Business Planning

We’re sliding over the finish line of what some describe as a crazy year. And with the ending of one year and the beginning of a new one, we begin to think about planning. Or at least there is plenty of fuss in articles, blogs, podcasts, etc. about that “P” word and needing to plan for the coming year.

The calendar’s flip to the next page bragging it’s now 2021 won’t magically make everything rosy and right! It’s up to us to define our game plan and prepare to achieve success.

One useful practice is reviewing what we learned over the past year, and certainly there was a lot! There is heaps going on for everyone, both personally and professionally. The same experience will be a celebration for some and a heart-wrenching disappointment for others. Working to get ahead or even to keep heads above water is taking more effort and energy. Read more

In articles I’ve been reading over the past couple of weeks, the words overcommitment and overwhelm seem to appear more than usual. Of course, the pandemic is blamed for the “over”. But why this focus?

When the perception of work demands is heightened, overwhelm can easily take over. Some say that there is a tendency to see work as filling every moment of life when working from home. When in-person or in-office work allows for social interaction, this interrupts the concentration of work and is helpful in alleviating the nose-to-the-grindstone feeling. Read more

At this time of the year, most articles, podcasts, webinars and such are asking you to focus on what you didn’t accomplish over the past year. Facebook posts are commenting that the writer is happy to close the door on 2019. That it was a terrible year.

I prefer to look back with gratitude for the many blessings. Of course, like everyone else, there were speed bumps and some lessons to be learned along the way. And, I am grateful for the learning. A life with no challenges would be quite boring, don’t you think? Read more

According to President Eisenhower, “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything”. He said in the Army, that in an emergency, the first thing to do is “to take all the plans off the top shelf and throw them out the window.”

“But if you haven’t been planning you can’t start to work, intelligently at least,” he said. Let’s apply that thinking to your business. It is critical to plan. And a plan starts with planning. Your plan is like your GPS. There’s satisfaction in arriving at your destination.  It’s certainly better than not knowing where you are going and what roads will get you there efficiently. Read more