Anatomy of a Concise Business Plan

Few business people would argue that a written plan is a must to stay focused on success, yet few actually go through the process of creating a plan, and even fewer actually use it as an ongoing tool and follow through with it’s complete implementation. If you’re wondering who those people are, they’re the mostly the really successful people you meet and aspire to be as successful as.
The following is the anatomy of what we call the SuQu Map. We strongly recommend you review and follow the five steps and use them with your team.

1) VISION: What’s your big game?

It’s not uncommon that between diapers and getting our business cards we give up on our big game, what we really want out of life and our business. The only thing that holds us back is our thoughts about ourselves and the life we live. To that point we must stop and take the time to redirect our thoughts of what our vision is for our future. Asking ourselves the question of what is my big game can help you redirect your future. Suspend what you think is reality and really go for it. What do you want your business and life to look like in the next 3-5 years?  What would get you leaping out of bed everyday? In order to achieve what you want you must be clear on where you are headed. This is your vision – your big game!

• Find a quiet place with no distractions and dream big.
• What does success look like to me?
• What is it that I love to do that lies in the heart of my dream business?
• What feelings do I want to experience as a result of my dream business?
• What am I going to build in 3 – 5 year horizon?

2) PURPOSE: What’s your unique strength and the big fat benefit to your client?

Most advisors out there that you are competing with are doing a good job for their clients. However, you bring something special to the table. It’s that something special that is your mission. It’s what you do better than any other advisor and it’s what your client’s tell you they get from working with you.

What are 3 elements of your advisory practice that you do brilliantly? What are the top 3 benefits your clients derive as a result of working with you? Your mission must combine these two elements to have perpetual impact. this is your sense of purpose…this is your mission.

3) KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: What do you want to keep score of?

KPI – living in the information age means we are flooded with what to do’s, how to do its etc. Thus, we must stay focused on the key elements that will drive our business. It is too easy to get distracted. It is imperative to identify the 4, 5 or 6 measurable goals we want to achieve this next year. These are your Key Performance Indicators.

Make sure each of your KPIs is SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound).

4) STRATEGIES: How are you going to win the game?

Every team that knows what the game is and what it takes to win needs to have clarity around how they are going to get the job done. They have a game plan explaining what needs to be executed and how.

This is your game plan – your overall strategy.

5) PROJECTS: What should be your 5 – 10 top initiatives?

Finally, the playbook (player assignments). If a brilliant plan is not executed, it is nothing. It will been an exercise in futility. To take it across the goal line the plays must be executed effectively with passion. Once you have your 5 – 10 top initiatives, you should break it down to actionable pieces with clearly defined accountabilities and timelines. A great plan needs to be outlined with specific tasks and assignments so that the entire team knows what needs to be done, by whom and by when.



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