Not matter what kind of business you’re in; having a plan is crucial to an positive outcome for your business.

A plan provides you with the necessary focus and direction. As Yogi Berra said “When you don’t know where your going any road will get you there”. Do you know where you’re going or are you just “letting it happen” – if you’re just letting it happen, how’s that working for you? For 99% of businesses is the path to disaster, both financially and emotionally.

Having a plan allows you to use your limited resources (time, money, effort) effectively and efficiently.

Most small business owners cringe at the thought of a “business plan”, the proverbial 50+ page bible. Who has the time for this? Who has the fortitude for this? Who has the desire for this? Certainly not me and I am fairly certain not you. And unless you are going to external sources for financing or support of some kind it’s not necessary.

There are many resources out there to assist you in doing a short and sweet business plan. One I recommend is the One Page Business Plan by Jim Horan. When I reconfigured my business this is what I used to do my business plan. Other than the dreaming/thinking time involved it took me about 16 hours (over several days) to do it. Who doesn’t have 16 hours for this task?

Planning is nothing more than setting your Vision and Mission, identifying and preparing your Goals and Objectives based on your Vision and then prioritizing them into some kind of order. There are six simple steps in developing a workable plan (don’t over think it, don’t over complicate it, this isn’t Quantum Physics) for the typical business owner, I’m not saying you’re typical, but if you were typical, they would be:

1) Set your Vision
2) Define your Mission Statement (as necessary)
3) Identify and prepare your Goals and Objectives
4) Define your Strategies to support the achievement of your Goals and Objectives
5) Generate your three to five year Plan; this is your Strategic Plan or Business Plan (the view from 30,000 feet).
6) Generate your one year plan; based on your Strategic Plan, this is your Tactical Plan or Annual Operating Plan (the view from a mile high).

Are you willing to spend two hours a week and a few days a year to stay on track, work on the critical issues, save yourself hundreds of hours (not working on the wrong or lower priority issues)?

I hope so… if not, how’s that (not having a plan) working for you

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Why did I get way too personal here? I violated one of my own cardinal rules, never let emotions and pessimism take completely over. I did and lost two weeks. Emotions (and logic) and pessimism (and optimism) all have their places in life but when you let any of them take over, your life and outlook will be out of balance.  Mistakes will be made (I made them). Keep an even balance and things will be much better – take it from someone who knows.

According to David L. Aaker, a recognized customer service guru, the following 10 points will bring your customer service level up to a truly world class level.

1. Know your customer by their first name

2. Listen twice as much as you talk

3. Always tell the truth

4. Never argue with your customer

5. Under promise and over deliver

6. Follow up, follow up, follow up

7. Be thankful for customers who complain, for you still have the opportunity to make them happy

8. Enthusiasm
             The attitude of the employee is contagious to the customer

9. Be thankful for each and every customer

10. The GOLDEN RULE

You can and should contact David for your customer service issues at:
David K. Aaker ACE
Aaker & Associates
PO Box 509
Palm Springs CA 92263
Phone: (760) 323-4600
david@davidkaaker.com

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We have just added a Budgeting Tool to the Resource Library, Tool section. This will help you do your budgets. The tool is an Excel spreadsheet with a linked Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow.

The Small Business Assessment tool has been improved and updated.  As a small business adviser, I implore you to please take advantage of fantastic tool.

Go to the Resource Library and then to Tools to acces the assessment.

Not matter what kind of business you have; referrals are the warmest contact you can get. When you’re meeting someone, whether for the first time or not, (at a networking event, in your establishment, in the drug store line or wherever) always treat them with respect and courtesy.

They may not be a prospect, but you don’t know who they know. Everyone knows 50,100, 200 or more people and those people (The 250) may need your help, your product or they can help you.

After a recent networking event I was talking with a young man who was disappointed in the event, he told me "these people won’t do my business any good". I asked him if he thought that his persona came off that way, in other words was he dismissive of them. Not necessarily in his words but also in his body language and actions.

Did he know their circle of 25O?

Could someone in their circle be a prospect, partner, or referral source for him?

From the look in his eyes and his closed body language, he had already dismissed me, he had that look of "Yeah right", while his more experienced partner told us that exploiting the Circle of 250 was exactly how he had built and sold two businesses.

Be in the moment, that person in front of you at that moment is the most important person in the world at that time.

When I send an email blast out to the 4,000 associates in my consulting body, asking for help or a particular expertise, frequently the replies come back along the lines of "I have a client / partner / friend / vendor who can help". So I figure that instead of having the power of 4,000 associates I really have the power one million plus.

Who do you know?

How big is your circle?

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We have just added the Business Owners Benefits Listing in the Resource Library, Tool section. This is a list of the benefits derived from working with a qualified small business consultant.. We are sure you find some benefits you would like to enjoy in the listing.
 

Think Inside the Box - David Deutsch

David Deutsch takes a different view of problem solving, Thinking Inside the Box. Deutsch has designed a series of boxes (potential solutions) to create laser like focus and creativity to help you uncover hidden possibilities to all kinds of problems.