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As discussed last week.... Impactful is defined as… having a powerful effect or making a strong impression. Virtually every business owner or leader strives to insure their individual enterprise reflects this definition in the marketplace. When this status is achieved, chances are very high that success will soon follow.
What are some key factors that come to play in making a business “impactful”? Experience teaches us that there are four (4) key corners in this effort: communication, environment, skills and planning.
Planning is important. So important that regretfully it is not always done properly. Impactful businesses
- live their vision;
- know their mission;
- map out their strategies;
- understand their objectives; and,
- have results-proven action plans.
You can’t simply “show up” and expect positive results to appear. It takes precise planning to gain the return you seek. One time CEO of Sigma Research, Richmond J. Hoch, said this about planning, “People think planning turns a company into a bunch of gray men marching in lockstep. But planning makes things possible. It can drive you through those ignorance barriers and force you to come to terms with what you don’t know.” You cannot build an impactful business without a plan.
A mistake that many business professionals make is to build a plan on volume versus building a plan on results. The process in building the plan in essence becomes more important than what the plan contains. To build that impactful business plan you need to answer only 5 key questions:
- What are you building?
- Why does your business exist?
- What will you measure as it pertains to the results, so that you know whether or not you are successful?
- How will you go about building the business you desire?
- What will this process demand in regards to the work that must be done?
The content of this process will of course demand thought, analysis and a great focus on many other factors; but, the end result will be beneficial. You know you have reached the pinnacle when you can explain your mission in 10 words or less and your objectives, strategies and action plans are concise, time sensitive bullet points that enable anyone walking in off the street to understand what you are seeking to accomplish.
Impactful businesses also always polish their plans. They simply do not take last year’s goals and put a new date on them. They examine vision, mission, objectives, strategies and actions plans so that each fits what the current needs demand. Are the action plans really achieving the objectives? They drop low priority items and insure that every area is specific, measurable and clearly defines all levels of accountability. Further, they also share those plans so that insight is gained regarding whether their plan is really strategic, contains critical initiatives and reflects the best thought of all parties. When all is said and done, impactful businesses win.
If you truly desire to have an impactful business, one that clearly has a strong effect or makes a strong impression, be sure that you have the “4 Corners” covered. Unleash your power.
Be inspired by the finish line.
Remember nothing is ever accomplished on the sidelines.
Do your part.
How committed are you?
Will you give it all you have?
It takes heart so tap into your creative juices and build the impactful business you deserve.
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