Forget “Business Plan” – Think VISION
I can’t count how many times I’ve heard, “I really need to get my business plan in order, then I can start!”
It’s a common excuse used by wantrepreneurs (thanks for the word, AppSumo) – people who say they want to start a business, but when it comes time to really get down to business, they never take any action.
You don’t need a business plan. You need a vision. There’s a BIG difference. One is worthless while the other practically guarantees success.
Planning Does Matter
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying planning doesn’t matter. In fact, I’ll even go as far as saying that once you get business fundamentals down, planning is the most important part of the process.
Because you can get to the point where you plan something out and it actually works the way you planned it. Of course, if you’re a business newbie, it’s very unlikely a business will work exactly how you’ve planned it.
So instead of a plan, think in terms of a VISION.
A vision is passion. They are practically inseparable. This is why even writing the phrase “business plan” feels stale… it doesn’t mean anything, it lacks passion! Vision, on the other hand, immediately evokes feelings of passion.
When you first want to start a business, instead of thinking how you can write your business plan, think about your VISION for the business instead.
How? Why, I’m glad you asked!
Forming a Vision
A vision is formed when a business (or other idea) meets two qualities:
1) It provides you massive value
2) It provides everyone who will be affected by it with massive value
Think the lightbulb. “If I invent the lightbulb, I’ll be filthy rich! Why? Because BILLIONS of people benefit from the lightbulb!”
This is something you can really get passionate about. And that passion is absolutely necessary because it will provide the motivation you need to get through the “I don’t know what to do” blues.
The Good News: Chances Are, You’re Not Lazy
I have a lot of friends who are working on a business or are interested in getting into the business.
One of them in particular is very hard on himself. He’s into real estate and is doing a fantastic job. But he’s always talking about how he could probably make more money quicker in an internet business (he’s right).
So I tell him to make an internet business! He always tells me, “I can’t, I’m so lazy!”
Is he really lazy? I don’t think so. I just don’t think he’s found his vision yet. See, a business does require passion to be successful. No, this doesn’t mean you have to be passionate about the business itself… you can be passionate about the process of doing business. But you do have to have passion, or else you’ll never make it through the significant workload.
Therefore, if you’re stuck on the “I don’t know what to do” portion of the business journey, first off, don’t be so hard on yourself! Chances are you’re not lazy.
Trust me… I was “lazy” before I started making real headway into business. And now that I’ve found my vision, I enjoy working! I do it all the time, every day, with no breaks. And that’s how I prefer to live my life.
Instead of being self-doubting and calling yourself lazy, reframe your situation. Frame your life as a search (at this point) to find what you’re passionate about. Instead of spending time grinding in a new business venture that you hate, spend that time accumulating business knowledge and keeping your eyes out for any opportunities.
As long as you’re diligently working at getting real knowledge (this means reading, attending seminars, finding mentors… mainly, doing whatever it takes!) and keeping your eyes open for opportunity, sooner rather than later, you’ll find your vision.
The problem with many beginning entrepreneurs is they don’t know enough to find a good opportunity even if it’s right in their face. With the right knowledge, you will start to see opportunities everywhere. At this point, you can use your knowledge to really start providing value – both to yourself and to other people.
And that’s when you’ll get that vision and passion!
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