Just Do It

Yesterday I was engaged in a wonderful discussion. The common theme was "Just Do It". We allow ourselves to wait for the right time to do all kinds of things, but usually the time isn't right because we choose to procrastinate instead of act. There is comfort in procrastination, we make ourselves feel good with the idea that we plan to do something. We create the story that it isn't the right time or there isn't enough time, or whatever else we want to believe to be true. The truth is NOW is always the best time to do something.

I most commonly hear this when the topic of having a business plan comes up. For some reason there is a lot of resisitance to writing and following a business plan. Robin Bienemann (Chariman's View) recently spoke to our members on this topic. Robin explained the fundamentals of putting a plan together. Below are some exerpts of her talk.


What is a Plan?

1. Executive Summary (Mission of the company)
2. Company Description (What do you do)
3. Product or Service(describe your product)
4. Market Analysis (who are your customers)
5. Strategy and Implementation (how will you reach them)
6. Management Team (who will help you accomplish this)
7. Financial Analysis (How will your company support itself, and it's team

Who's the audience and what's it look like?

1. The Audience

• You
• Stakeholders - spouse, family, etc
• Investors - new or existing
• Suitors (potential buyers)

2. How Long? - depends on the audience

• Executive summary: 1 Page or less
• Investor summary: 4 - 5 pages
• Business Plan for a serious investor: 5- 10+ pages
• Internal/personal plan: 2 - 3 Pages Robin Bienemann(Chariman's View)

Unfortunately, it's the entrepreneur that doesn't have a business plan is the one who has the simplest one to write. We feel overwhelmed by the project, think we don't need one because we have all the information in our heads, business is growing to fast to keep up with it, ETC... You fill in the blank.

Whether it is writing and implementing a business plan, or something else on your To-Do list the best time to take action is NOW.

Fact of the day

For those of you who are still wondering about the relevance of Web 2.0.

Google trends show that Blogs have Surpassed Newspapers & Magazines in Popularity.

View Report

Look UP!!!!

I received this email today, and thought I would share it.

THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit,it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up! Live simply, love generously, care deeply, and speak kindly.

Quote of the day

"Genuine leadership comes from the quality of your vision
and your ability to spark others to extraordinary performance."

— Jack Welch: Former General Electric chairman and CEO.

Jack Welch Bio

Book Recommendation of the week

Today's Book recommendation is........

"Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ"
by Daniel Goleman

Related Article: What's Your Emotional Style?
By Daniel Goleman

Quote of the Day

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today."

Dale Carnegie
Related Article: Wherever You Are, Be There by Jim Rohn

Recommended Book of the Week

On Wednesday's we provide the recommended book of the week. Today's book recommendation is .................





The E Myth Revisited
by Michael E. Gerber



Related Article:
Organizing For Growth by Michael Gerber

Question of the Week

On Tuesday's we provide a question of the week. Today's question is......

How many hours per week do you

spend putting out fires?

How does it affect your business?

Quote of the week

On Monday's we provide the quote of the week. Today's quote is.......

"Problems cannot be solved by the same

level of thinking that created them"
— Albert Einstein, Genius

Happy 4th of July

This entry is dedicated to our country's first entrepreneurs. The ones who took the greatest risk of all and had the courage to follow their passion, and stand by their decision.

"But, the greatest decision of all time, as far as any American citizen is concerned, was reached in Philadelphia, July 4, 1776, when fifty-six men signed their names to a document, which they well knew would bring freedom to all Americans, or leave every one of the fifty-six hanging from a gallows! " Napoleon Hill

Chapter 8 Think & Grow Rich

The 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

This country was founded on courage and risk. The desision to become an entrepreneur also takes courage and risk, but none so great as our Founding Fathers.

Thank you for paving the way.

CT Business Magazine

The Entrepreneur Circle was interviewed last June by Connecticut Business Magazine. Thank you to Matt Wagner for the photography and wonderful words. Thank you to Carol Latter for writing such a beautiful piece. Thank you to everyone who submitted wonderful testimonials.

CT Business Magazine

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