Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









Executing a strategic plan requires heavy lifting

Written by: Ross Fattori

Article Overview: The importance of executing a strategy to achieve a goal

Free Download - Are you a no show? By Ross Fattori
Name: Email:

Executing a strategic plan requires heavy lifting

Years ago, a client said to me. “My salespeople know what they have to do to reach their targets each month. They have a support system in place that allows them to do their jobs effectively. The problem is one of execution – doing the actual heavy lifting required to reach their goals.”

Everybody loves to plan and strategize. The process of setting lofty goals is exciting and energizing. Business strategies look great on paper with the bold typography and fancy graphics.

The thing that separates winners from losers in any business is the ability to successfully execute on strategies. It’s the ability to use your strategy to get things done. To make a strategic plan work requires real legwork, grit, sacrifice, risk-taking, networking, teamwork and monitoring. Without that input, a strategic plan isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

People get so busy in their everyday lives, putting out fires and dealing with the minutia of their jobs. Strategic plans tend to get pushed to aside, day after day, week after week. Before you know it, a year has gone by and no action has been taken on that great strategic plan.

Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If you want different results in your business, then it’s time to start acting on that strategic plan once and for all.

Related Articles
  Checklist for Setting up a Strategic Plan -- To Win
  How to crystalize business growth options through Strategic Planning
  (Another) Six Competencies to Covet
  Real Leadership Requires Absolutes
  Strategic Planning Must Include a Strategic Action Plan Filled with WAY SMART Goals

Home > Marketing > Ross Fattori > Executing a strategic plan requires heavy lifting
Article Tags: albert einstein, business strategies, everyday lives, execution, fancy graphics, heavy lifting, insanity, lofty goals, losers, minutia, networking, putting out fires, risk, sacrifice, salespeople, strategic plan, strategic plans, targets, teamwork, typography

About the Author: Ross Fattori
RSS for Ross's articles - Visit Ross's website

Ross Fattori has more than 22 years' sales and marketing experience in newspapers and in the publishing industry. Throughout his career, he has served clients in the automotive, retail, real estate and manufacturing sectors by composing winning copy and designing dynamic ad layouts, brochures, direct-mail pieces and newsletters. Mr. Fattori is also journalist who has written extensively for newspapers, magazines and specialized publications across Canada. His writing credits include The Toronto Star, the Toronto Sun, Marketing Magazine, and dozens of periodicals and newspapers. Mr. Fattori writes a blog about marketing, new media and business trends at www.rossfattori.com

Click here to visit Ross's website
Dashed Line

More from Ross Fattori
10 rules for writing an effective press release
Business coaches arent for everyone
Proctor Gamble and Google swap employees
10 questions to ask before your next client meeting
Winning is an effective marketing strategy


Related Forum Posts
Re: Expanding to the US? Re: Expanding to the US? - Hi again DCM Convert, I think BizLaunch will be expanding their small business training services to the US later this year with the help of Staples Business Depot, their current strategic partner. Have you considered forming any strategic partnerships or joint ventures with related businesses in the US?
Aviation logo Aviation logo - >>>I'd say it looks like a woman sitting in an early "flying machine" that requires manual pedaling to help it gain runway speed before take off. You are sort of correct! The plane has an engine, and just two levers to control lifting and turning. I'll cut to the chase and just ask flat out... does it appear to anyone viewing it that this woman is sitting "on" a plane, rather than "in it"? Thee's no cockpit, and there's just two levers to control it (but not to hand pedal)... That's what I find so intriguing about it...the fact that the early fliers - in the 1910s, sat "on" the planes - and still didn't use seatbelts! >>>It was hard to tell because the logo is a little too faded/transparent. I deliberately faded the photo because I thought a crisp and dark one would distract from the text around it. Anyone else think an unfaded photo would be better? Thanks, Buzz! Anyone else?
Re: Kevin's Case Study #2 - The Art of Pitching Re: Kevin's Case Study #2 - The Art of Pitching - [quote="bmueller47":2b727h54]Hi Kevin, I often thought about that. How can you protect good idea? If it is a novel idea, one can have it patented. However, that is not the cheapest and easist route. It requires research and development, often with a prototype etc. If know somebody you can trust to assist, that would be ideal. Lets see, what our friends of the forum have to contribute.[/quote:2b727h54] Hi Beat, The problem is that without a strategic partnership, I don't my t-shirts could stand on their own as it would be too easy for more established competitors to copy the idea. And therefore, it wouldn't be practical to trademark the design before a partner was even found.
re: restaurant start-up re: restaurant start-up - I'm not sure about government grants for restaurants, but my recommendation would be to approach a lender that offers loans under the Canadian Small Business Financing Loan program where the government will guarantee 85% of the loan. You can borrow up to $250,000 to finance equipment and renovations under this program. Restaurants are very risky business, however some of the Chartered Banks will look at restaurants if there is enough of an initial equity investment and you have a solid business plan (experienced management team, good concept and strategic location).
Re: What is your age? Re: What is your age? - BMueller, I'm 43, though my "feel like" age is only 29. LOL Serious though, I think you're as old as you'll allow your body and your attitude to get. I stay very active; still lifting weights and running. One may accuse me of looking for the fountain or youth but I really enjoy the activities. I don't just do them because of the physical benefits. After I had a child I had to lose 70 lbs, so I know what it's like to not be in shape, but it's also made me realize that I won't be fit unless I work at it continually.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Severance and Separation Agreements

Download a template or see a lawyer?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.