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Don't expect an invitation to the recovery
Written by: Larry MandelbergArticle Overview: When recovery begins, you aren't going to get an invitation, and it's not going to happen overnight. It's a slow process, like watching water boil on a campfire made of sticks and limbs. It won't change while you're watching. But when it does, will you be ready? You can't turn your best efforts at the snap of a finger, you have to be prepared. When new customers start coming and old customers start returning, you're going to have ONE chance, so you better be prepared.
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Free Download - It's not about who you know... By Larry Mandelberg |
Don't expect an invitation to the recovery
The economy is no longer in reverse. It's engaged and moving forward at an accelerating pace. Now is the time to escape the pull of a dysfunctional economy and catch the rising tide; an economy driven by cash, not credit, by need, not want, by an environment of accountability, not blame.
I understand you've heard it before. Well, you're going to hear it one more time if you keep reading. There are always success stories in times of trouble. It's not often you have an advantage over your competition. Remember your job is to lead. It's time to plan, and time to win.
Start with Strategy
Before a business can achieve any degree of meaningful success, it must have a meaningful goal. Ask yourself what you want to achieve in the next three months, year, and three years from now. Identify a goal for each of these times frames and answer the following questions about them:
- Do the goals move our company closer to our long range desires or are they short term wins with limited value?
- Are the goals measureable in a way that any two reasonable people could agree on whether they were achieved or not?
- Can we proactively take steps to move us toward achievement of them or are they passive?
- Are the goals realistic or wishful thinking. Keep your feet on the ground and make sure you're team is striving for results that don't require luck. We aren't playing craps after all - this is business.
- When will we achieve these goals? Pick a date and guess if you must, just be realistic.
Migrate to Marketing
Now that you know what you're going to achieve and when, it's time to figure out who needs to know so they can do business with you. This is where the marketing plan comes in.
One of the biggest mistakes any business owner can make is to assume existing customers aren't at risk. Don't be naïve. Your competitors are at your heels chasing your customers every day. The first audience you need to market to is your existing customers.
These are the customers who know you best, the ones who depend on you. Give them a chance to be informed and celebrate success with you. Make them a part of it. Without customers, you can't survive. Don't just tell them, recruit them.
Finally, get your plan down in writing, NOT in your head! Involve your staff, all of them. That includes technical people, administrative people, facilities and finance. Remember that when you're successful, everyone will impacted. Give them a chance to be involved and help them prepare while they help you achieve.
Business Reborn
It's amazing how many times I've been told that the only time a business plan is important is when you first launch. That's baloney. Don't forget luck is for rabbits.
Take a few hours and write your internal business plan. Lay out your thoughts on why your customers should buy from you and how you will achieve your goals over the next twelve months. Include each of the following sections:
- Executive Summary
- Mission, Vision & Values
- Management/Leadership team
- Description of product/services
- Target Market
- Industry Trends
- Competitor Analysis
- Financials
Luck is what happens to those that are prepared for success. That means plan, and I mean now, right now. Before you waste one more minute on something easy just to make you feel productive, do something meaningful. Help the people you are paying good money do their job the way you want it done. Don't expect people to read your mind.
If you choose to put this paper down now and move on to something that feels easier, save yourself a lot of anguish and frustration - lock the doors now.
Remember, money comes and goes, but time can never be replaced. Use yours wisely. Plan and prepare for the success you so richly deserve...and don't forget to take the rest of your company along with your for the ride. Who knows, you might even have some fun along the way.
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Article Tags: being prepared, best efforts, strategy
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About the Author: Larry Mandelberg RSS for Larry's articles - Visit Larry's website Larry Mandelberg is a business consultant specializing in helping entrepreneurial companies through the go-go stage of development and become professional organizatoins. With over 30 years experience as CEO and consultant, Mandelberg has has launched 4 start-ups, led a merger, and headed a successful turn-around. He is a frequent speaker at business events throughout the western U.S. Larry has been writing his 'Eyes on Business' column for the Sacramento Business Journal for 6 years. As a student of organizational lifecycles, Larry has developed a system to help business owners create sustainable growth. He has been a guest on television and radio programs talking about business and entrepreneurship. Mandelberg is the Board Chair for Innovative Education Management, a charter school management firm, teaches the team building class for the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy, and has served as the Vice President of Administration for his synagogue. E-mail larry@mandelberg.biz or call (916) 798-0600 for more information. Click here to visit Larry's website Building Leaders From top performer to gifted manager 3 Secrets to Creating More Time Should Leaders Ask Questions or Have Answers No leader is master of everything Good Decisions Bad Decisions |
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