Three Things to Help You Succeed in Business
Three Things to Help You Succeed in Business
“All great battles are won before the first shot is fired.”
“People don’t plan to fail; they simply fail to plan.”
How many times have we heard quotes like those above? Probably the same number of times we failed at something. There is always someone, surveying the wreckage that used to be whatever it was we were doing, hitting us with one of those two by fours of wisdom. The funny thing is they’re usually right.
Most businesses failures are caused by a combination of three things: No strategic goal, no operational plan and/or no focus. I’m not saying that if we had these three items in our bag of tricks, we would never fail. But, our win-loss percentage would certainly move in the right direction.
In order to prevent our businesses from failing, the first step we need to take is to define the terms above. A strategic goal is simply the finish line. It’s where we want to be at the end of the race. A strategic goal is specific and measurable. An operational plan is the map we create for ourselves to get from start to finish. The more intricate and specific the map, the better our chances are of finishing the race in the allotted time. Focus is keeping both eyes on the road until we need to reference our map. Then we pull over to make sure we’re still headed in the right direction.
It sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? We want to go from New York to Chicago. We map out the best route, check our supplies, get in the car and hit the open road. So how come so many people get so lost so often? We forget where we’re going. We lose our maps. We don’t bring enough supplies. We don’t foresee potholes or detours in the road ahead. We get lost, get worried, give up and go home.
And we do the same thing in business. We create annual budgets that, once they are completed, get shoved into a filing cabinet until the following year when it’s budget time again. We can’t explain where the new business is coming from or where the old business went. At some point, when the stuff hits the fan, we panic and make decisions that could ultimately lead us to closing our doors for good.
If this sounds like your company, the good news is that you can fundamentally change the way you approach business…and you can do it starting today! Set strategic, measurable goals for your company (e.g. $5 million in revenue in 2007). Then put together your operational plan (how you plan to get from today’s sales to $5 million). Your operational plan should be as detailed as possible (by rep, office, new business vs. repeat business, specific accounts, etc.).
Once you have the plan in place, refer to it on a regular basis (e.g. weekly, monthly). Why? Because the plan will most likely change so much from start to finish that you won’t recognize it in December as the plan you started with in January. Stay focused on the plan but keep your eyes on the road. Accounts that you thought were sold suddenly go away. Other business comes in but not at the level you expected. These are the “potholes” and “detours” that you didn’t have on your original map. It might require finding new business. It might mean increasing revenue from existing clients. If you know you’ve hit a pothole, you can react to it.
Sometimes it’s not a pothole. It’s bigger. Much bigger and it dramatically changes your business. Natural disasters, death of a business partner or a major financial loss is something that no one can predict, but it is something we all need to consider. On our web site, we have a “must-read” article called Flirting with Disaster. Read it today and incorporate the suggestions into your business tomorrow. Then, you will be ready for all the unexpected twists and turns on your road to success!
Three Things to Help You Succeed in Business - To learn more about this author, visit Brian Moran's Website.
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(1) A Strategic Goal; (2) An Operational Plan; (3) Focus
“All great battles are won before the first shot is fired.”
“People don’t plan to fail; they simply fail to plan.”
How many times have we heard quotes like those above? Probably the same number of times we failed at something. There is always someone, surveying the wreckage that used to be whatever it was we were doing, hitting us with one of those two by fours of wisdom. The funny thing is they’re usually right.
Most businesses failures are caused by a combination of three things: No strategic goal, no operational plan and/or no focus. I’m not saying that if we had these three items in our bag of tricks, we would never fail. But, our win-loss percentage would certainly move in the right direction.
In order to prevent our businesses from failing, the first step we need to take is to define the terms above. A strategic goal is simply the finish line. It’s where we want to be at the end of the race. A strategic goal is specific and measurable. An operational plan is the map we create for ourselves to get from start to finish. The more intricate and specific the map, the better our chances are of finishing the race in the allotted time. Focus is keeping both eyes on the road until we need to reference our map. Then we pull over to make sure we’re still headed in the right direction.
It sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? We want to go from New York to Chicago. We map out the best route, check our supplies, get in the car and hit the open road. So how come so many people get so lost so often? We forget where we’re going. We lose our maps. We don’t bring enough supplies. We don’t foresee potholes or detours in the road ahead. We get lost, get worried, give up and go home.
And we do the same thing in business. We create annual budgets that, once they are completed, get shoved into a filing cabinet until the following year when it’s budget time again. We can’t explain where the new business is coming from or where the old business went. At some point, when the stuff hits the fan, we panic and make decisions that could ultimately lead us to closing our doors for good.
If this sounds like your company, the good news is that you can fundamentally change the way you approach business…and you can do it starting today! Set strategic, measurable goals for your company (e.g. $5 million in revenue in 2007). Then put together your operational plan (how you plan to get from today’s sales to $5 million). Your operational plan should be as detailed as possible (by rep, office, new business vs. repeat business, specific accounts, etc.).
Once you have the plan in place, refer to it on a regular basis (e.g. weekly, monthly). Why? Because the plan will most likely change so much from start to finish that you won’t recognize it in December as the plan you started with in January. Stay focused on the plan but keep your eyes on the road. Accounts that you thought were sold suddenly go away. Other business comes in but not at the level you expected. These are the “potholes” and “detours” that you didn’t have on your original map. It might require finding new business. It might mean increasing revenue from existing clients. If you know you’ve hit a pothole, you can react to it.
Sometimes it’s not a pothole. It’s bigger. Much bigger and it dramatically changes your business. Natural disasters, death of a business partner or a major financial loss is something that no one can predict, but it is something we all need to consider. On our web site, we have a “must-read” article called Flirting with Disaster. Read it today and incorporate the suggestions into your business tomorrow. Then, you will be ready for all the unexpected twists and turns on your road to success!
Three Things to Help You Succeed in Business - To learn more about this author, visit Brian Moran's Website.
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
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Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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