Business start-ups, entrepreneurs, business plans – to plan or not to plan – oh my; that is the question we work on in this weekly summary by presenting 11 posts that look at different ways and manners that small business can benefit – or not – from a business plan and process.
As a certified One Page Business Plan® consultant I found many of them interesting in their approach. Several of the writers bemoan the process, the length of the plan, or even the lack of a plan’s utility to real situations. In the end, I think the last post hits the nail on its head – there are many ways to fail in business – make your effort at failure dramatic – if you want to fail, that is. Enjoy.
Help Me Answer This Deep Question From a Young Entrepreneur – in this post Tim posits the uncertainty that results from a certain planned action and queries if that means he is not ready. Good for those planning to plan. Tim Berry at Planning Startup Stories.com.
The Heat is On: Summer Scheduling – in this post Rachel discusses the challenges of setting goals – and accomplishing them during the 3rd quarter summer season. Great read for work at Moms – and Dads, as well as any small business looking to keep focused. Rachel Blaufeld at Startup Nation – Small Business Expert Blogs.com.
Getting Your Freelancing Business Started: Make Sure You’re Not Doomed Before You Launch – this post discusses a freelancers efforts to organize and establish her business. Good lessons to be learned from the process she followed. Erin Griggs at Freelancers University.com.
Five business planning myths you need to forget – Here are several items you should review, especially if you are thinking: “I have a real clear idea of my new business, I don’t need a plan.” Alan Gleeson at Smarta.com.
A Harvard Professor Analyzes Why Start-Ups Fail – While not about business planning this post certainly highlights a number of proven reasons why start-up fails. Great research we can all benefit by. Jessica Bruder at You’re the Boss, the New York Times.com.
Great Businesses Don’t Start With a Plan – This post describes research that validates success with entrepreneurs’ on business start-ups usually do not start with a business plan; positing that heart is more significant. Great read and inspiring. Anthony K. Tjan, Harvard Business Review Blog.com.
Risks and Contingencies in a Business Plan – This is a short little blog with illustration (no not the mouse and the cheese) of how things can go wrong in a start-up. Howard Greenstein, WickedStart.com.
Business planning is pointless – Not sure why the author thinks this, but perhaps he believes that those who succeed without planning (42%) should be the pattern for the rest of businesses. Ron at bookbuzz.biz.
Seven Ways to Create (and keep) a One Page Business Plan – I wrote this post to describe how easy it is to create an actionable plan – as long as you act on it and keep it current. Warren at TheExecutiveSuite.com/blog.
Helping your business to fail faster! – This writer talks a bit about how you can fail – even with a plan, by not doing effective research, although he admits with social networks and the Internet more is available for research. Interesting twist. Neil at Volcanic.co.uk.
Seven Fool-Proof Ways of Going Broke – in this post the author, as contrarian, lists a number of ways to fail in your business. Good advice to those who want to fail. Maybe some large corporations have been listening too much? Dan Boudreau at RiskBuster.com.
Related: Become A Better Manager: 10 Inspirational Management And Leadership Blogs
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