You’ve heard this so many times, that you may not want to read past the first sentence but I suggest you do.  Have a business plan and work it.  I’m not talking about a 30 – 50 page plan that you would write if you were looking for venture capital money.  I’m talking about a realistic outline of what you need to do to succeed in your business. 

Companies get themselves in trouble in two different ways.  The first is they don’t have a plan.  The second is that they don’t work the plan.  Instead, it just sits there in the bottom left hand drawer. 

Not only do you need to work the plan but you also need to constantly update and modify the business plan if something isn’t working.  If you know where you want to go, if you know what it takes to get there and you follow the map or plan, you will arrive. 

But if you are floundering every single business day being wishy-washy, not knowing what to expect from your employees, the odds are you won’t reach your business goals; or even worse, have your business fail completely. 

I know what it’s like out there.  I talk with CEOs, presidents and business owners all day long.  I’m hearing from most of them that business conditions are less than desireable.

But if you sit down and analyze what you need to do and be very specific about who needs to do what, you can’t miss with business success. 

Here’s the perfect example of not following the plan:  When I was growing up, the big thing for boys to do was to put together model boats and airplanes.  The more complicated the model, the models with the most parts, and the kids who could follow the directions, ended up with something they could be proud of.  Maybe even hang the model airplane from the ceiling or place the model boat on a special shelf in their room.  Kids who couldn’t follow the directions, ended up with a lot of spare parts and something that was hidden in the attic or basement.  I bet some of those guys who followed directions still have and are proud of the models they built. 

Business doesn’t just happen.  Successful business people see the vision, outline it, communicate it to their employees and make it happen.