I finally quit procrastinating and made myself review some of the docs that I started last summer and then set aside. I'm trying to get back into the mindset and get moving again and the first thing on my list is to reaquaint (is there a spell check on this thing??? lol) myself with everything (forums, business plans, welcome package etc). So, the first thing I read over was my business plan. The first thing I thought was, "Wow! I wrote that?" It sounded pretty darn good and professional if I do say so myself (just a small pat on the back there...lol). Then I thought, "Hmmmm... I definitely need to change this and that and the other". I guess it just goes to show that business plans truly are organic documents and need to be revisited at least a couple of times a year. I haven't even started my business yet (or finished my business plan) and I'm already finding that what I initially wanted to do isn't quite the same as it was before. So, it's not just fine-tuning a plan to fit numbers and such, it's also to change and rethink your desires and directions as a business owner according to interests and changing times.

For instance, one thing I mentioned in my plan was that I wanted to assist mortgage brokers for one (in my section discussing demographics and niches). Yikes!!! I don't even know why I wanted to do that! I'm sure I knew at the time (I have a friend who is...well, was...a mortgage broker and I saw her need for an assistant) but, now? With all of the brokerages going under? Heck NO!!! lol Also, and this was kind of my interest at the beginning but for some reason only got a slight mention in my plan, this same friend has given up the mortgage business (not that she had much choice in the matter...lol) to chase her dream of owning her own store (organic, convenience, etc). Helping her has been a HUGE challenge for me but I kind of enjoy it. So, I think that my interest is starting to lean more towards new business start-ups by offering consultations, setting up their back office, marketing and general admin stuff. I'm still in the middle of a HUGE learning curve but what I have learned I can take to the next client and it should go much more smoothly (crosses fingers).

Also, reviewing your business plan every once in a while will allow you to sit back and think of how far you've come and how closely you followed your plan.

So, if you have a business plan that you haven't looked at in a while, it may be a good idea to review it in the near future. You may be surprised at how much the plan that you've been carrying around in your head differs from what you put in writing when you first started.

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase