I was proud to be one of the finalists at the Director of the Year Awards 2011, run by the Institute of Directors, on Thursday evening.
It was a delight to be in the company of 250 keen business people all working to deliver excellence for their organizations. There was a buzz in the room and great conversation. It is always wonderful to discover what other people do in their work – the sheer range and diversity never ceases to inspire me.
Some large organizations, some very small, some well established, some quite new. Isn’t it just fantastic what people do?
In the UK our tax year ends on 5 April and for this reason many organizations close their business year on 31 March. During the evening I spoke with many people had been busy that day closing their business accounts and looking to a great new year. A year that would start on 1 April.
The following day I called into a wine merchant I use, to stock up, as I was running a low on wine at home. This is a delightful family business and I always enjoy the visit knowing the conversation and service will be first class. It was their year end too and they were busy completing the annual stock take – no small task with such a diversity of wines. While we were in the old cellars finding a few bottles of ‘every day’ wine for me to enjoy, it was clear that the stock taking is both important and a large job. Down in the cellars the conversation led to the early years of the business and it seems that it has been trading since 1642. Wow! such history and I wonder if the annual stock take was made every year going back that far?
We may ‘take stock’ at the end of each year but do we always make new business plans for the year just starting?
I am sure most of the organizations represented by the directors at the awards dinner do make plans – that is why they are successful as individuals and as organizations. Do all organizations make plans for each new year?
From my experience with many micro and small businesses, proper business plans are quite rare. This surprised me years ago and still surprises me to this day. Because of this I created a simple planning publication drawn from my experience of business to help micro and small businesses get the focus they need to become more successful. To give them a ‘track to run on’. I have been delighted with the response from people who have used it. If you need to create your plans now you have completed your year end stock take it may be worth your while to click here. I have worked with businesses from the very large to the very small and I love the diversity. The small businesses make up the vast majority of our economy and for this reason I am so keen to ensure they succeed. This Plan On A Page, a business plan on a page is designed to do just that.
Now just two key questions:
- Have you recently ‘taken stock’ of what you have achieved?
- Have you got an up to date business plan written down?
It may be a good time to review and action these questions don’t you think?
My best wishes,
Peter
