|
|
|
HOW TO STAY FOCUSSED AND BUILD YOUR BUSINESS
Friday, 05.18.2007, 10:45am (GMT)
You have a detailed business plan, which showed the overall
intent of your company. You presented the business plan to your bank before
start-up and they submitted funding in the amount that you both deemed
acceptable. The original business plan contained the basis of the procedures
that will help you stay focussed while the company grows. Let's examine some of
these processes that you will use to give your business the focus it needs to
grow and succeed.
1. A marketing plan. If sales are a part of your
operation (and it seems that some form of selling is always a big part of every
company), then, you will need to have your sales group focussed on a marketing
plan. Short term and longer-term analysis should be a part of this planning and
will likely contain an analysis of your competition, market potential and sales
projections. Be careful not to fall into the trap of letting “the business take
care of itself”, stay focussed at all times and be sure your managers are tuned
into this market monitoring regularly, nothing is more defeating to the general
manager/owner than to be told by a sales manager…I didn't see that coming!
YIKES! 2. Accounting procedures. If sales are important, then the need to
stay focussed on receiving the proceeds from sales is equally important.
Accounts payable, expenses and accounts receivable need to have fixed procedures
in place to allow money to flow freely through the company coffers. Focussing on
these procedures at regular weekly and monthly meetings will put the accounting
and marketing groups on the same path. A rift between marketing and accounting
is a common bureaucratic occurrence; so don't be surprised if one point you hear
from someone from sales state, “We make the money here, how come I have to live
by their rules?” Getting these two operations to stay focussed on a bottom line
results oriented approach is a regular part of an owner's job description.
3. Human resources. If you have ever worked for a manager, who considered
his employees as expenses rather than assets, then you will be familiar with the
need for managers to stay focussed on human resources within the company. A
manager who is fixated on staff reduction regardless of their accomplishments
will create an atmosphere of fear. Certainly, no one wants to be grossly
over-staffed, but a good owner/manager will focus on keeping adequate employee
base numbers, and ensure continuing training, safety programs and top of the
line employee benefits. It's your campground, why not have “happy campers?”
4. Selling your business. This does not mean selling in the true literal
sense. It means focusing on being sure your company image is one that is the
envy of your competitors and is known in the business world as a first class
operation. You can do this by having key managers attending industry
conferences. Be clear and tell them that their focus at these seminars is to
network, thoroughly gathering as much new information that they can. They should
also 'sell' other attendees on the importance and efficiency of their company in
the industry. Upon their return, have follow-up meetings with these managers
where they will report in detail on what they have learned. Managers attending
conventions and seminars should take opportunities to enjoy themselves,
nevertheless, they will be the “face” of your company, it's wise be sure that
they focus on making them business meetings, and not all “playtime.”
If
planning, organizing, staffing, direction and control are five major factors in
managing a company, staying focussed throughout the process, is paramount!
About the author: Matt Bacak became "##1 Best
Selling Author" in just a few short hours. Recent Entrepreneur Magazine’s
e-Biz radio show host is turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into
Overnight Success Stories. Discover The Secrets http://promotingtips.com
|
|
|
|
|
| Su |
Mo |
Tu |
We |
Th |
Fr |
Sa |
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
| 7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
| 14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
| 21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
| 28 |
29 |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|