Did You Plan Your Business Journey Yet?
August 8, 2008
You might have heard that you should plan a business backwards. And you need to know what it will look like when it’s finished, before you can start planning. That’s good advice – particularly if you want to build a business then sell it.
But one thing that isn’t discussed enough, is what you want your life to look like. And not just in a few years time when your business is complete, but whilst you’re on the journey.
What things would you like to be doing from day to day? How much free time do you want? What will you do in that time?
It’s essential to plan out how you want your life to be when you’re on the journey. Otherwise, you could make a mistake and choose a business that doesn’t fit in with the life you want to lead.
I find planning and visualizing goals really important, but it’s also important to visualize yourself on the journey.
If you’re struggling to do this, Sterling shares some great advice on using Photoshop to help you visualize in: Walk On Water Miracle Revealed – You Won’t Believe Your Eyes. And Mare shares some three great ways to help you visualize in: Six Steps To Creating The Life You Really Want.
Visions and plans are important. But the journey is more important than the destination.
Have you started planning your journey yet? Have you got any advice you’d like to share? Or are you totally struggling with the idea of planning your journey?
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I am part way through my journey. I am setting up a weight loss business because it is my passion to help women with their weight loss journey.
I did a plan that had short, medium and long term goals and I mapped out what my “everyday” life would look like at various stages along the way. You are right Cath -visualization is a very powerful tool we can all use.
Leanne Magraith’s last blog post..Encouragement Is A Two Way Street
For the past two years I’ve been focused on my personal journey and figuring out how I’d fit earning money into that. Since I haven’t been focused on m income, I have been earning less than I could have, but I’ve been super-happy and now it’s just a matter of finding a slightly higher income equilibrium…
Alex Fayle’s last blog post..The Blog is Dead! Long Live the Blog!
“…the journey is more important than the destination.” Amen!
I certainly did a lot of planning for my business, including a business plan and enrollment in a self-employment program.
But… what I didn’t plan was who I would be in the business and that is sooo important. It’s especially important to consider this because you have to really know who you are and what your strengths and weakness are. You’ve gotta set boundaries so you don’t burn yourself out.
Davina’s last blog post..Bears Come Calling
I’m not a huge planner. I rarely stop to reflect on the big picture. But somehow, I am very happy with my life and feel that the balance I achieved is pretty good. Not perfect, of course, but good. I guess I’m lucky?
Vered’s last blog post..Cooking? That’s What Wives Are For! (Wordless Wednesday)
Hi Catherine,
I’ve never heard of creating a business backwards, but it’s certainly an interesting concept.
What is it they say? “If we don’t know where we’re going, we may end up somewhere else.”
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Open Mic – Monthly Mini Meme Friday
@Barbara
My favourite quote along those lines is from Alice in Wonderland during a conversation with the Cheshire Cat
`Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’
`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.
`I don’t much care where–’ said Alice.
`Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.
`–so long as I get SOMEWHERE,’ Alice added as an explanation.
`Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, `if you only walk long enough.’
Alex Fayle’s last blog post..The Blog is Dead! Long Live the Blog!
Hi Leanne, That is great. So many people struggle with weight loss. I would love to see someone start something that would help them to keep the weight off too. So many people seem to go from one fad diet to another and never learn how to eat healthily.
Hi Alex, being happy is a huge part of the battle. Hopefully you can increase your income without losing that happiness. By the way, I love that passage from Alice in Wonderland. It’s one of my favourite books.
Hi Davina, That is a great point. I guess a lot of people set out like that, doing everything themselves in the beginning without considering what their ultimate role may be. At least you changed your plans before you became completely bogged down.
Hi Vered, I have to admit, sometimes I do wonder if you are just lucky. But, I’m guessing you’re doing many of the right things without even realising. Also, you’re doing stuff you enjoy, which is really important. I’m betting you’ve made most of your luck yourself.
Hi Barbara, that is true. And as you said a little while ago, sometimes you wind up somewhere better.
@ Barbara, that quote is from Yogi Berra. I’m sure he just misspoke, but he ended up with something very wise and ironic.
Hunter Nuttall’s last blog post..Win A Copy Of “Make The Impossible Possible”
A hearty amen to “But the journey is more important than the destination.”
I’m currently planning a new “direction” for my business and while I can see the final destination quite clearly, I’m trying to access whether I’m going to enjoy the “journey” to achieving the final destination.
See, ten years ago I set out on this current journey and discovered that when I hit major milestones, they didn’t provide the “forever feel good” high I expected. My first five figure income month didn’t provide NEARLY the “high” I thought it would. Instead, of being elated, I was burnt out and exhausted.
If you’re not enjoying the journey, achieving an income goal is an empty, hollow and FLEETING experience. I can see from the blog post and the other comments here that I’m a little late in arriving at that understanding! SIGH! Better late than never!
Kathy @ Virtual Impax’s last blog post..Guest Post Guide
By all means plan. But sometimes, life has bigger plans for you than you do. At those times, let go, let life.
Avani-Mehta’s last blog post..How Fart Can Make You Grow Spiritually – Su Dongpo’s Story
Hi Cath: The mistake I’ve made in the past was focusing so much on the destination that I wasn’t enjoying the journey that much. I’ve since learned my lesson, though. Thank you for the link.
Marelisa’s last blog post..Happiness Extravaganza: Tips, Tidbits, and Tools
Hi Cath – that’s a great approach to planning a business as well as planning a life. Indeed, the destination should not overshadow the journey!
Al at 7P’s last blog post..The Hero with a Thousand Jobs
Hunter I like that quote too, but Barbara added her own twist a little while ago saying something like you might end up somewhere better.
Kathy, I know exactly what you mean because I have made the same mistake. And I know a lot of people think that making a heap of cash will make up for everything else. But when you’re feeling that burnt out it doesn’t does it.
And it’s better that you found that out late, as I did, than not at all.
Hi Avani, I like that idea too. There’s always an element of chance isn’t there and sometimes it may well be better.
Mare it is so easy to do that. I think it’s a mistake that many of us make. But at least we can learn from it.
Al, the journey is the most important part isn’t it. And when you eventually achieve huge goals, the fact that you enjoyed the journey will be far more important than any material rewards.
Interesting perspective Catherine …
Kind of a top – down way of thinking.
Sort of, will we like what we see on the climb up?
And more important will we like what we see once we reach the top?
When we were starting our owner/landlord rental property business … we actually did think about the collateral damage that would happen to our personal life.
You know … 2am – the water pipe just busted in the kitchen call.
Or the it’s freezing/snow blowing everywhere blizzard outside … and they call that their furnace just went out.
We were ready for it.
Then our priorities % values changed.
It wasn’t a good fit anymore.
So in other words … it might be helpful to also consider what to do if your business no longer is a good fit, 10,20,30 years down the road.
I’m not sure we handled that properly …
I sometimes think we should have gotten somebody to manage the properties for us, instead of selling them outright???
Anyhoo … terrific post!
It got me thinking, as your posts usually do!
dawn’s last blog post..FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY …
Hi Cath. Great topic. I’ve been re-examining my business plans recently. When I visual something a bit different than what I’ve been doing, I get more excited about possibilities.
Thank you for the link, and I enjoyed reading Marelisa’s article too.
Sterling’s last blog post..The #1 Problem With Small Business Websites
I’m pretty relaxed about planning my journey – I know I want certain things, like, say, to feel fulfilled, but I’m open to how that happens.
For example, I only found out about blogging at the start of this year. It has turned out to be one of the main things I focus on – I had quite different ideas of what I might be doing this year.
Robin’s last blog post..Letting Creativity Just Slip In
Oh, excellent post! The Lion and I know where we want to go, but what I am struggling with is the here and now of getting there. So much to do, so few hours in the day. I know that creating a business requires a huge investment of time up front, but there is still a life to lead. The post is definitely food for thought.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..A night at Navarra
Hi Dawn – That is a really good point – what happens if you change and your business doesn’t fit with you anymore.
And I know that by the time you sold your properties, you’d really had enough. So, I guess an exit plan would help. I had an exit plan for the business I sold in late 2006 but it didn’t work out well as I wound up exiting a couple of years earlier than I intended. Maybe a “had enough” plan is also needed.
Hi Sterling – you’re welcome. Tweaking and changing your plans as you go is a good idea. And the fact that you’re excited about your new plans is a good thing. Instinct is so important isn’t it?
Hi Rita – that is a really good point. I think it was Barbara Swafford who said she’d drug tested her employees and half of them failed the test.
I often wonder about those background checks too. I guess the trouble is that a lot of thieves never get caught and those who do are pretty good at fiddling the system to their advantage.
Hi Robin – staying flexible is important isn’t it? And marketing is changing so much now too – I think many people will have to rethink their whole business if they want to keep up.
Hi Urban Panther – Time is always the toughest thing isn’t it? It sounds like planning backwards will work for you and give you some ideas on how to get there.
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