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If your company is expanding or just starting, this planning article is for you.

Know that you already have a plan. It’s in a place where it’s causing you more overwhelm and mistakes then it’s helping you. It’s time to take your plan from your head and put it in writing and I have the process for you to do just that.

This business plan process is strategic and tactical. IT NOT complete unless you take the plan you’ve created and turn your actions into results that can be monitored.

Know that the results of this simple planning system isn’t used to go after funding – if that’s what your company really needs. However, if you are seeking funding to start or expand your business and the thought of creating a 30-page plan is overwhelming, this plan is for you. AND prospective investors don’t read longer plans when you meet them; they want you to tell them something in 2-5 minutes and require something shorter and to the point, and this is a great short tool.

When you create a plan for the first time, what you’re really doing is taking what’s in your head and putting it down on paper for you to see. A very good thing, but not the whole story if you’re looking to grow your business.

Using the book, you’ll update your plan 3-4 times after meeting with those business owners who are supporting your business with their input. Done this way, the process should take you 20 or so hours to complete your plan. Then a couple of hours to create a scorecard fro your objectives and a project management system for your action plans.

Just creating a first draft will help you, no doubt about it, but it’s not the optimal. Seeing what’s in your head is important. You’ll be able to do what I did the first time I created a plan. I saw that I had great stategies and objectives – but they weren’t working for me.

When you work with a certified one-page business planning consultant, they’ll be much better able to help you take your plan to even higher levels – they’re training in the methodology. Through brainstorming, questioning and bringing in new ideas. Then they’ll provide you with accountability each month as you execute your plan. (Yes, I’m a certified consultant)

Use software called Point, Click, Plan! and your draft is completed in between 90 and 120 minutes. Your one-page consultant will provide you with the software. The software provides you with templates as well as 40 objectives and strategies to consider as you create your plan. The software helps you to think differently. Many times, those changes are necessary because you’re creating your plan go do business differently. Using the software and a consultant, you can create your first draft in less than 2 hours and perfect it in less than 10 hours.

As you see, when time is tight, using the software and a certified consultant to create your plan will cut the time it takes to create a plan in half.

Home based or micro businesses, create this type of plan “bring the boss back into the business” since most solo-business owners end up being employees more than the boss.

Small to large companies and corporations use this type of plan in a variety of ways, and I’ve created a list of ways below.

Executive Teams use it to take the level of communication up many notches when these plans are shared because everyone has a real clear picture of what each member is doing. And when a company uses the online system for performance management (to monitor their objectives and action plans), no longer will meetings start with “where are you at” instead they’ll start with “how can we help you get to ….” or “what do you need to help you”. Why does it change? Because each member has access to each members plans.

10 Ways to Use the One-Page Methodology

1. Create a company plan
2. Create department/unit/division plan.
3. CEO creates a plan for their positions within the company.
3. Employer creates a new position within the company.
4. Problem employee creates a plan for their position with sign off of their manager.
5. Employees to create their job descriptions and responsibilities.
6. Create a plan for big projects.
7. Future business owner to determine the viability of creating a business.
8. Create a company exit strategy.
9. Create plans for the short term – 1 year
10. Create a plan for a new service or product.

As you can see, there are many ways that business planning can help you grow your company today.