Create a Plan That Feels Like You (Because It Should)
Let’s be real. Most people hear the words “business plan” and their eyes glaze over. They picture a clunky Word doc from college, something you print once and never look at again unless a bank asks for it. But that’s not the kind of blueprint we’re talking about here.
This isn’t about dusty documents. It’s about getting real with yourself and putting a plan in place that actually works for you and the way you want to run your business.
Because if your business wasn’t built around your strengths, values, and passions—your SVPs—then it’s probably full of friction right now. You wake up not knowing what to focus on, you second-guess your offers, and everything just feels heavier than it should. Let’s fix that.
Why Most Plans Don’t Work
The biggest myth out there is that you need more discipline. Nope. You need more alignment. Most business owners skip the blueprint step because they’re either too busy putting out fires or they’re worried they’ll mess it up. But you don’t need a 40-page manual. You need a living, breathing plan that’s built around your reason and actually gives you direction.
Think of it as your GPS. It can’t drive the car for you, but it can keep you from making 47 wrong turns on the way to your destination.
Start with What Actually Drives You
Before you start diving into the details of your plan, start with your SVPs. These aren’t fluff. They’re the engine of your business. Your strengths are what you’re naturally good at, your values are how you want to operate, and your passions are what makes you come alive. We have spent a lot of time here over the last few months for a reason. The more you uncover the more clarity and confidence you find. Your reason should always drive the design of your business.
When you build a plan that supports your reason, it becomes easier to stay focused, easier to take action, and way easier to say no to the stuff that doesn’t belong on your plate in the first place.
What Goes in the Blueprint (Business Plan)
I think one of the things that holds business owners back from creating a business plan is confession. Everyone seems to have their own take on it, or a different format and you never know what to choose. I never like to be prescriptive, so while I have a template that I like, your format and template are completely up to you. I do believe that there are five focus areas to start building from which will give you the best foundation to build on top of. You don’t need to get all five perfect today. Just pick some areas that need your attention and start there.
Start by becoming a Goal Getter. That means setting specific, measurable goals that feel possible because they’re rooted in your reason. Not what you “should” do. What you actually want to do, based on who you are.
Then look at your relationships. Who are the people helping you grow? Who do you need to reconnect with? Success is a team sport and your business is only as strong as the people supporting it.
Next, get your marketing groundwork completed. These are not marketing tactics like social media or your email blast. This is about defining your brand, identifying your ideal customer, and then setting the product and service offering to match. Do your ideal customers understand what you offer and why it matters? Does your messaging feel like you or like some version of what you think people want to hear? Go back two weeks to The FUNdamental Formula: Marketing Foundation for even more details.
The numbers game is crucial to your business success whether you are a ‘numbers’ person or not. Yes, you can and should engage an accountant or a bookkeeper, but as a business owner, there are 3 numbers you need to know deeply. Do you know what it costs to stay open every day? Are your prices actually set for profit or are they just covering costs? And most importantly how are you allocating your most precious resource: time?
And finally, look at your systems. What can be simplified? What needs a checklist, a process, or some automation so you can stop doing it all from scratch? I like to look at this part of your business, the working IN processes as if you were a crew chief in charge of a pit crew. You have to design it to every last second counts and go as quickly as possible, but you also need to make sure to get it right. Slow Down to Speed Up!
Don’t Overthink It, Just Start
Planning isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. I like to think of it as a spiral staircase. You loop around, get better each time, and suddenly you’re higher than you were a month ago without even noticing.
Start with a pause. Then take action. Notice what happens. Adjust. Keep moving. That’s how you build a business that grows because of your purpose, not in spite of it.
Let’s Make It Real
If you’re tired of flying blind or feeling like your business is running you instead of the other way around, it’s time to stop reacting and start building by design. Start by joining our upcoming Profitable Pricing Webinar Series and then get on our email list to be notified about the 3rd quarter workshop entitled Business by Design.
You already have the reason. You already have the tools. Now it’s time to create the blueprint that brings it all together.