Self-motivation a Hidden Benefit Within the Strategic Planning Process For Any Business


by Leanne Hoagland-Smith - Date: 2007-03-11 - Word Count: 619 Share This!

Self-motivation is a known factor in the success of any business. How do you keep yourself and your employees embracing motivated in the continued efforts to strive forward in spite of the winds of failure pushing you back at every opportunity?

Maybe it is time to think in terms of your life as you look at your business.

Are you where you want to be? Are you satisfied with your life? Do you have the peace of mind that you are looking for? Do you want to have fun? In your life as well as your business? Do you want to stop worrying about having money? Do you desire life success from your business success?

To answer these questions requires the telling of a story that I consistently share, as a business coach, with my clients.

The story begins with a question as many of my stories do. How many of you have ever visited the grocery store? If so, did you take the written grocery list? Have you ever forgotten the written list? Yes, well many of us have including myself. Then what happens when we leave the written list at home? Again, your answers are absolutely on target. The results of leaving that small scrap of paper on the table are:

Purchase more food than we anticipated Purchase food that we didn't need Forget to purchase items that we need Spend more money than anticipated Spend more time thant anticipated Spend more energy than anticipated Waste gas and time by having to return to the store Feel really, really stupid upon returning home and seeing the list on the table

By your own admissions, a written grocery list has value. And by those same agreements, a written grocery list has significant value due to all the reasons we cited just a few moments ago. So since a written grocery has significant value, then where is the written plan for the rest of your life?

When you don't have a written plan, you are on someone else's plan. In this case, who do you think is the happiest camper on the block when you walk in without that list? The grocery store owner, absolutely! Given the low gross margin on grocery store's sales, the more you spend the happier he is because his strategic business plan is driven by high volume and low profit margin. So, welcome to his world or his plan.

If you like your destiny being in the hands of someone else who does not have your best interests at heart, then continue to live your life without a plan. However, if you want to take control of your future, plan your destiny to achieve the potential that you believe to be true, then begin to plan your future and work your plan. This is the end of the story.

The essential purpose of any plan is to ensure that the desired results are achieved. Is that not one of the reasons for motivation? From my experience as a business coach, planning avoids the spray and pray mentality and the accompanying actions that many experience.

Should your business be any different than you life? Just imagine crafting a plan, then revisiting the plan on a regular basis and seeing everything that you achieved. How would that make you feel? If you are like me and I don't believe that I am unique, you will definitely feel motivated to continue listing all those accomplished goals and making any necessary course corrections.

Strategic planning is a great motivator for business success. Remember, motivation means to come from within each individual so self-motivation is really an oxymoron. Your business results and ultimately business success are being achieved indirectly or directly by your thoughts and actions.


Related Tags: business coach, business success, strategic planning, self-motivation, strategic planning process

Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. is a business coach and executive coach with offices in Indianapolis and near Chicago. She writes, speaks and coaches people in businesses to quickly double or triple results through the creation of an executable strategic plan along with the necessary leadership skills "to pull it off."

One quick question, if you could secure one new client or breakthrough that one roadblock holding you back from success, what would that mean to you? Then, take a risk and give me, Leanne, a call at 219.759.5601 to experience incredible results.

Visit http://www.processspecialist.com/ and explore everything from free articles to connecting with Leanne.

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