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Greetings!
It is hard to believe that 2012 is almost behind us. The holiday season is typically a very busy time for most people between sending out cards, shopping, holiday parties, etc. However, this is also a very important time of year for us to prepare for 2013. Do you have your strategy or plan laid out to make sure 2013 is a successful year for you? This month's issue of In Harmony, will help you do just that.
Greg Stuart
Certified Business Coach
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 Business Strategy: Clarify Your Purpose and Vision
It's almost the beginning of a new year and you want it to be your best year ever. You are no doubt doing some planning for how to make that happen. You are doing some planning, aren't you?
I'd like to recommend you take some time to really clarify your purpose and vision.
Clear purpose and vision are the keys to giving you a focus and direction. Unfortunately, that's something that is all too often lacking from small businesses. What you need to do is quite simple, but may challenge you if you've never taken the step before.
Here are a few ideas to help you make this your best year ever.
A clear purpose describes what why your business does what it does. Have you lost track of your purpose? Do you remember what led you to start or get into your business in the first place?
Three questions to ponder as you seek to re-ignite the purpose in your business:
- What do you really want out of life?
- What do you really not want in your life?
- What would you be willing to give up in order to live the life you want?
Answer these questions honestly and build your business around the life you want to live. Talk about a purpose that would set you on fire.
Here's an idea for creating your vision. Think of the absolute greatest outcome your best clients really want from your service. Build your vision around being "the resource" that works to deliver that.
Examine your values and principles and then determine what you want your business to be in the future. Find your favorite way to relax quietly and let your mind open to dwell in what's possible.
Imagine yourself in a private movie theater watching a movie of your future self in 10 years. As the movie ends you notice the star of the show has joined you. Ask this person any question you want about how he/she got to the place of great success in the movie. What was your future self's purpose and vision?
This may seem silly to you at first. But if you open your mind up to accept that the visioning process will work, you'll be amazed at the answers that will emerge.
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Creating a Business Strategy
 On a scale of 1 to 10, having a good business strategy rates about a 15!
No matter what kind of business you have - whether you sell products or a service, as the saying goes, "If you fail to plan, then you're really planning to fail."
Creating a strategy can mean the difference between you working 60 to 80 hours a week all year long - and then breaking even, or worse, losing money.
On the other hand, many successful entrepreneurs who have a strategy work fewer hours and make more money. They usually attribute their success to having a strategic plan AND following it.
So what is strategic business management? Very simply, it's the process of defining the goals and objectives for your business, creating an action plan so you can reach them, and then following the plan.
How do you create a strategic plan for you business?
- First, know what your vision for your company is. If there were no barriers and nothing stopping you from taking your company as far as you could - what would that look like?
- Next, what are your company's core operating values? What are its guiding principles? In other words, why are you in business and how do you do business?
- Now create a three to five year plan. Your long-term plan is based on the broad objectives that will help you get from where you are now, to where you want to be.
 - Develop a plan for this year. These are the specific objectives you plan to accomplish this year that will lead you closer to your long-term goals. Remember to be "SMART" when setting your annual goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistically High, and Time-bound). Include a list of the barriers that are stopping you from getting where you want to go. Figure out what resources you've already got, and what resources you need to get you past those barriers. Then create an action plan that clearly lays out how you will achieve your goals. Involve key employees with this part of the planning process.
- Create a set of milestones or benchmarks. This is very important, so you can measure your progress.
- Share the plan with your employees, and anyone else who will be involved in the process. Your annual strategy is the roadmap that will make sure everyone ends up at the same destination - but to be effective, everyone needs the same map!
- Put the plan into action. Now that you have the roadmap, it's time to begin the journey.
- Check your progress. Just like any trip, you need to check the map every now and then to be sure you're still on the right road. If something isn't working, the sooner you figure it out and make the necessary adjustments, the sooner you'll be back on track.
- Follow the same cycle next year. (Dream, Plan, Act, Check.)
Creating a business strategy and following it will ensure that you enjoy the journey as much as getting to your final destination.
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Harmony Solutions International, LLC
Call: 805-413-4128 Email Us |
"When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal;
you do not change your decision to get there."
- Zig Ziglar
The Annual Goals Review is a structured, dynamic approach to goal achievement and personal success. This unique process allows you to crystallize those things that are important to you in both your organization and in your personal life, which helps you to define the plan to see those things come to fruition.
Organizational Elements
* Definition of Vision & Values
* Organizational Assessments
* Organizational Goal Definition
* Planning and Accomplishment
Personal Elements
* Dream Inventory
* Personal Assessments
* Personal Goal Definition
* Planning & Accomplishment
For more information visit our website, send us an email, or call Greg at 805.413.4128.
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