Does your business plan stand up to these three tests?


The first test is winning the confidence of your owners or investors. They're often hard to please, and the feedback you get may not be constructive...

Then, test two: even if your investors are happy, can you enthuse your employees? They can be too overwhelmed with day-to-day matters to put their energy behind some lofty idealised plan. So implementation is tough.

And of course, the final and biggest test is in the marketplace. Customers get choosier. Your competitors don’t just roll over. Initiatives take longer than expected. Which means that the plan begins to date, and disillusionment sets in.

But putting together a business plan isn't easy. Thoughts go round in circles. Colleagues trot out their hobby horses. People get obsessed with the difference between visions and missions, objectives and goals. It's hard to tell what's truly important, and how to weave it into a story that motivates people. And all the while, the business demands your attention.  No wonder half of all businesses don't even have a written plan!

I help teams to create and implement compelling business plans


Behind these three tests stands another one. "Test zero" if you like, or the acid test. The test that will lead to success or failure in all the others.

Here it is: how do YOU feel about your plan? Does it excite you, inspire you, scare you a little? Do you relish talking about it to others, or are you apprehensive about whether your plan will stand up to scrutiny? Do people 'get it' straight away or are you disheartened about finding the right way to express your ideas?

Just imagine having a plan where:
  • You're able to make all your stakeholders enthusiastic
  • The purpose of the business is clear and convincing
  • Everyone across the business ‘gets’ the plan and knows how to contribute
  • The building blocks of future growth are real and robust
  • You know exactly which competitors you’ll take share from - and how
  • You can track both implementation and results constantly

If this were true in your business, how would this affect your top and bottom lines? And how much more would your people give?

Add bite to your business plans & turn up the heat on the competition


You don’t need hordes of consultants doing man-years of analysis. With a small band of enthusiastic people from around your business, you can bring about a dramatic difference.

Whatever business you’re in, missing your targets leads to a gulf between the organisation and its people. If you want things to be different, have a look through this website to find out more.


First, click on Is This For You? to find out more about whether my services are right for your company.