Has anyone done a SWOT analysis? I am including one in my business plan, working on Internal /external environments.

In case anyone is unaware of what a SWOT is, it is the internal strengths, and weaknesses along with the external opportunities and threats. It gives one a good idea of what you can concentrate on to improve your business.

Strengths could be your skills and experience, weakness could be creating a plan (ha ha!), you get the idea.

Love to hear your ideas on this.

LuAnne
In the process...

We had to do a SWOT analysis for our marketing report in the Virtual Assistant Program at Red Deer College. It really made it easier to understand where you were at, good and bad, and made you think how to either use the good and change the bad. It was a great excercise.

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Nancy Lynch
http://www.virtualnancysbusinesssuppo rt.ca

I've made SWOT analysis when I'm in College. I'm the secretary of our Student Council back then, everytime we have an activity, we need to pass a SWOT analysis as part of the documentation. It's really a nice thing to do. It helps you analyze what are you Strengths and how you can maintain it. Weaknesses, on how to resolve them, Opportunities, identify the outcomes and Treats so that it can be prevented. It's like what they said, Prevention is better than cure right? :P

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Cheenee
Laptop Runner

The thing about the threats in our industry is that some things are threats and opportunities. One example of this is the evolution of our industry, with the industry changing all the time it allows us to use our strengths that we use to not be able to use in our line of work. That same strength is a threat by the way it spreads out our need to learn new material. Now we have to learn new skills each day to keep up with the demand of our clients but we still need to be current with the skills we have now. This could stretch us too this if we don't try to stay with our specialization in the field. I have found myself working with a client on administrative work and the next day they ask if I can do web design. Before I know it I had gone and made 3D models of their new product concept art and SEO for their website. I know one of my threats is my brother, he is starting to become a VA and with the name that I have brought up in my town and clients I know that there could be clients that remember my last name and mistake my brother for me. I have prepared by making sure I do not use the title "Mr. Kruse" anymore. I also know that my weakness is actually my skill set because it is what causes myself to be over stretched sometimes.

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Jacob Kruse, VA
HavocBlast Education Services,

We didn't done the SWOT analysis till yet, but somehow planning to do it this month for the better results in our virtual office business.

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Virtual Office Space | Virtual Office Service

I did not do a SWOT for my initial plan but I do do them for new services that I am thinking of adding. This allows me to add a different level of clarity and devise a great action plan.

Since I am a visual learner I believe that this method helps me to "visualize" my ideas and then move on to a mind map.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Havoc,
It could also be an opportunity to grow the business. You could add more personnel or outsource/retain other VAs. You do not have to do it all, unless you want to.
Good points!