by Lori Osterberg

When was the last time you updated your business plan? How about your marketing plan?Your financial plan? Your life plan? Even if you have thought about these things, until you put them in writing, you will have a hard time achieving your goals. Think of your life plan in parts. Each part can be worked on separately, and at different periods of time. Once you establish each part, it is simple to update them as needed.

A Life Plan is your overall plan for life – and beyond! In America we tend to think primarily on a short-term basis, whereas in Japan, they make plans for up to 150 years. Begin by planning what you would like to accomplish in your lifetime, and what you would like to leave behind for future generations.

Your Business Plan is the course of action you are taking with your business. Provide the details of the direction of your company. This will include details of goals and objectives for the coming year, as well as more simplistic goals and objectives for up to five years out.

Your Marketing Plan should contain the overall direction you will be using to bring your product to market. A good marketing plan should contain more than advertising techniques. It should include

Your Financial Plan should be created at several levels. You should always have an overall financial statement created for both personal and business uses. You should create budgets for both personal and professional. And you should have a projected personal and business statement to track where you are going with your funds.

Your Education Plan should be set up to monitor what you are choosing to learn for both your professional and personal lives. Establish a budget for educational classes and seminars, and for books on new subjects. Than track areas of interest, and learn as much as you can! Life is learning – learning is life!

Your Personal Plan should list plans of what you want to do with your life. This isnot an extension of your professional plan. Spend one hour in the next week brainstorming of what you would like to do or see in your lifetime. After you begin doing this on a regular basis, and begin recording your plans in writing, you will see just how easy it is to accomplish the things that matter the most to yourself and your family. Need some ideas? How about becoming licensed to sail. Becoming a director for a girls club. Having a second home in a tropical paradise where you and your family spend two weeks a year with no phone! Dream as much as you want – you’ll be surprised at the results!

Lori Osterberg has been marketing online since 1995. Her
popular online newsletter is read weekly by small business
owners from around the world. To subscribe visit
http://www.VisionOfSuccess.com

Back