| Planning is the management of risk ... while there are | | | | actions - or inactions - that will put you in trouble! You |
| no risks involved (yet), and while it is still safe to take | | | | can easily identify these negative moves with proper |
| action ... proactive action, that is! Planning is being able | | | | planning. You can eliminate them from your winning |
| to recognize friends from foe ... before going into | | | | scenario, before they have any chance of harming |
| "business battle". Planning is the dressed rehearsal | | | | your business. That is what being proactive really |
| before the premiere. Here is a "behind the scene" | | | | means. |
| look at what the planning process is all about. | | | | During The Storm |
| An Eventful Journey | | | | Nobody can foresee everything. Planning helps you |
| Many (too many) aspiring entrepreneurs see the | | | | eliminate as many unknowns as humanly possible. |
| business plan as a set of documents describing their | | | | However, there will be times when things happen so |
| intentions and aspirations. Planning before going into | | | | fast, or in an unforeseen way, that you can be |
| business is much more than that! | | | | destabilized, even driven into a state of panic. You |
| Business life is made up of events that occur | | | | can avoid dangerous false reactions during a |
| sequentially, from cause to effect, as well as | | | | potentially disruptive event. You can avoid being |
| simultaneously, randomly, and spuriously. These | | | | overcome by doubt. You can practice reacting in |
| events can occur within your sphere of influence, as | | | | front of the unknown. You can rehearse to react in a |
| well as on the periphery. They can, and will, also | | | | controlled fashion. |
| occur far removed from your knowledge ... | | | | Remember though that the best defense is offense. |
| apparently harmlessly! | | | | Proper planning is a potent form of offense. Your |
| Each event can be a source of risks and | | | | competition will never know your state of |
| opportunities for you and your business. | | | | preparedness ... until it's too late! |
| Consequently, planning is the process by which you | | | | After The Wind Has Died Down |
| aim to maximize the beneficial effects of the latter, | | | | That's when you take advantage of the good |
| while minimizing the adverse effects of the former. | | | | moves, and you recover - hopefully unharmed - from |
| A risky situation or event gives you the opportunity | | | | the bad ones. You can learn how to do that too! In |
| to put into action a counter measure that will benefit | | | | fact, your business cannot grow if you cannot |
| your business. You will have some of those measures | | | | master the art of taking swift advantage of a |
| planned, hopefully! One of the major advantages of a | | | | favorable situation ... and of swiftly recovering from |
| planned counter measure is that you can put it in | | | | harmful ones. With proper planning, and training, you |
| effect ... while your competition is still destabilized! | | | | can learn how to recognize both, and take |
| A Picture Is Worth ... | | | | appropriate actions. |
| Any successful entrepreneur will tell you that you | | | | Planning ... Takes Planning |
| have to picture yourself going through the motions, | | | | As you might have guessed by now, planning itself ... |
| to know how to react when the time comes. | | | | takes planning and practice! Before going into |
| Rehearsing lets you discover which events - and | | | | business, get a professional trainer to help you go |
| situation within an event - you may not be ready for. | | | | through the moves with a training (learning) plan that |
| Planning lets you do just that. When you find you | | | | will suit your needs. Get a coach to help you work on |
| would not know how to react in a given situation, | | | | your mindset and resolve. In other words, do not |
| you can visualize your actions - before, during, and | | | | hesitate to seek the help of reputable people who |
| after the given event or situation - and test them | | | | have been there, and done it. |
| for effectiveness. While still "off stage", you can | | | | The professional trainer, and coach, will help you |
| rehearse your moves until you find the proper ones | | | | * identify what you have to take into account, |
| to do. | | | | * see the business game, play by play, |
| Before The S... Hits The Fan | | | | * avoid getting lost in rehearsing false moves, |
| I mentioned that there are actions that have to be | | | | * go through the motions, in a professional manner, |
| taken before the event. That is perhaps the most | | | | before you go into action, |
| important part of planning. If you do your business | | | | * plan how to recover from your mistakes. |
| research right, you will find that there are undesirable | | | | In short, they will help you build your confidence, and |
| events you can indeed avoid, by simply avoiding the | | | | competence, one small - planned - move at a time. |