Planning Begins With the Real YOU

Often times on our first "get to know each other to see if this is a fit" call, new clients go straight into their idea or vision and while they are talking I am listening for their motives or intent. I am attempting to decipher if their values align with my values. What do I value? I value making a difference whether it be big or small and reaching for something bigger than we are. You get the idea. 

Therefore, I don't want to jump right into the mechanics and components of writing the business plan. I want to connect heart to heart. I want to join you in your efforts toward greatness. I used to think passion was enough. It's not. Passion is an emotion and when the dog days of running your own business hit, and trust me they will, passion can get snuffed out by other emotions, like fear or even anger.

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You Are the Next Great Entrepreneur

I love these Kauffman Sketchbooks! Here is another inspiring one. I have been thinking of ways to leverage my time so that I can help more great entrepreneurs like you. A couple of months ago, I earned a certification to teach Start, Run, and Grow Your Business through Palo Alto Software and am working feverishly to begin facilitating via webinars. I hope to be up and running by next month. 

In addition to that, grab the new download, Divine Design 101: Starting a Passion-Based Business. It coaches you through the biblical process I use in business planning. So if you sense, as I do, that it is time to act, get up and get moving - the market is waiting for your solutions. Believe it. You are the next great entrepreneur. 

Plan and Execute Like Noah

I received this devotional from Today God is First. It was too good not to share. I wish we all could plan and execute like Noah!

Noah's Building Plan
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman
Tuesday, April 27 2010

"Noah did everything just as God commanded him" (Gen 6:22).

When God chooses to do something on the earth He uses a man or woman to accomplish it. It is a partnership that is very one sided. God got the worst part of the deal.

God got to a very bad place with the human race. He decided to start over. He was going to wipe out the entire population and begin afresh. He chose one man to place His entire strategy around. Can you imagine that? God placed His entire plan around one man. Why? Because He could trust him. The Bible says Noah did everything just as God commanded him. He didn't argue with God. He didn't take short cuts. He listened and he obeyed.

Who was this man Noah? "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God" (Gen 6:9-10). When it came time to execute God's plan, He chose Noah to build a big boat. However, Noah had no idea what a boat was or how to build one. So, God told him how to build it. He gave him the dimensions; the height, width, space requirements - everything he needed to complete the task.

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I Rediscovered the Benefits of Business Planning

I love business planning not only because of the result (the plan), but also because of what you learn in the process. Recently, as I began to re-work my own business plan through collaborative planning with my cohorts at the Faith and Philanthropy Institute, I realized that I had abandoned the vision of Business Write Now. Not only do I help organizations find their "voice" and write their roadmap to missional success, but the vision is to go a step further and help mission-driven organizations fill the gap between serving and funding with earned income strategies.   As I have personally discovered, here are six benefits of business planning.

1. Business Planning enables you to re-focus on the big picture. You can identify where you are going and the necessary steps to get you there.
2. Business planning helps you become proactive rather than reactive. You no longer have to be torn between finances and philanthropy.
3. Business planning can help you discover other earned income strategies, hence decreasing your reliance on outside donors.
4. Business planning can identify costs that need to be cut or redirected so you can have greater social impact.
5. Business planning can help you determine if you have the right people in the right positions for optimal execution.
6. Business planning produces the Business Roadmap which is a viable, executable plan to missional and financial success.

It sure is nice to get back on track.

Save 50% on a One Page Plan for Your Business or Ministry

Have been thinking of starting a social enterprise or ministry? Have you barely gotten off the ground and see the need to create a new plan or re-visit an existing one?  From now until May 31, 2009, we are offering our Tier 1 business planning service for half off the regular price.  For only $49, you will be involved in a process that helps you voice, write, and implement a viable, fluid roadmap to financial and social success. Contact Us now for more information!