As a business strategist, one of the first things I ask a company about is their business planning process. I usually ask if they have a plan, and if they do, I ask when they last took a look at it.
See, here is the surprising thing! So many business owners and company managers do not have a business plan that they use for day to day roadmapping. Many companies have a plan that they developed in an often intense and painful process, possibly at an off-site retreat, likely under pressure from bankers or investors. What happens to those plans once they are complete? Too often, these beautifully crafted, several hundred page pieces of work sit untouched on the shelf after their publication.
Let me ask you a question… how does a business plan sitting on a shelf help you run your business? Think about that for a second.
It shouldn’t have to be that difficult! Imagine for a second – being able to get a workable draft of your business plan complete in about an hour and a half! If that were the case, would you be able to find the time to write a business plan? And, if I told you that these plans really help guide the day to day running of your business…?
Today, I am going to share with you how to do the first step of the One Page Business Plan: the Vision Statement. Depending on where you went to school and where you work now, everyone has a different version of what they believe a vision statement is. Let’s keep it super simple. The vision statement answers the question: What are we building? What will this company look like in 3 years? What capacity and capabilities are we building? Who are our customers, and what is our geographic reach? What other items are important to who we are fundamentally? New technologies? Cutting edge product or service? These important descriptors will go into the vision statement.
It might sound something like this: By 2022, grow ABC Window Company into a $40 million national home products company specializing in manufacturing and distributing custom and replacement windows and skylights to baby boomers and home remodelers.
We are building a $40 company. We manufacture and distribute custom and replacement windows and skylights, and our target customer is the baby boomer and home remodeler. It answers the key questions.
Go ahead and brainstorm what your vision statement might look like by answering the question “What am I building?”
For more information on the One Page Business Plan, check out my web site at www.odastrategy.com under Business Planning. I’d be happy to talk with you about getting YOUR business plan completed and ready to serve as your roadmap to focus and thrive!
