Five-step plan for a better business

Q: How do I write a business plan?

A: Andrew Smith - facilitator, business coach and developer of the Accelerated Planning Technique system - shies away from traditional business plans. He suggests a five-step procedure which should be completed in one day.

* Get a clear idea of what your business would look like if it were to be successful. "Most people ... think the first thing they need to do is set some objectives but really that's just a way of keeping score. What you need to know is: if I were to make money from this business, what value would I need to deliver and who would I need to deliver it to."

* Devise a systems approach, as there is every likelihood of drowning in detail. "What systems and infrastructure would I need to have in place to address all of these wonderful things that I've imagined."

* Establish priorities. What should they be, because only so much can be achieved immediately due to time, financial constraints, etc.

* Develop controllable steps to action. "Most people are good at thinking in conceptual language but when it comes to specific things to do they need a little bit of training and a bit of thought on this one. They need to describe things in steps they can actually do."

* Devise a system to make you achieve your steps, block off the escape hatches so you remain committed to it.

A more detailed explanation of how the five steps can be achieved can be found at a free online seminar at the Accelerated Planning Technique website.

Send your queries to Mentor: Ellen_Read@nzherald.co.nz

Answers will be provided by Business in the Community's "Mentor" programme.