How to get it RIGHT this time

We all start the year with inspiring resolutions to transform businesses or careers. Experts choose to change jobs or launch a new business; solopreneurs decide to grow; founders resolve to find new markets. CEOs go for new and ambitious goals to improve their organizations… We confidently throw ourselves into the new year – new project inertia, which surges with tremendous inspiration. Nevertheless, we tend to start working on it using old methods and ambiguous strategies. Unfortunately, old habits and impreciseness don’t bring new results.

Setting a new goal is just the beginning of a change journey. It would be best if you had more… You need a realistic plan for that new milestone in your business or personal life.

If goal setting is your WHAT, an action plan is your HOW.

Once you’ve defined the goal you want to pursue, ask yourself what exact actions and activities you have to undergo to achieve it. Furthermore, you will probably discover that you must fine-tune your goal to make it more realistic and achievable.

Let me give you a few examples to bring in some clarity.

Growing your business

Following this method, let’s see how Pete (a fictitious character) deploys the vision for his business – Venturist (a fictional company).

Vision goal roadmap/milestones metrics action plan

Vision: Take Venturist to the next level – become a niche market leader.
Goal: Increase Venturist market share from 12 to 25% within three years.

Milestones:

Take products XYZ from Beta to Production and Live release
Grow inorganically by the acquisition of startups, secure funding with investors
Consolidate growth by streamlining operations, and putting in place the right organizational structure, processes and R&R
Implement a robust CRM system
Grow team proactively ahead of the increase of workload (from XX to XXX), career paths, management by objectives
Outsource marketing (and other non-core processes) with partner ‘Y’.

Metrics:

Customer acquisition cost (CAC)
Customer churn rate (CCR)
Revenue growth rate
Revenue churn rate (RCR)
Organic Traffic & Leads
Operating Margins
Cash flow

Action plan:

Take products XYZ from Beta to Production and Live release
- Product stabilization
- Release to manufacturing
Grow inorganically by acquisitions
- Business valuation of prospects
- Financing
- Contract advisor firm
Consolidate growth by streamlining operations
- As-Is, To-be and gap analysis of processes and assets
- Implement KPI’s, metrics, governance model and R&R
- Standardize and automate workflows
- Implement kanban systems for TI, Sales and Suppliers
Implement a robust CRM system
- Select partner
- Start process introduction in XX
Grow team proactively to increase of workload (from XX to XXX)
- Calculate needed headcount for growth
- Develop career paths
- Select partner for recruiting
Outsource marketing with partner ‘Y’
- Select partner
- Define marketing strategy.

This High-level action plan becomes the HOW for Pete to achieve his goal. You can develop this plan entirely independently as a business owner or manager. However, please work with your team to brainstorm ideas and further deploy them. And share your progress with all your stakeholders. It will help you control the resistance to change you will face. Business growth is a result of joint effort and teamwork.

Career change

Let’s take a look at a different scenario. Let’s see how Lili will organize herself to achieve a career change (in this case, an ambitious promotion). She is currently working as a graphic designer in one of the product teams in the fashion company Zanderly. Recall the working method:

Vision goal roadmap/milestones metrics action plan

Vision: Get promoted to Head of Design
Beware of setting goals that someone else has power over, not you. For example, “Get that promotion!” depends on who else applies and the recruiter’s decision. But “Get the experience and training that I need to be considered for that promotion” is entirely down to you (detailed guide for goal setting).

Goal: I want to gain the skills and experience necessary to become head of design within my organization in 3 years.

Milestones:

Secure budget (savings, family)
Take fundamental training courses in fashion
Attend fashion events
Gaining experience in teamwork and project management
Gain social exposure

Metrics:

Number of courses completed
Number of projects I am part of
Number of IG followers
Volunteering and being accepted for promotion

Action plan:

Take fundameninl training courses on fashion
- Textile paint
- Fashion photography
Attend fashion events
- Bread and butter
- London fashion show
- Parish fashion show
Gaining experience in teamwork and project management
- Volunteer for All Hands Fashion project
- Get involved in the project management team
Gain social exposure
- Join an online community for charitable events sponsored by the fashion industry
- Post frequently on IG and Pinterest
- Participate in Live talks about fashion trends

This High-level action will become the HOW for Lili to achieve his goal. As her goal is less dependent on a team (she does not have one yet), she can work alone. However, Lili has to manage it carefully with stakeholders (colleagues, her boss); her progress depends greatly on them. Also, she has to monitor the employment market to benchmark herself against other potential candidates and thus keep her profile on a competitive edge.

Having a plan is a way to prepare for success. So, back up your goal with a well thought but flexible schedule that includes all actions to get it done your way.

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