This Wednesday: Are you whining or are you planning to be prepared ?
Rising unemployment, falling house sales, credit lock out, lower profit margin... on and on. Are these true ? absolutely yes. (Let's be realistic) But is this the end? definitely not.
What are you doing about it ? Are you ready with a strategic plan ?
My philosophical part cries out "Adaptability". The logical and strategic marketing part of me cries out "Plan". The result - a plan that accommodates and adapts to the current situation and prepare for the future.
I recently acquired 2 new clients for whom DotSign [more info...] is doing strategic internet marketing and design . But surprisingly they had no clear plan or answers for my questions about their business portfolio.
Most of the internet solution providers just talk about Web design or social media marketing, (SEO) search engine optimization etc. without understanding the clients vision and truly helping the clients needs.
Social media, SEO etc are all effective but not without a clear "Strategic (Business) Plan" ** that addresses current situation and projects to the immediate future.
Entrepreneurs and business managers get preoccupied with current issues losing sight of their ultimate objectives. We hastily try out temporary "Duck Tape Solutions" (mostly because you heard some one say so) without addressing the core.
My fellow MCC'ians take a moment , step back - Rethink your plan from a core level, figure out your current business portfolio and then relate to a medium term (2 - 4 yr) map ahead so that you can asses the risk and adapt to the volatile environment better.
So why a Strategic Plan ?
A strategic plan will:
• Serve as a framework for decisions.
• Understand your challenges and hence find the right solution.
• Explain the business to others in order to inform, motivate & involve.
• Assist benchmarking & performance monitoring.
• Stimulate change and become building block for next plan.
**A strategic plan is different from your business plan
Wishing you Succcess.
Henry Joshua
www.dot-sign.com
"Creative.Compelling.Cutting Edge"
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I am hoping some of our experienced and expert MCC members will share their strategies and approach that they have taken.
If there is enough interest I can also share what I consider as components of a strategic plan and how to do it in next Wednesday's post.
This is a great posting, Henry. It's so easy to lose sight of the bigger picture with everything that is happening, especially here in Motown.
To piggyback on your ideas, I have a one-pager about how strategic plans can fail if any member is interested. Shoot me an e-mail and I'll return you a PDF copy.
Ralph
Ralph A. Mortensen, Ph.D.
President
True North Resources, LLC
(248) 474-2135 office
(248) 760-3436 mobile
www.truenorthresources.org
a ThinkWise Partner
www.thinkwiseinc.com
Ralph,
I see that a lot of us lose sight of teh bigger picture so easily just as you mentioned.
Please share your ideas on Strategic Planning with us - because I think this is probably the most important thing in a changing volatile economy "to plan & adapt" .
I will also email you.
Henry Joshua
www.dot-Sign.com
Creative.Compelling.Cutting Edge