Do you have a plan? [free business plan template]
Why is it important that we plan?
Why can’t we just always fly by the seat of our pants? Why can’t we just be reactive instead of proactive?
This is a hard topic to tackle because it flies in the face of all things spontaneous. It also causes me to wrestle with my faith – do I live by faith or by my own strength through planning?
We plan because it helps us see clearly. We plan because we need to write down the steps to get from A to Z so that we can involve others in the execution of the plan.
We plan because it helps us see potential flaws and pitfalls in the plan as well as provide an opportunity for others to give their feedback.
We plan because if we don’t we plan to fail.
Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders
The man who built his house upon the sand is an example of a man without a plan. With no foundation and structural reinforcement, when the rain came, his house washed away (makes me wonder why people like me live on an island off the coast of Florida).
The man who built his house on a rock – a foundation – had a plan. When the rains came, his house was left standing.
I remember vividly the pictures of the Houston coast after hurricane Ivan hit there in 2005. There was one house still standing; everything else has been wiped off the map. Why? It’s because the builder had a plan. The builder planned for hurricane winds and water and built the house to stand still in the midst of terrible adversity to the structure of the building.
Is your life structured that way? At work, at home, in between, do you have a plan in place?
If you don’t have a plan, then you are planning to fail. If you have a plan, then you will give yourself the best chance to succeed.
Trust Services works alongside small business owners to help them plan for success with the “Journey to a Trusted Brand” business plan workbook. We want to help you get started on the journey with a complimentary fillable PDF sample of the Journey to a Trusted Brand Business Plan Workbook.
About the Author, Jim Brangenberg
Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!