Ugh. You’ve probably heard it from every startup and small business advisor out there, “You need a business plan.”
When I first got this advice, I immediately thought of all the ways I could put this task off: I could design my logo first. Then I could figure out online payments. Then I could clean out my garage…
I imagined that “planning” was like writing a school essay on that book I didn’t read - and put it off until I had no choice but to pull an all-nighter to get it done.
Well, it turns out that business planning isn’t like writing an essay - I was dead wrong. Business planning is fun and simple, like prepping for your next holiday. Figuring out how you’re going to find that perfect deserted beach, pina colada in hand, is hardly ever a chore, and business planning doesn’t have to be either.
Don’t swallow that obsolete idea that a business plan needs to be a long, formal document. Planning isn’t that way anymore. Instead of an essay that you need to submit just to get a pass, planning is the perfect guide that gets you and your business where you want to go. It’s Google Maps plus an experienced concierge guiding you to success, instead of the hard-to-read, improperly folded maps stuffed into the seat pockets of your car.
Today, I’m going to walk you step-by-step through the business planning process and teach you how you can get your plan done in under an hour. It’s easy, I promise. But first, just a few words on why you should spend a little time planning.