Strategic planning takes a lot of time anywhere from 40 to 100 hours if not longer depending upon the size and complexity of your business. However, you don’t have time because you are small business owner and wearing a lot of hats as the owner or president.

Many small business owners are in this boat of knowing that planning is a good thing, but not having the time to plan. Let’s take a few quick moments to define some terms that may help you as you look toward 2008.

Simple mean easy to use and not complex. A one page document is simple including easy to read font size and overall structure. Strategy means to deceive the enemy. In today’s business world, that means to out think and outlast the competition. Business means that the information contained is necessary to effectively running your business where money is exchanged for goods or services. Growth means that you know where you are and where you want to go. Action means that there are goals to be executed. Plan means that you have an overall thought process from which to manage and work the strategy and the goals for the business.

Beyond the definition terms, a simple strategic business growth action plan would include some of these key elements:

Time Frame (should not exceed 12 months)
Company Name
Core Foundational Business Statements (Values, Vision & Mission)
Tag Line or Unique Selling Position
Dashboard of Key Performance Indicators
Goal Categories
Goals for each goal category including target date and completion date

When all of these elements are united, you have a basic building template from which to work ON your business instead of always working IN your business.

Now is the time to start looking at your business through a proactive planning lens instead of a reactive one of “Spray and Pray.” Remember failure to plan is planning to fail.

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