Comments on: Simplify your business plan

By: Patricia Lotich

Patricia Lotich — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:46:46 +0000

Great reminder for all of us to pull out the business plan, dust it off and revisit it. Things change so rapidly that it is important to be able to adjust and adapt.

By: Patricia Lotich

Patricia Lotich — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:03:30 +0000

I love simplicity and this nailed it. Thanks for the insight!

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:18:28 +0000

Sandra, those 40 pages are rough, especially when you are only doing it for your own benefit. 4 pages sounds much more realistic for a useful tool.

By: Sandra Sims

Sandra Sims — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:07:57 +0000

I recently wrote a new business plan. I started out with a “professional template” which was about 40 pages! Ugh! I narrowed it down to the essentials – what would actually help me in creating the business and am down to 4 pages of real content. Thanks for the list, some of these I need to add to the plan to round it out.

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:05:08 +0000

Glad to hear it! Sounds like you do use a very similar approach.

By: stargardener

stargardener — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:38:10 +0000

You and I have tweeted and discussed this before, Becky, but collaborative partnerships are invaluable when assessing and planning for business. These collaborations can be simple chats over coffee, text-chats online, side conversations in the midst of conferences, etc. But managing for strength and longevity requires the business owner — large or micro, corporate or freelance — to know her niche and be willing to discuss and ponder, learn and adapt as needed.

Even a simple dialogue via blog comments can prove to be insightful! ;)

By: stargardener

stargardener — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:21:10 +0000

Wise words, indeed, Becky! I work "The Money" steps from End {where I want to be} to Start {map directives regarding how I will get there}. Similar to your linked checklist.

And I am in first-person control of my income and related math. {I do appreciate a candid, long-standing trust with my CPA and time-tested relationship of counsel with a collaborating business partner though!}

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:50:28 +0000

Stargardener, I do not recommend you delegate this math. You will benefit from figuring out what your revenue goals are and how you’ll reach them. You don’t have to do it on a spreadsheet, but you will benefit from the understanding that comes with doing the figuring yourself.

By: stargardener

stargardener — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:43:51 +0000

Yeah, about that math thing ... That is why God created CPA's and business partners who are proficient left-brain drivers! ;)

Another tool for creAtive, randomized thinkers: evernote.com [perfect for organizing notes from Web, desktop or mobile!].

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:12:47 +0000

Stargardener, you are right: use whatever media works for you. This is especially true for your reminders, because we all respond to different things. The exception is figuring out those revenue goals. There is no substitute for doing the math.