Revisiting your business plan in 2008

As I look outside my office window, I am watching the snow fall quickly cover the bare branches of an oak tree.  It’s quiet this afternoon.  Groceries stores are busy with people running in to grab toilet paper, milk, and bread.  It’s a Baltimore tradition.  This gentle snow could be the blizzard of 2008.  Keep us housebound for days… sure.

The peaceful snowfall helped me to think about what you can do if this is a slow time for your business.  If you own a restaurant, January and February are typically slow months.  People get back to work, find out they have spent too much on presents, and decide they are going on diets.  Health clubs are swamped with the largest group of new members in any month.  So what can you do if you have a little more free time?

How about revisit your business plan. Read 2007’s plan and see what you have accomplished.  Are you still on track for 2008?  Have you made your changes for the 2008 year?  To operate at peak efficiency, your business must have a good sense of direction.  You cannot lead to a goal that you have not set.  You can wander aimlessly, having success, having failures.  But how can you really measure success?  It needs to be measured in relation to the milestones set.

Take the time to pull out your business plan. Give it a good read through.  Focus some effort on evaluating the goals and projections for 2008.  What actions can your company take to make 2008 your company’s most successful year ever?