Planning and strategizing in your business

You read that right.​

Yes. It is true that “shit happens”, and that thought can bring on it’s own sense of fatalism, a sense that it’s OK to let things go because shit is going to happen anyway.

​But fatalism has never been my strong suit.​

Identify what you can’t control

It is true that we lack control over some circumstances​:

• The economy

• ​Consumer behavior and thought

• ​Disasters – natural and man-made​

But in all of these circumstances, whether or not we plan, and HOW we plan can mean the difference between survival or not. 

Identify what you CAN control

​I say this from earthquake and wildfire country, it’s awesome if you have functioning infrastructure, but in lieu of that, planning can help you and the people around you. Having an earthquake kit, extra water, back up batteries or even generators can help you ride out a disaster. 

Similarly, making advance plans and setting up systems in your business can also help you ride out disasters. ​Think of it like an earthquake kit for your business. Maybe you don’t have systems set up for your business yet, but how would it feel and what would it look like to have a just-in-case plan?

As in, just-in-case you need to be out for an illness, just-in-case you need to move on short notice, just-in-case you want to hire someone.​

Keep your business running even if you aren’t there

Ideally systems look like you having a way to keep your business operational even without you around 24/7. It looks like something that could adapt to a “shit happens” moment. ​It could be a single document, or a series of checklists in an accessible place.​ It could be a calendar with appointments and tasks blocked off. ​It could be implementing a project management software or creating a business hub for someone else to follow for tasks and projects.​ 

What should your business systems look like?

Your system doesn’t have to be like everyone else’s, it needs to work for you, and it likely needs to work for at least one other person – an accountant, a bookkeeper, a production assistant, a manager even. 

​It isn’t just that we plan so that we execute everything perfectly. We plan ahead to ensure that we have back ups and systems in case something goes wrong.​ We create systems to have a home to return to when something gets off kilter. 

When a show doesn’t go as planned, we have strategies for eCommerce to get our sales back in place. When we go away on vacation, or for a conference, or even to Tucson, having a system to follow helps us get back on track when we come home.

What system, or part of a system could you introduce into your business that would help you weather some storms?

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