Is The Business Development Plan Dead? Try Focusing On Great Partnerships!
I have been asking this question a great deal lately, because I am just wondering if the time, energy and often headaches that come from writing a business development plan are worth it considering all that is going on in our world and economy. You go to bed with a plan in mind, and you wake up the next morning only to discover that your biz development plan has become obsolete.
About two years ago, I sat down and wrote my first true business development plan. I spent the week-end on it, and I looked over it last week. A few things have transpired, but most of the information in the document is now outdated. A great deal has changed in both my business and the coaching industry, yet there’s one area that really stands out for me: my business partnerships.
I have a section in the business plan on developing strategic partnerships and the qualities I wanted in those partnerships. There are 2 people who I can say without a shadow of a doubt fit into my plan: Corey Blake and Carol Dickson-Carr.
You see, my business plan had a section which reads “Qualities for Strategic Partnerships,” and in this blank, I had:
- Tops in their industry
- High level of expertise
- Quick turn-around time
- Highly accessible
- Responds to e-mail within 24 hours
- Does what they say they are going to do
- Upbeat, positive…does not whine, complain or blame
- Creative
- Can churn out IP as quickly as I can
- Believes in me and my work
- Comes to each call with a strategic vision in mind
- Willing to change course if need be
- Stickability
- Honest
- Trustworthy
- Highly Professional
- Moving in the direction of success
- Able to navigate change
- Able to innovate based on current market trends
As I looked at this list, I believe that I also hold these qualities and that my business stands by these principles. So, I believe that if you have a strong set of qualities you stand behind and if you recruit partners and clients who have these same qualities, your business should be moving forward and developing out over time. While I do believe in having a business plan, it just makes sense to me to surround yourself with smart people who can help you get the job done!
If you do want to spend a few hours with a business development plan, I have one that I developed over the last year, and it is only $3.95. It is a 27-page workbook which includes every question you need to answer to get clear on your business development.
