Business planning is an essential part of any business. It should set the direction of the business in ways that can be readily followed.

Yet, all too often it becomes a time consuming task that doesn’t seem relate to the day to day workings of the business.

Does your Business plan work for you?
Do you follow it and report on its achievements?
If not why not?

If your plan isn’t working for you, chances are the problems are not in the program or reference material you used but something that can’t be read or viewed. What’s missing is the person to person help to focus on your business and to challenge your assumptions.

That missing link is a mentor. Someone who has an independent insight into what you are trying to do. Someone who can challenge you to think beyond your present knowledge and ideas and help you clarify and prove that what you’re trying to do is possible.

A mentor is not driven by a program or a package. A mentor is driven by what you see as the future for your business and helps you work towards that goal.

So what can a mentor do to help you prepare a business plan that really works?

Ask yourself:

• Could I benefit from someone with an open mind and a fresh way of thinking about the challenges of my business?
• Would I like guidance and support on time and people management and personal goal setting?
• Am I writing a business plan that really means something to me and to others when it’s finished?
• Could I use someone to help me with my financial management?
• Could someone without a vested interest help me think through the best marketing strategies for my company?
• Would I find referrals to other skilled professionals helpful?
• Am I interested in extending my networks?
• Is this about me?…..“If you always do what you’ve always done… You’ll always get what you always got” or do I want more than that. Am I prepared for someone to put forward challenges that make me think and act beyond what I currently do?

Here’s an example of how a mentor helped a small business solve a problem.

The company wasn’t sure if it wanted to continue to grow organically or to diversify into other commercial opportunities. The reason for this challenge was based on 2 factors

1. The business was unpredictable and seasonal. Down time meant skilled staff had low productivity for many months a year and then when the work came their way it was very hectic.
2. An opportunity to buy a business in an unrelated industry seemed too good to be true.

Through the help of the mentor the business was guided through a series of activities to qualify the opportunity. As a result it was realised the opportunity was in fact too good to be true. Reasons being;

• The market research showed the new business was in a fully matured market and success for a newcomer was risky. Right idea but wrong timing.
• The new venture would have fragmented the business structure and caused the owner to change his focus without having the necessary senior management to back him up.
• Research also showed that there were more opportunities to exploit within the existing industry where the company could leverage its skills and credibility.

The solution wasn’t to buy another business but to invest in the improvement of the existing one by clarifying their future direction and working through the barriers to success.

What can you do?

Take an honest look at what your business planning means to you and the business. If it’s not meeting expectations, then maybe now is the time to introduce a fresh approach to your planning. Perhaps a mentor who works with you to meet your real challenges is the answer you seek.

Ross Vickery