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Letter From The Editor

Dear Friends,

It has been my experience that when people are pushed to a place where they have the choice to either stand up and fight for what they believe in (or for what they want) or to accept a dissenting opinion (or a “no”), they most often will choose the latter of these two options. Why? Because they don’t really believe that they have choice. They’ve been beaten down so much by others or even themselves that they choose to run and hide, rather than step up and fight for what they want and what they need.

So, for all of you out there living life like you don’t have a choice in what goes on in and around your world, I’m here to tell you that you DO have a choice in how your life turns out! If there is something you want and you don’t have it… ask for it. And if you are told “no”, ask again. Your doing so might just surprise the naysayer into saying “yes”.

What are you waiting for? Your life is waiting for you to take charge and run with it!

Best regards,

Clay S. Nelson

Making the Most of Your Time at Work

How often when the clock strikes 5:00 PM do you ask yourself, “where has the day gone?” Thinking, “how did the amount of work I have to do manage to triple? I’ve been working my tail off!”

It happens to everyone, due to the daily, hourly, and even minute-by-minute distractions that keep us from being as productive as we could be at work. There is hope, however, for those of you wanting to be more productive when you are at work, and it is simple to do. Check it out:

1. Be present to the work you are doing while you are at work. You can do this by simply making a list of things that need to be done (I call those things that need to be done “Specific Measure-able Results”) and include a date and even time by when they will be done. This allows you to clear out your head so your head can be a creative tool instead of a storage tool.
2. Before you leave work, get organized for the next work day. Make a list of what needs to be done the next day that you are at work. This helps to eliminate the need to take great amounts of time getting organized each morning.
3. Fully and completely communicate all the time and everywhere. This is critically important when it comes to understanding what you are being asked to do around a specific project or your job in general. You can’t be productive if you are unsure of what it is you are supposed to produce! Keep in mind that it really is okay to ask for the information you need to do your job well. This keeps you from wasting your energy and time being unsure about what you are supposed to do in a day.

Many people will deplore the idea of having another “to-do” list. However, think about it this way: If you are going to go to the grocery store, it is a good idea to have a list or you’ll come home with a big bag of chocolate. So don’t you think it is a good idea to have a list of what you need to get done at work to avoid creating a bunch of stuff you don’t need and that will ultimately create extra weight down the line? As I always say, you don’t ever want to make a job doing one!

Avoiding Critical Business Plan Mistakes

So you have a business plan. You feel good about where you are going. You feel that you have a plan. But, have you taken care to make sure you avoid getting trapped by the most critical of the business planning mistakes?

Now don’t panic. While many people make these mistakes, they are easy to avoid.

Business Plan Mistake #1:

Not having a written plan! I’ve seen companies both large and small operating without a written plan, and they say, “Well I have a plan.” But that plan is in their head! Without a written plan they have nothing to keep them on track when circumstances and life take them over; they have nothing that shows their team what they need to do and why they are doing what they do; they are missing a key accountability tool! Plus, if you can’t write where you are going, you can’t speak it. And if you can’t speak where you are going, you can’t tell others where you are going. And without a team that helps you, you can’t get there (at least not easily). It is simply too big.

Business Plan Mistake #2:

Working from a plan that is more than one year old. We live in a world of great change and if you are operating from a plan that was written or revised more than 12-months ago, you haven’t likely made the changes necessary to adapt to the change that affects your business, your team, and your customers.

Business Plan Mistake #3:

Not following the plan you write. More business plans than I care to think about end up serving as a doorstop. Seriously, I consult with companies all over the country and I’ve walked into offices where the business plan is literally on the floor or on the corner of their desk covered in dust! Why do they write a plan and then not follow it? Many times the author of the plan doesn’t want their staff to know the plan is in existence because they are afraid of being held accountable for getting to where the plan says they are going.

Business Plan Mistake #4:

Not being specific enough. A business plan needs to be very clear in terms of what specific measurable results (SMRs) will be produced and the date by-when they will be produced, especially in stating the company objectives, sales goals, and margins. Without these specifics: a) it is nearly impossible to hold anyone accountable for reaching the objective b) you leave too much room for assumptions and misinterpretation and c) without specifics, you don’t know when you have reached your goal and are actually done!

Business Plan Mistake #5:

Making unrealistic assumptions. In every business plan there is a certain number of assumptions that have to be made. However, in making those assumptions you have to be as realistic as possible. For instance, if you assume in your plan that your potential market will expand by 10% and it realistically will only expand by approximately 5%, your entire plan is based upon bogus numbers. What good is a plan if that plan is nothing but a fantasy?

Business Plan Mistake #6:

Not understanding what the financials are telling you (and your investors). There is a reason why companies have financial officers to keep the company’s financial affairs in order. It simply takes a person with a head for financials to do them well. However, that doesn’t mean that the entire executive team doesn’t need to understand what the financial data is ultimately telling you and your investors! If you have to, ask for the financial information in terms that make sense to you. Don’t ever accept a financial analysis that you can’t explain to someone else!

As you can see, not one of these common business plan mistakes is insurmountable. Just be aware of their dangers and use these tips to avoid them. What’s next for you is just waiting for you to claim. So have fun and go for it!

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