SUPPORT THE BUSINESS PLAN WITH A VISION

 

Dearies,

Sometime last year, I posted in a Platform I share with those, I had the privilege (as always), to facilitate their entrepreneurship Development class, aimed at strengthening their understanding of the workings of a particular government financial instrument in support of MSMEs.

The idea was to build their capacity and make them ready to:

*apply, access and manage the facility effectively, that is:

*expend their business and repay the instrument in line with the contract terms.

I served as a Consultant. The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), owned the Project.

After rounds of business Clinic, with some emerging Entrepreneurs that besiege my office recently, I am moved to repeat the same piece here for some reasons, jolly ride:

***the piece below...

Dear Emerging Entrepreneurs,

By now some of you are done with the Business Plan, some are on it, while some are yet to start.

Others may never even start, because they've realized they won't need the Loan, at least for now, as if a business plan is only meant for loan seekers. Different strokes for different folks.

Going for a loan, surely means you have identified an opportunity that is not only promising but very lucrative and sustainable. This is quite different from "there is money there, let me go for it".

Which category do you belong? My apologies if anybody feels offended.

Away from that, let me ask: Have you thought of creating the vision that will address the opportunity you have identified?

Your business plan at best will give you a detailed plan. Make no mistake, a business plan can never take the place of a clear direction.

Without a clear direction "Perception Bias" is eminent. It destroys what ordinarily is considered a good business plan. A popular axiom stresses the need for direction when it states "Your direction is more important than your speed".

A clear vision sharpens your direction, renews your thinking, reinvigorates your energy, emboldens you in the pursuit of your self imposed mandate and takes your business plan, off the document that it is, and translates it into practical results.

Clear direction gives the impetus to raise sustainable structures that carry your business and ensures you put in place that which convinces the panel that you will soon sit before to defend your business plan.

Of a truth the business plan, in some cases is crafted by someone that has no say in the business. You know what I mean.

Till I come again... Is your Vision set? is your direction clear?

***

Nnabugwu Chizoba