So we wonder:

* Is your perception about where you are going correct?
* Should I trust others?
* Am I interpreting the economic conditions correctly?
* Is my business headed the right direction?

What happens when others tell you that you aren’t making progress? It is confusing! Over the next three blog posts, I’m going to share with you the three things that help you get clear about where you are going and keep you going in spite of the confusion around us.

Remember our definition of a business vision?

A business vision describes your dream. It creates a path to living your ideal life. Your business vision incorporates the proven elements of financial goals, the relationship you want with your customer, and the business that you’re in to make your future clear to you. These three elements that create your business success strategy

You refine your business vision by completing this proven three-step process. So I look forward to sharing with you key information about your business vision in the next three posts.

Today I talk about Financial Goals.

A business vision states your revenue targets. Businesses are profit-driven enterprises. Your stakeholders

or spouse expect you to make money. You want to make money.

You can get clear about your financial and revenue goals but including the following elements into your business vision:

• Revenue targets must be specific. Your business vision is clear when you state your revenue expectations. Example: A small business professional wants revenue billings to grow to $500,000 per year over the next two years.

• Revenue targets must be time-bounded. Your business vision is clear when you document when you’ll achieve

it. There must be a specific time period. Example: A certified public accountant (CPA) wants to increase payroll revenues to 50% of her revenue stream in two years.

• Revenue targets can be stated in growth terms. Your business vision is clear when define your success by how fast you grow. Example: A small business owner will grow her business by 25% each year for the next five years.

Do you need all three of these things in your vision? No, using all three will turn your vision into an academic thesis. Brevity is best. Action is better than documentation. But spend time thinking through a potential response to each item. Then choose at least one that you want to include in your business vision.

What would I like you to do?

1-       Pour out what you want to do into your success journal. Earlier articles shared how to brainstorm on how to create information that can be used to form or redirect your business dream. If you haven’t started a journal yet, start today.

2-       Set-up a time to complete this exercise or update your revenue goals For me, its next Tuesday. I’m back in town on Monday and fly out again on Wednesday.

3-       Don’t worry—your business vision doesn’t need to be shared with those outside of your business. This is your private commitment to yourself.

You might be getting tense right now. Your mind might start arguing with you that doubling your business can’t be done. You may feel stressed by remembering your failed businesses of the past.

So why write down your vision? It documents in black and white what you want. There’s freedom in seeing your goal on paper. It will bring you passion to see your revenue targets achieved so that you can live the dream life you outlined in your success journal.

For me, its Saturday night and I’m at the airport writing this post before I catch a red eye from San Francisco to Washington DC . Ok, I’m losing a bit a sleep so my job isn’t helping me emotionally at this very moment. But I was thinking as I was driving to the airport about the wonderful aspects of this job. I’m so pleased to be able to work with my clients, I’m so excited that I’m able to teach and share with them. Again, I’m losing a bit of sleep but my job is a dream job.

How can you create a job you love?

Here are 5 steps that help you in developing your future.

1. Focus on What, not How: This seems a bit odd. But it is true. You need to dream. You need to stop listening to others who have seen you fail. You need to stop the negative chatter in your head. There are people out there who need the product or service you provide. You are geographically located to support them. You are positioned because of interest, skill and desire. You can be grateful for how you are positioned to help support needs. The HOW will take care of itself. If I focus on the What, I will create the plan and have the passion to break through the challenges and the weariness that keep me from accomplishing the what. Get clear of what you want.

2. You need BHAG’s: These are defined as Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals. This is a catalyst. Why just hope for things you can accomplish in your own strength. Let’s hope for influence. Let’s pray for impact. Let’s perceive the astonishing things that you could potentially do through your businesses.

3. Brainstorm your key values or interests: List how you will act in your ideal business e.g. customer service, integrity, innovative, flexible or not flexible e.g. if focused on safety or compliance. This captures your core beliefs. I was talking today at lunch with a women. She got so focused on how of a new business opportunity. Her webmaster created the marketing for the new business. It took this business woman two years to realize that her core interest of speaking wasn’t present on the website. Don’t get so focused on the new business and what others believe it should be and lose what you value the most about yourself.

4. Create a Vision/Picture board. You think in pictures, not words. Many business people create a collage of things they want their business to be and more importantly who they want to be.

5. Rehearse/Vivid dreaming: Wake up in the morning thinking of what you can do because of the interests, skills, and talents that you have. Think of what you want to be. Think of where you will be. Is this with your grandchildren because your business has provided you the financial resources? Is this next to a golf community since your business is profitable? Wake up and think about what you want as your dreams. It isn’t selfish. It will clarify what you want your future to be.

What are your BHAG thoughts, and dreams? I would love to hear from you.

Why?

• Writing down what you want will move you from confusion to clarity

• Seeing what you want will improve your confidence in your ability to achieve your business dream

• Reflecting on your vision will give let you motivation to overcome your challenges

Stop and write down what you want financially, spiritually, emotionally as a result of your business. If you need to doodle or draw a picture of your future, do so. If you need to walk around the block and let your thoughts float to the surface, put on your tennis shoes now and head outdoors.

How do I use this process? I got a request this morning. It was a big one. I would need to substantially change my client commitments. I wasn’t perfectly suited for the job and so I got a bit nervous. So I pictured myself with this new contract. I saw different ways that this would allow me to move forward in other areas too. This boost of energy allowed me to brainstorm on better positioning my experience. It gave me energy to send out a quick proposal. No analysis paralysis. No painful self-reflection. Quick action. All I did was follow the process. Write. See. Reflect.

Powerful Tip: Small changes can produce big results.

Business Plan

The five-step process in your Personal Business Plan will show you how to shake off these negative feelings and move into your future. The five-step personal business plan process is:

1. Create Your Business Vision

2. Clarify Your Business Mission

3. Construct Business Success Factors

4. Compose Business Results

5. Compete Business Success Plans

How to Brainstorm Your Business Vision

Your ideal life becomes your real life when your business vision allows you to live how you want. Smell the lei around your neck as you walk off the airplane when take your family to Hawaii . Imagine the sand between your toes on your next beach vacation. Hear the sound of your grandchildren playing around you at your new beach house. Feel the excitement of earning your first million dollars. You’re no longer chasing success; you’ve attained it.

Powerful Business Planning Ah-Hah: Spend time dreaming and imagining what you want

Make Your Vision Clear

Start writing down what you want to do:

· What business are you in?

· In what market? Be specific here.

· What is the name of your business?

· When do you want to do this business? Or change the direction of your business?

So buy a journal or grab something you already have around your office or house. Make it fun by writing “Success Journal” on the front of it. Grab your success journal, sit in a comfy place and complete the following exercise.

Create a journal entry that says “Business Vision”

Answer the following question

· What do you imagine your future to be on a personal basis?

· What do you imagine your business to be – answer the four questions above

· Don’t read any further until you’ve written 2–5 sentences on what your life will be like as a direct result of your business.

· If you need to doodle or draw a picture of your future, do so. If you need to walk around the block and let your thoughts float to the surface, do so.

Powerful Business Planning Ah-Hah: Writing Your Vision Helps Make It Happen

Next I’ll be sharing on how to accelerate your success in writing your vision.

Business Vision

Take a quiz below to see how clear your dream or business is.  Look at each item and give yourself 3 points it is true most of the time or 1 point if it is not true very often. You can give yourself 2 points if it is sometimes true and sometimes not. Take this quiz now.

Business Success Competencies

-  Do you motivate yourself and others with what you want to accomplish?

-  Do you see how what you work on today will create a path to your dreams for tomorrow?

-  Do you have a list of the key priorities that are needed to earn increased revenue?

-  Do you say yes to opportunities based upon a prioritized list of success factors for your business?

-  Do you charge for the full value that you provide to your client?

-  Are you creating systems to work less and earn more in your business?

-  Do you feel that you’re increasing your success and influence?

-  Do you meet with your mentors and circle of advisers to chart a plan of action for your business success?

-  Do you have cheerleaders in your circle of professional associates?

-  What is your ability to craft an effective vision?

-  How much time do you schedule for learning new skills?

What can you conclude from this quiz?

If you marked some of the time or not often, this blog series will present you with powerful and proven processes needed to traverse successfully from idea to business outcome achievement. You can create your future by writing down your Business Dream or Vision.

I’ll have tips and tools in the next post to help you write down your business dream; whether you direct only yourself and manager a bunch of people.

To Your Business Success, Rosemary

Business Vision

- Build a moneymaking system
- Gain exponentially bigger business results
- Increase your influence by working on “Brand You”
- Attract clients and increase revenue
- Think bigger for bigger profits

I’m starting a blog series that will help you build these things, with weekly advice and encouragement.

Stay tuned for practical and pragmatic tools and techniques for success.