Christian Business Woman

Archive for the ‘Vision’ Category

I just drove from Orlando down to Sebring. I’m attending a business conference this weekend but I flew in early to visit my aunt who is in a nursing home. The first sign to Sebring said 52 miles, after 5 to 10 minutes, the next road sign said 50. I was a bit puzzled but since I got to the hotel at 2am, I thought I was just sleepy and maybe didn’t read the first sign correctly. Then 5 minutes later, the sign said 52 miles. I started laughing. Isn’t life just like that? The sign was telling me I was going backwards, I was losing ground. But I knew I wasn’t lost; I had my GPS with me. The signs on where we are going in life, in our business are so confusing. We get confused by the multiple and misleading input.

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.

When you have a written business plan, you’ll step into your future. The last powerful tip asked you to write a couple of sentences on what your life will be like as a direct result of your business.

Why?
 

• Writing down what you want will move you from confusion to clarity Habakkuk 2:2

• Seeing what you want will improve your confidence in your ability to achieve your business dream as God has given us those dreams Daniel 2:28

• Praying about your vision will give let you strength 2 Samuel 22:33 -

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. Pray.

Powerful Tip: Small changes can produce big results.
 

When you have a simple business plan, you’ll step into your future. You may be discouraged right now. You may not know how you’re going to pay the bills. You may be thinking of closing the doors to your business. I know how you feel. I understand, since I’ve been there too. These thoughts are very real. The situations may be true.

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

How to Align Your Vision With God

I have just been reading Galatians. Apostle Paul is very clear that his mandate, his vision, his passion was directly from God. It was a revelation. So don’t be discouraged by what others think of you. What does God have for you?

Powerful Business Planning Ah-Hah: Spend time specifically asking God to reveal his special will and purpose for you

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.