Start the New Year with freshness – A Plan
Plan: Noun
1. A scheme, program, or method worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of an objective
2. A proposed or tentative project or course of action
3. A systematic arrangement of elements or important parts; a configuration or outline
Plan: Verb
1. To formulate a scheme or program for the accomplishment, enactment, or attainment of
2. To have as a specific aim or purpose; intend
The Retirement Plan. The Vacation Plan. The Wedding Plan. The Renovation Plan. The Weekend Plans. The Family Reunion Plan. The Business Plan
All these plans simply describe in whatever detail what is to be done over a period of time to achieve an outcome. There are only two resources in your business; your time and your capital. And only one is renewable (it’s the money). Do you have any idea how you are going to invest those two precious resources over the next 12 months?
This does not take weeks of thought. You’re not writing for some competition (unless you are). You’re simply doing what any worthwhile Financial Planner does. Look at your resources and work to determine where you can get “the biggest bang for your buck” and the greatest results from your time relatitive to achieving your desired goals. You do need to commit to the desire to maximize your options.
Here’s a Start: Take ONE sheet of paper. Draw two vertical lines. Now draw three horizontal lines. You know have a grid of 3 columns and 4 rows. That’s 12 months. January, February, March in the first row and so forth down the page.
In each box that is now a month, write in what you “plan” to do this month in terms of your efforts. Write in what you “plan” to spend of your capital in whatever areas. Those efforts will have outcomes you want to achieve. Write that in the appropriate month.
Trade show in March? Write it in. Needs $10,000 or you have $10,000 to invest? Write it in. You expect the show to generate $25,000 of sales (in March or in April or in each month after?). Write it in.
Get milestones into your plan; get the big account by; achieve sales volume of $xx by; introduce new products by. Get it on your calendar. Your schedule/calendar/plan is becoming real!!
If you make it more complicated you won’t do it. Make it easier and you can do it TOMORROW. New Year’s Day. Start the Year with a Plan. Even a bad plan is better than no plan.
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” Ben Franklin
Only 40% of wholesale businesses survive to year five. Plan to be a survivor.
