Ever found yourself creating a grand business plan only to completely ignore it a month later? You’re not alone. Most plans fail—not because they’re bad—but because they’re unrealistic, overwhelming, or just plain boring. Let’s change that.
If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I even bother planning when nothing goes according to it?” I get it. But here’s the thing: strategic planning isn’t about predicting the future; it’s about creating a roadmap to guide your decisions and keep you moving forward.
So, how do you make a plan you’ll actually use?
1. Start with Your Big Why
Before you start writing down goals, get clear on your why. Why are you building this business or nonprofit? What impact are you aiming to create? Your why will serve as the anchor for everything else. Without it, your plan is just a list of nice ideas.
📌 Action Step: Write down your big why and keep it visible—on your desk, your phone, or your favorite notebook.
2. Break It Down into Bite-Sized Goals
Ambitious goals are exciting, but they can also be paralyzing. Instead of “grow my revenue by 50%,” break that down into manageable pieces. What actions will lead to that growth? Focus on smaller steps like increasing lead generation, launching a new product, or improving customer retention.
📌 Action Step: Take your big goal and divide it into monthly or even weekly milestones.
3. Make It Actionable (and Calendar It)
A plan without actionable steps is just wishful thinking. Take each of those bite-sized goals and map them onto your calendar. Be specific about when and how you’ll tackle them.
For example, if you’re improving customer retention, your calendar might look like this:
Week 1: Survey your existing clients.
Week 2: Implement feedback.
Week 3: Launch a client appreciation initiative.
📌 Pro Tip: Time-block specific tasks to avoid getting sidetracked.
4. Build in Accountability
Whether it’s a business partner, mentor, or accountability group, share your plan with someone who’ll check in on your progress. Knowing someone is watching can be a powerful motivator.
📌 Action Step: Schedule regular check-ins (weekly or monthly) with your accountability partner or team.
5. Adjust as You Go
Your plan isn’t set in stone, and that’s okay. Things will come up, and priorities might shift. The key is to regularly revisit your plan and make adjustments to stay aligned with your goals.
📌 Pro Tip: Set aside 30 minutes every week for a quick plan review.
Why This Works
When you approach strategic planning as a flexible, actionable guide rather than a rigid rulebook, it becomes easier to stick to. You’re not trying to control the future—you’re preparing yourself to make intentional decisions when it happens.
So, go ahead: grab your notebook (or open that Google Doc) and start planning. Your future self will thank you.
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