Start at the End: How Companies Can Grow Bigger and Faster by Reversing Their Business Plan

Chapter 10

Documenting Your Strategic Plan

In the preceding chapters, you learned what to do to build a thriving business.

You identified where you want to go and the phases involved in getting there. I guided you in recognizing which opportunities will foster your growth. You identified which business assets to build and which financial metrics to track to ensure your success. You learned how to systematize your business so it can run without you. And you determined which marketing tactics would allow you to best maximize profits.

Having done all that, you should feel pretty good right now. But there is one critical step left: Documenting your strategy into a strategic plan.

As specified previously, a strategic plan is a detailed road map for achieving your goals. Your success will skyrocket when you document your road map on paper because:

• The process of documenting your plan and then reading it gets your subconscious used to the fact that you can accomplish it
• A documented plan eliminates confusion over what needs to be done
• The plan will show your employees what needs to be accomplished and by when, encouraging all employees to work together in achieving your goals
• The plan can get other readers, perhaps board members, advisors, investors, potential management hires, and consultants, up to speed on your business quickly and allow them to give valuable advice

Although your strategic plan should include your long-term vision, you’ll lay out the actual plan for a period of one ...