Firstly, it appears that I'm never going to actually catch up as originally planned, so I'll just try and keep up to date from here on in...
Now, everyone knows that you need some plans for a business - at whatever level of detail. You obviously need to have an idea of what your business is going to do or be - or you won't have a business. Then you need an actual 'business plan' - the one that tells you where you're starting, where you want to get to and at least some idea of how to get from here to there. On top of that, you need some type of marketing plan - how are people going to know that your business exists?
Then there's the one that I don't think I've heard anyone put into words before - although that may just be that they've said it and I've missed it/misinterpreted it/whatever... And it particularly applies if you are planning a home-based business - not so much if you have a shop/office/warehouse. The 'how on earth am I going to stop working on my business' plan! This is the one that sets down how you plan to avoid working every waking minute on your business. It sounds easy - and unnecessary - but, believe me, it's not!
Even on this blog, you'll see that I have planned to NOT work, particularly to go out for a bike ride, a number of times. So far, I've made it out once - I had to go to the bank to collect a new card and took the opportunity to ride the bike. That's IT. The total number of rides I've done... And yes, the fact that it's crappy winter weather has impacted on that, but the fact is that the main reason I have not got out more is that there is an urgency to GET THINGS DONE - software, planning, research, reading, documentation, etc etc etc. Combined with the pressure that I know that version 2 of the product is going to be much easier to sell than version 1, meaning that I can't really justify stopping writing code yet.
After the NEIS application was put in, I promised myself 2 days off (as this had been written/collated over the weekend) - so, driving down to put in the application, I get a migraine. 1 Nurofen capsule and 4 Panadol tablets later, I'm starting to feel that my head is almost normal again - but that's all of Tues used up. This morning, which is supposed to be the best day in the outlook weather-wise, I'm still not feeling really ok, so don't feel up to riding... So another day of my 2 days off is effectively wasted...
So, silly as it seems, if you go into business for yourself make sure you have a plan to NOT work - which includes details of when and what you are going to do instead (no, I don't mean eat and sleep, I mean bike rides, visits to the park/zoo, window shopping, coffee with friends, other family time) - AND STICK TO IT!
All the plans you make for your business need regular if not constant review as circumstances change. Make sure this one is included - it's not going to help your health and wellbeing if it's stuck on a shelf out of sight gathering dust.
So, the only thing I need to do now is to write my own one of these and put it into practice - wish me luck!
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