THE
UMPTEENTH BUSINESS PLAN
Why you can never do too many
I
just did my umpteenth Business Plan and discovered some new insights.
Every time I go through the process I add a dimension that had
not been there before. It's like slowly peeling back layers to
get to my core passion, my core involvement, and my exact place
to be in service.
Let
your niche find you
If
you niche is too broad, no one will find you. We put great effort
into selecting and defining a niche. At the beginning of creating
a business you mentally and emotionally search for and find your
perfect target audience. But in the long run, you don't find your
niche, your niche finds you.
Here's
how. Notice the times you are in service that you feel the most
successful. You may have effortlessly written an e-book, or brilliantly
coached a client through their process into a great "ah-ha."
What organically comes up in your process of serving that people
are asking you to provide? It may be a new skill you discover,
it may be a new need you must meet. Let the needs of your current
clients and customers define what you offer. This is how a niche
finds you. It is a combination of what you love to do and what
people love to receive from you.
Be
patient with yourself. The discovery of your perfect niche may
develop over time. Just remain aware of what continues to show
up in your business and your heart.
How
long do you serve one customer?
One
of the aspects I saw more clearly in creating this business plan
was exactly how long I can serve one person. Do I coach them for
2 months, 6 months, 9 months? Then what happens? What do I have
in place to continue to offer to those people I have worked with
1:1. If I don't find something, I have to go find more clients.
It's much more economical to continue to build relationships with
those who already know you and like what you are doing.
How
long do you serve one customer and what can you do to extend that
time?
How
has your business changed?
I'm
not the same person I was even a year ago. My business is not
the same. My target audience has changed. That means my actions
have to change. I need to reevaluate my products. I may have to
revise or add to my services.
A
huge shift came for me when I realized that basically I am a teacher.
At the core of what I do is a love of learning and the joy of
sharing it to others. That allowed me to make a business plan
that schedules more teleclasses to be made into digital products.
It allowed me to stop offering services that were pulling me off
track. It helped me write stronger copy for my home page and my
coaching pages.
And
don't forget to add passive income sources to your business plan.
Create home study courses and e-books that can be purchased on
line while you're off doing something else.
Look
for what your clients and customers need next and expand your
business to accommodate them.
Who
is your competition?
When
the business plan asked me to list my competition I thought, "there
is no such thing as competition, we are each unique." But
the form was asking me to find my uniqueness by looking at what
other people in my field did, and write down what made me different,
how I stood out, how my products and services were unique. It
wanted me to identify what benefits I offered that others did
not. With that information I can craft my copy and content to
emphasize those unique benefits and appeal more
to my target audience.
What
makes you stand out from the crowd?
The
Umpteenth Business Plan
Each
time you complete a business plan it will elicit different answers
based on where your awareness is at the time and what circumstances
have come up in your business since the last time you wrote one.
Sometimes, it's as simple as finally being ready to hear or pay
attention to one aspect that you were not ready for before. That
new willingness will draw forth fresh responses from you.
A
business plan also helps you expand your vision. Where do you
want to be? What do you want your business to look like? How do
you plan to get there? Some things in your business plan may not
change, but each time you go through the process to complete one
you with change your awareness, recommit to your vision and take
a giant step forward.
Whether
it's your first, your fifth, or your umpteenth business plan,
schedule time each year to see where you are and where you want
to be. Then create and adjust for success.
©
Cara Lumen 2007
www.caralumen.com
WANT
TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-MAGAZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as
long as you include this bio with it:
Cara
Lumen, MA, The Vision Distiller, helps you explore your infinite
possibilites for success. She teaches you to create a profitable
presence on the internet with a minimum investment by using time,
energy, information, and imagination. Learn how you can become
a Success Magnet at www.caralumen.com
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