| The thought of writing a business plan is not the | | | | sticky notes using your Sharpie marker. Then, stick one |
| highest item on the priority list of most entrepreneurs. | | | | note on the top center of each poster board... so each |
| They would rather do almost anything than to dedicate | | | | board is labeled for one of your six topics. |
| time to writing a business plan. To help you track your | | | | 3. Download Your Ideas. Here comes the fun part. Get |
| business goals and plans, try this unique sticky note | | | | your pen and sticky notes and begin to write down |
| business plans. Following are 6 steps to create your | | | | every single idea that comes to mind for each |
| own sticky note business plan: | | | | category. Don't edit or censor any ideas. Simply write |
| Copyright (c) 2008 Christine Kloser | | | | them down and stick them on the poster board for |
| If you're like most creative entrepreneurs, the thought | | | | that category. Try to stay with one category at a time |
| of writing a business plan is not the highest item on | | | | as best you can. But, if other ideas keep coming to |
| your priority list. You'd rather explore new ideas, create | | | | mind, write them down and pop them on the |
| products and services, develop a new speech, or | | | | appropriate poster. Let the ideas flow and enjoy the |
| work with your clients... than sit down and write a plan. | | | | process of getting everything on paper. |
| But, to be successful in business, you need to have a | | | | 4. Organize Your Ideas. So, now that your ideas are |
| plan in place. The good news is you don't have to | | | | on the poster boards, begin to organize them. Look for |
| write a formal (bank-friendly) business plan to keep | | | | themes, sequences, and categories of items. Physically |
| your business on track. In fact, until recently, I used my | | | | move the sticky notes on the poster board to group |
| self-made "sticky note business plan" to keep track of | | | | ideas together. Sometimes I'll organize ideas by timeline, |
| my business goals and plans. | | | | sometimes I'll organize by concept... you can organize |
| The "sticky note business plan" is a simple and fun tool | | | | them in the way that makes sense to you. |
| you can use anytime, any place to keep your business | | | | 5. Put It All Together. Now, step back and take a look |
| pointing in the right direction. Here are a few simple | | | | at your whole plan. After going through this process, |
| steps to get you started: | | | | you may discover some items need to move higher |
| 1. Gather Your Planning Supplies. Thankfully, you won't | | | | on your priority list; while other ideas may need to be |
| need fancy computer software, or heavy reference | | | | dropped from your plan completely. The right things to |
| books to write your plan. All you'll need is a wall, six | | | | do (and the order in which to do them) will surface |
| poster boards, three pads of sticky notes, scotch tape, | | | | now that you have the whole plan in place. Next, |
| a note pad, a Sharpie marker and a pen. It'll also help to | | | | rearrange the posters so the highest priority plan is at |
| have a quiet place and a few hours of time to enjoy | | | | the left side of the wall and the lower priority plan is to |
| this process. You may even want to light your favorite | | | | the right side of the wall. Finally, transfer your highest |
| candle and play some relaxing music. | | | | priority tasks to your calendar to make sure you begin |
| 2. Lay Out Your Plan. Tape the six poster boards up | | | | executing your plan. |
| on the wall. Once the boards are up on the wall, grab | | | | 6. Keep Going. As you make progress with your plan, |
| your notepad. Sit down for a few minutes and quietly | | | | continually re-evaluate where you are... and keep |
| think about the aspects of your business you want to | | | | moving forward with your projects. Personally, once I |
| plan. For example: do you need to design a new | | | | complete a concept from one of my poster boards, I |
| product or event, do you want to create a marketing | | | | remove the sticky notes so I can visually see my |
| plan, do you need a timeline plan for the next 3 years | | | | progress and all that I'm accomplishing. You may enjoy |
| of your business, or is it time to plan the launch of a | | | | doing the same thing. |
| new service? | | | | Now that you know how to write your "sticky note |
| Use your notepad to collect all of your ideas and | | | | business plan", you'll discover it's actually FUN to work |
| decide on the six main categories you want to include | | | | on your plan. And, it's a huge asset to your business. |
| in your plan. Next, write each category on six separate | | | | |