Planning Step 1 - Core Values

First, know who you are. Identify your company’s core values. It's important to know what kind of company you want and these values will impact how your employees act. Our Core Values include Building The Best Team, Financial Soundness, and Being Active in the Community, among others.

Define these Core Values for your company as the first step in planning for 2007. Make sure that the rest of the work you do throughout the year supports these Core Values.

Thanks for reading.

Planning for 2007 Delivers Peace of Mind

Last night, I had the pleasure of dining out with my networking group. Of course, it was filled with the normal pleasantries associated with events of this type. But as everyone asked me how my business is doing, I was able to share with them many exciting opportunities we are planning for next year. It seemed to generate excitement from potential clients and important referral sources.

That got me thinking. I wouldn’t have been able to share those exciting plans with potential clients if we hadn’t gone through an organized planning process a few weeks ago. On top of that, when the planning exercise was completed, a strange sense of accomplishment, organization, and peace -- yes, peace, or maybe it's peace of mind -- came over me. Having reviewed this past year and put plans in place for next year allowed us to align our staff and share our goals with the entire company, ensuring everyone is working toward the same objectives.

Finally, I know planning can be intimidating for many small business owners. But it's not complicated and doesn’t require any special methods. So, as this is the time for sharing and giving, I’m going to spend the next couple of days sharing some tips and techniques to get your 2007 planning done in time to make sure you are relaxed and feeling great about 2007. Check the Blog each day for another step in a simple and organized 2007 Planning Process that any business owner can follow.

Thanks for reading.