Have you ever noticed how chaotic things can get when you don’t have a plan? My husband and I have been traveling a lot this year – some work, some pleasure – and for the most part, we make plans of the things we plan on doing from the sights we want to see to the food we are going to eat (we are BIG on finding the best restaurants that represent the state’s “staple” foods to try them out).
There was the time we went to New York and made sure to map out our days so we could make the most of our time there- for those of you who have never been there is a LOT to do in NYC! Every day we knew where we were going and what we were doing. In New York, it felt like we did EVERYTHING there was to do there (even though we know it is literally impossible to do so!). We definitely made the most of our time there!
Then there was the time we went to Nashville, Tennessee and didn’t plan as much as we did when we went to New York. The result? In Nashville, there were times when we were aimlessly walking around trying to find something to do because we didn’t plan this trip as much – it was more impromptu. While it is fun to go on an impromptu trip, we felt like we could have done more while we were there.
Has this ever happened to you before where you didn’t plan as much as you could have and ended up having a good time but felt like you could have done more to make the most out of your experience?
How about when you are planning in your business?
Have you ever moved forward with a project, launch or event (especially a trade show) without a clear vision and didn’t get the results that you know you could have generated if you made a more thorough plan?
If the answer is yes, here are 4 steps you can take to make a thorough plan:
- Review your current situation and look at your goals
- Map out the steps that you need to take to reach your goals
- Execute those steps
- Analyze your results.
(BONUS STEP). Repeat!
Remember that having a clear vision with a plan (for anything you do in your business) is key to the success of the initiative. To maximize your plan, take some time for deep thought before you map out your strategy and make time for reflection after the plan has come to completion.
Creating Memorable Impressions For Your Brand 