Business Plan Made Easy – Sticky Notes and a Pen
When was the last time you looked at your Business Plan? Is it up to date? Is it still in your head?
Over the past 18 months the economy has been tough – customer's buying habits have changed – your industry has probably changed as well. Just look at how social media has changed the way we reach and communicate with our customers.
Have you factored any of these elements into your current business plan?
I read an article a few years ago by Christine Kloser about creating a business plan on post-it notes. Simple. Small. Attainable. I ran across the article while cleaning out my desk this weekend and it called to me…
"Deborah- let's create a new business plan – something you can stick to."
Christine suggests that we divide the plan into six categories – she doesn't define them but as a home based business owner they might be:
- Target customers
- Products/Services
- Marketing
- Finance
- Resources
- Centers of Influence
You may have a different listing of six areas of your business. Have Six posters – one per category.
The next step is to grab a stack of post it notes and put one idea on each note paper and stick it to the poster. This will help get your ideas and thoughts and "must haves" out of your head and on to paper.
From there comes prioritizing and organizing. The last step being implementation.
I invite you to read her blog post and consider creating a post-it note business plan for your business.
Think about this (actually, I think Christine suggests this as well) rather than a plan for your entire business – perhaps you'll use this method for a new off shoot of your business; a new product, service or venture.
If you give it a try – share your success with us here.