I don’t believe in plans. But planning is essential.
Plans involve making educated assumptions on what the convenient future could entail for your business. But why plan for a future that isn’t going to happen the way you planned it to? In most instances, people think predicting the future is hogwash, but strangely not when it comes to business.
Planning involves educating yourself on where you are going, developing a strategy for how you are going to get there, and a vision of what you want to experience along the way. You don’t need to predict the future, you just need to know there is a route.
Process, not Product
I’ve found answering these 10 questions on business planning is a solid foundation on which to build a sustainable strategy for growth.
10 Questions for Planning Your Innerpreneurial Business
A. What You’re Getting Out of It
1. Why are you starting the business?
2. What will sustain you in the business?
3. What do you need (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) for the business to optimally work?
B. What They’re Getting Out of It
4. Describe your product/service.
5. Who would want to buy your product/service?
6. What is their painful problem?
7. How do you solve that painful problem?
C. The Logistics
8. How will you create your product/service?
9. How will you get your first customer?
10. What will need to happen to take your business further?
photo credit: Brian Lane Winfield Moore