Plan for your trip, wherever you are headed…

With summer around the corner, many of us will be packing for a trip.  First thing I usually do is consider where I am going, what the temperature will be and what I am likely to be doing.  Will I need fancy clothes or are we going casual?  Should I pack warmer clothing just in case?

It will often take me days to sort stuff out, while I lecture myself on how long we are going away for and to travel light.  By the time I leave, I’ve sorted and re-sorted what I want to bring.  I’ve also tried clothes on to make sure they fit (often a depressing moment)  

I’ve done my homework, researched my destination and hopefully packed a few things to cope with any changes in plan.   I also try to leave some room in the suitcase, you know… just in case I spot something I want to buy.  If it is a road trip, I've got out the map to see how to get there.

All this for just one week away. 

Yet when we want to embark on the journey of business ownership, a long term deal, we sometimes don’t have a plan at all.  We have no real idea of where we are heading or how to get there.   At best we have read a few books, jotted down some ideas on paper, and then we’re off.

Little wonder that when we reach the first roadblock, we’re totally stumped, thrown off track and haven’t a clue what to do next.  It is all too easy to get lost, diverted by what comes our way.

Then there’s the extra luggage.  The baggage you haven’t dealt with like that little voice questioning you, sowing seeds of self doubt.   It is hard to pack for a trip if your luggage is already half full.  It doesn’t leave room for much else. You have to empty it to make room for the new opportunities down the road.

In fact, just like flying, you pay for extra luggage. There can be a hefty price tag.

In other words, whether you are planning a trip or a business launch, it is key to houseclean before you set off.   Otherwise, those dust bunnies (mental or otherwise) will leap out and bite you.

Set your mindset on success.  Plan for what could go wrong.  Be ready for whatever could come your way. 

While travelling these days is not always fun, especially by air, make the most of the journey and be prepared to take the scenic route because who knows what you might find there. 

And yes, travel light.  Get rid of the baggage that could hold you back.

Are you passionate about your business?

Does your face light up when you talk about your business? 

Having a passion for what you are doing makes such a difference, especially given the number of hours you have to dedicate to your business for it to be successful.

Recently a young friend was telling me about her business plans, and ever -ready to offer assistance and foster entrepreneurship in young people, I was in there like a ‘dirty shirt’ making suggestions and offering support to help her make this happen.

So I arranged for her to meet a friend, a business expert and coach, thinking this would help her crystalize her ideas.  She arrived ready to talk about her business plans, and left with a totally different perspective, and lots to think about and consider.

Why?  Because unlike me who took her concept at face value, my friend challenged her on why she wanted to do this and asked probing questions about her life, her relationships and her passions.  

It quickly became clear that her business idea, was just that - an idea – one of many, and not really her true passion.  It was when her face lit up that we identified that this passion and a new relationship, was what she needed to pursue.

Because as we all know, ithout the passion and right people behind you, it is harder to make it work.

It was an interesting afternoon for all of us.  While my friend left with her head likely spinning with the options available to her; I realized that I need to learn to ask more questions and not just assume that the person knows what is best for her,  because perhaps she doesn’t.

NAVIGATING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS

This morning we had fun and games with the GPS in my car. I am not used to it, so thought I would test it when I was going on a trip when I knew where I was going.

This GPS machine is single-minded, unlike other GPS systems where the voice will say re-calculating the route, this one was stuck on one route to reach our destination and I didn’t want to go that way. So at every turn, it was trying to get me to turn around and follow directions. Quite irritating actually.

But it made me think of what it is like when you start a business and need to be flexible. There’s no one route to success, and for some of us, we’ve made some detours on the way. We need the GPS that will recalculate the route and allow for us to make mistakes, take the wrong turning but still end up at the desired destination.

There’s mixed views on whether you need a business plan to successfully launch a business. I see it like a big journey – few of us would set off on an exciting trip across Canada say, without first checking a map. So why would you set off on a business venture without doing the same.

I’m not saying you have to have a 80-page document, but when you put your goals down on paper, do some homework and give some thought to how you are going to build your business, you give yourself a head start on reaching your destination.

What do you think?

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

This summer my daughters wanted to start a vegetable garden and I was thrilled that they wanted to do so. Although in hindsight it has become a bit like the time they wanted to get a rabbit. “Oh yes, mummy we will look after it.” “Oh yes, mummy we will clean out the cage.” Right. Guess who ended up with the maintenance of the rabbit?

Likewise with the garden, the major watering and weeding seems to have landed with me. However, it has been an interesting experience and as I reflect on it – very similar to starting a business.

Being novice gardeners, we started by planting all sorts of vegetables and strawberries. I have to say, we rather leapt in and read up what we should do after we’d planted – not always a good idea. Just as in starting your business, it’s helpful to do some homework so you can determine what you need to do and when.

We had a broad selection of vegetables from tomatoes to broccoli to pumpkins. The first to take off were the radishes which is when I started to question our choices. You see none of us like radishes, so why are we growing them? Similarly when you start a business you tend to offer a broad range of services and products because you are not sure what will take off, what will prove popular. My lesson from this – don’t choose something you don’t like to do, or in our case, like to eat. It’s a waste of your time.

Watching our garden grow has also been a lesson on flexibility and not guessing at outcomes. Given our lack of knowledge, the weather and other tests of nature such as local critters who are also keenly interested in our produce, it has paid to diversify. You never can tell, especially when you are starting out what is going to fly. So as you offer a range of products, give it time, you will soon learn what works and you may even be surprised at what ends up being your niche market. And like the garden, it pays to cultivate and nurture your customers.

We planted the seeds too close together, making it impossible for some to grow which makes me think of how we can take on too much and squeeze too much into a day when we start, not realizing how much time all the different tasks will take. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Prioritize.

And as for the strawberries, they were a lost leader. The weeds grew up so strong around where we planted them that we were unable to discern which were weeds and which were the strawberry plants! The solution– we dug it all up. We’ll start over next year and be a tad more attentive as to what they look like. As you grow your business, there will be lost leaders too. The trick is to learn from your mistakes and move forward.

Next year I think we will be a little more selective and realistic about what we will plant. We know more about what works, what we like and have a better sense of the work involved. If you have just ended your first year of business, no doubt you will have grown too and be better prepared for the next season in the life of your business.

Tonight we are sampling our beans – one of the joys of gardening – be it a business or vegetables - you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.