The Power (and the Party) is in the Plan

It's the new year time to take a look at my business plan. I have to admit this not on the top of my list of tasks I was looking forward to attacking. So after doing almost everything else on my January to do list I pull up my business plan. I had to be honest with myself it was time for me to really evaluate my mission and my operation plan to make sure that it is in line with who I am and what my business is now. Over the last year I have grown a lot as a person and as a business owner and needed to make sure, no matter how painful, that my business plan reflected that.

So I brewed a hot pot of coffee and pulled up my plan. I was surprised how energized I felt after reading the Executive Summary. I was able to see where I was, what I had accomplished and how I wanted to grow. It was amazing! Here I thought it would be like going to the dentist, painful but necessary, and it turned out to be just what my business needed, just what I needed.

Before pulling out my plan I though t I need tot make a huge change in the direction and mission of my business. I was so focused on what I needed to do and what I didn't get done, I didn't really see all of my accomplishments. After being so focused on the negative I lost track of all of the cool things I had done last year. Like my friend and life coach Jessica Sabatini told me, I forgot to do one of the most important steps towards reaching my goals, to celebrate my success.

So one pot of coffee, a party playlist and at least 5 dance breaks later I feel like I rediscovered my business; the excitement and energy I felt when I started. I can see how great J2 will be with as long as I keep my plan current and stick to it.

Take a look at your plan and really use it as a tool to help you take stock, as a road map for your business not just a document necessary to qualify for financing. Have fun with it and watch your business grow.