Think about how you want your company to develop and plan accordingly.
When you look at the most successful companies, it is clear that they have not just happened. They have been planned in the same way that an architect will plan a skyscraper or a cathedral. While it is rare for managing directors to know exactly where they want their business to end up, they usually have a clear idea about areas where it will work, the type of customer service they wish to offer, how the structure of the business will be built and a number of other key points.
Imagine a scenario where you decide you would like to build your own house. You wouldn’t just ask the builder to deposit several tons of bricks, wood and concrete in some spare land and start putting the house together. First of all, you would decide where the house was going to be. Then you would decide what the house might look like, how many rooms it will have, different aspects around price and specification etc.
Building a business should happen in exactly the same way. First of all, you plan the aspects of the business on paper; then you work out how you can make those ideas and dreams into your reality.
If we do not know where we are going when we set up a business, then how can we expect our staff to follow our idea? How can we expect to communicate with passion and enthusiasm to our customers?
Every great business usually starts with a simple idea and a strong vision to drive it forward. So decide now where you would like your company to go. Are you looking to sell your business in 10 years time? Are you looking for it to provide comfortable regular income with minimal fuss? Are you looking to pass it on to your family one day? What type of profit are you looking to take out the business? What sort of turnover are you looking for? Which markets do you want to operate in?
These are all important questions to consider even in the very early stages of running a business. They will help you overcome difficult decisions and make you focus on what the business really should be about – for you.
Without absolute clarity for what you want your business to be, it becomes all too easy to do what other people suggest and end up forming a company which grows in a direction that you don’t want it to grow. Be clear from the beginning – but of course be flexible when opportunities arise. Trees grow in one direction, but they are flexible enough to bend with the wind. Stay flexible so you are able to make the most of relevant opportunities – and turn down those which are ultimately going to take you further away from your final destination.
If you’d like more advice or help with marketing your business – to make sure you have the clarity and focus that you need on your marketing activities, give the Ideal Marketing Company a call on 01858 374 170. We’ll help to give you ideas for your business on how to create the ideal marketing mix.
