as a business.

6) After you have created your strategic business plan, it is of paramount importance that it is shared with anyone who will be involved in the process. Your annual business plan is the roadmap which will lead your business and those involved, to the goals which need to be achieved -- but to be effective, everyone must end up at the same goals and objectives, the "destination", if you will. And to do so, everyone requires the same map.

7) It is no use having a well thought-out and planned strategic business plan, if you do not put it into action. You now have a means to begin your business journey; it is time to start it.

8) Be sure to regularly check and compare the progress of your business, to the benchmarks defined in your business plan.

If something should go wrong with your business, the sooner you figure out what went wrong, or what is -happening- wrong, the sooner you can fix the problem, make the necessary adjustments and get your business back on track.

9) And finally, ensure that each year you follow the exact same cycle to create your strategic business plan. Dare to Dream, Plan, Act and Check. Keep those ideas ever flowing along with the tenacity and finesse to back it up with the appropriate action. That is all there is to it.

I would like to leave you with this final comment: Creating a business strategy and ensuring that you follow it, is not just about achieving specific goals and objectives. Its purpose is to also make sure that the journey taken toward these goals is a safe and gratifying journey.

Having a safe trip is just as important as reaching your final destination.

===================================================================================

To discover more about Business Planning and related topics Doyle invites you to visit the following sites:

Writing a Business Plan , Operate a Home Business and All Business Facts

===================================================================================