I used to dream about strategic planning. I thought it sounded so exotic. Imagine knowing exactly where you would be in two years, five years, ten years. Big important companies did strategic planning and I longed to be just like them.
On the other hand I didn’t quite get it. Imagine knowing exactly where you would be in two years, five years, ten years.
I did not realize strategic planning requires a different mindset from day to day operations. It means using peripheral vision rather than the dead on focus required to keep on top of sales numbers and vendor relations and employee retention.
Now I get it and I also understand how easy it is to put that strategic plan into a drawer and forget about it until next year. It feels better taking action than thinking about something that’s a little surreal--like the spot you plan to be standing on in August 2010.
Strategic planning is easier after experience. Relationships of all sorts offer perspectives you may have never considered. Sometimes the best ideas come after looking at blogs and websites on topics totally unrelated to business issues. Creativity kicks in and, who knows, you might discover your well-planned spot isn’t where you really want to be. Now that’s a strategy worth pursuing!