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Making A Strategic Plan Work For You

Written by: Pete Turner

Article Overview: Most successful companies have a strategic business plan. This plan provides a frame work that the senior executives use to move their company forward. Wikipedia defines strategic planning as " an organization's process of defining its strategy and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including capital and people. "

Making A Strategic Plan Work For You

"Nobody plans to fail - but a lot of people fail to plan."
Anon

Most successful companies have a strategic business plan. This plan provides a frame work that the senior executives use to move their company forward. Wikipedia defines strategic planning as " an organization's process of defining its strategy and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including capital and people. "

Okay, but what has that got to do with me? Well if world class companies use strategic planning to achieve success, maybe strategic planning can work for you.

Let's break down the process. The first part of a strategic plan is to look at the current situation and define the favorable outcome (vision). Next develop goals and objectives and a set of actions needed to reach those goals. Finally decide what resources are required to accomplish the goals.

For example let's say you are 20 pounds overweight. You have a vision of a favorable outcome (looking good in a bathing suit). You set a goal of losing 20 pounds by summer vacation. Finally you decide to spend the money (resources) and join a health club.

Now lets expand this strategic plan to include not just losing weight but reinventing yourself and becoming the person you want to be: successful and happy.

The first step is to create your Personal Vision. A personal vision statement should inspire and motivate. Is this vision statement something you can really get passionate about? If not, now is the time to rewrite your vision statement. As you write use powerful words, adjectives and action verbs that vividly describe the you of your dreams. Take the time to really refine this statement. This is Important ! Your Personal Vision Statement is critical to your success. Everything else is based on this vision.

Once you have strengthened your vision statement, put it some place where you are constantly reminded of the words in your statement.

Now that you have your Personal Vision Statement it's time to develop a Personal Mission Statement. Whoa! wait a minute what's the difference between a Personal Vision Statement and a Personal Mission Statement? Is this just an exercise or is it important to my success?

There is a big difference between a vision statement and a mission statement and yes it is vital to your success. Let me explain.... A vision statement puts in writing your dream of who you want to become. Just as Martin Luther King had a dream which inspired millions, your dream will inspire you. The mission statement puts some detail to the dream. For example let's say you want to start a business; a coffee shop. Your vision statement could be something like this: "My coffee shop will be the best shop in town." Okay that's a great vision/dream, but how are you going to achieve that dream? That's the role of the mission statement. " I will own the best coffee shop in town by serving only the finest coffees at reasonable prices. Customers will enjoy a friendly and intimate setting. My wait staff will be knowledgeable and trained in providing outstanding service."

Now create your own mission statement by expanding on your vision statement detailing how you will achieve your dream.

Again put it in writing and/or print it out and carry it with you. Write it on a small card and keep it in your pocket book/wallet. Use it as a screen saver, tape it to your bathroom mirror and/or put it on a bulletin board. Don't hide it away! Keep it in front of you as a constant inspiration.

Now is also a good time to start a journal. On the first page put your Personal Vision Statement and your Personal Mission Statement. Next write down your goals. Use the journal to keep track of your progress. Bear in mind that no one rides their bike at full speed every day. Some days you'll just coast and other days you'll be soaring. The important thing is at the end of a week, a month or a year you will have made progress. Keeping a journal will allow you to look back on how far you have come and inspire you to keep on pedaling.

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Article Tags: action verbs, adjectives, bathing suit, business plan, current situation, favorable outcome, frame work, goals and objectives, health club, losing weight, making decisions, money resources, personal vision statement, powerful words, senior executives, strategic plan, strategic planning, successful companies, summer vacation, wikipedia



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