I Don’t Have Time To Write A Strategic Plan
I can’t count the number of times that I have asked clients to see their strategic plans (in order to get a feel for what they need to accomplish during the coming year) only to watch their eyes roll and to hear the response:
“Are you kidding me? You actually think I have time to write a strategic plan for my business? I’m too busy trying to keep this place running, putting out fires and paying my bills. Besides, I’m already working twelve hour days!!”
While I can relate to these comments, it doesn’t mean that they are an acceptable excuse for not having a plan. Like it or not, WHAT GETS WRITTEN DOWN GETS DONE. Ask any business advisor or read any management book and they will affirm that planning leads to success. I can tell you it’s the case with our most successful clients. If you don’t do it, you won’t succeed to the level that you could have.
A mentor of mine once encouraged me to write down the three things that would have the biggest bottom line impact on my business and delegate literally everything else to my second in command which would both challenge and empower that individual. He was right and it worked.
In order to figure out what those three things are, you do need to draft a plan. It doesn’t need to be a formal document as long as you understand it. The format is not important. What is critical is that you take the time to do it and then act upon it.
Let’s face it….you are the leader of your Company. If you don’t do it, no one else will. One of my favorite sayings is that leaders lead. It’s up to you to choose the future over the past; to focus on opportunities not problems; to choose your own direction and aim high. You’re going to need to execute which requires you to establish clear goals and then to prioritize them. The bottom line is that leadership requires accountability which mandates that you stay focused on specific goals. I am confident that you can do this.
Russ Wertz – Founder and CEO of Wertz & Company, LLP, a Professional Services Firm located in Orange County, CA that specializes in working with entrepreneurs along their journey to success.