Each year, millions of people worldwide try to materialize their business’ visions. They commence own entrepreneurial journeys and projects hoping that their ideas, intentions and skills will be sufficient for success. Some high expectations, financial resources, and relationships get shattered as a result of poor prior planning and budgeting. Like everything else in life, startup decisions are usually emotionally made without proper analysis and supporting systems in place.
Young entrepreneurs jump into their new ventures feeling energised, motivated, and optimistic about the unlimited opportunities their business can provide. Unfortunately, excitement will last and support their big vision only in a short run, especially if the business does not perform well.
Time commitments, health, money and ideas once used poorly, and their position damaged, are hard if ever regained and restored. Feelings of disappointment and fear, blame game and “excusitis’’ typically diminish all good intentions and positiveness.
What is the only solution?
When you start your entrepreneurial journey, the most important thing is to start from your ultimate goal or outcome that you are passionate about it. Then draw the plan, visualise and anticipate all the necessary steps that will move you forward. It is crucial to remember where you heading and never and under no circumstances abandon your plans and dreams. By always looking for solutions and focusing deeply on this issue, you will regain clarity in your thinking and prevent all other undesired obstacles. In the event, they appear, you will have preventive actions and B plans to overcome just about anything that can temporarily cause you difficulties.
Your plan is an ever-changing blueprint
Your plan is the blueprint for your business success and something that no one can design better than you. This is a business system that has to ensure that your business rewards you and your employees for all the hard work you have put into it. It serves as guidance and set the rules for each party involved. Your business system creates opportunities, identifies strengths, and utilises full potential in your business operations. It also creates predictable results and uniformity in your business dealings. It is replicable and repeatable – day in and day out – and designed to add value and increase efficiency.
Your business system should not be expensive and complicated which is one of the biggest myths of modern entrepreneurship, but rather something easy to follow and implement. This is the one of the major reasons behind small and medium business failures. Micro enterprises do not emphasize the importance of proper planning and lack skills and training in this area. They often think about the planning process as something with no relevance to them, as something that is not required, compulsory and, therefore, unnecessary. If you share their opinions, you are definitely on your way to business and financial hardships because you don’t know where you are heading. There is absolutely no possible way to plan and measure your business success and to adjust it if and when needed.
Well-defined and planned business systems are therefore essential. It’s the simple explanation as to why your business exists, how it operates to be profitable, and what everyone’s role in it is. This is how you are supposed to do things here. You must not compromise on quality and consistency with only exceptions if it is for betterment and improvement. Be unique and passionate about it. Remember that no one cares more than you and, therefore, no one can put more energy and passion that you do. Write down on paper or if possible, find a voice recorder. Once you are happy with your draft document, share it with your people. Get their approvals, their energy, and commitment. Once you communicate it clearly, you will have most of them supporting your vision and helping you in the right direction. You will have their minds, spirits, hearts fully engaged and united.
How many details you need to provide and come up with will depends on specifics and nature of your business. How many that is regarding words and pages, I do not know! It could be anything from 1 to 1,000. Seriously, this is something that you should feel comfortable about, something that you are passionate and proud of and something that will serve and encourage you to create more and become more.
Document everything
Document everything that can be documented. Always remember the old saying: “Do it once, enjoy and reap the reward forever”. This should be your guiding motivation. Does it once, test it and if everything works out according to your plans, share it with as many people in your organisation as you can. Listen to their opinions and insights, but explain what are the advantages of using systems and procedures, and why it is necessary for you to implement the best practices in your organisation.
To recap, the main idea of creating the business system is the greater sense of uniformity, quality improvement, easier management and delegation, effective training and predictability of business results. If efficient, your business system will ensure that operations run smoothly even if you are not present. Think about it carefully, design it with laser precision, and remember this is your life, your business, your future – no one cares more about your life and business than you do. Make it easier and reap the rewards!