Views from the Hills by R. E. Stevens, GENESIS II (The
Second Beginning) E-Mail views@aol.com
Business Tools - For Everyday Use
Business Tools is a large category. I would like to focus on three:
Mission Statements, Business Plans and Operational Procedures. Some
may argue that these are concepts and not tools. Regardless, I want
to focus on these three.
I believe that all three are extremely important in the success of any
business/organization. If these three tools are so important in the
success of a company, why is there not a broader use in the concept of
the three tools? That is, why is there not a broader use? Why
do we not use the principles of these three tools in more areas of our
personal lives where success is needed? Consider the possibilities
for use in various associations such as fraternal, political or charitable.
Would the principles not apply to fund raising activities? Or better
yet, would they not apply to our personal lives in areas such as professional,
religious, family or more focused, into our marriages? I think many
of us do utilize some parts of the three tools in some areas of our lives,
especially in the area of associations. Almost all associations have
a Mission Statement, but I have not seen any with a Business Plan or a
day-to-day Operational Procedures Plan. But today I want to move
down further in the potential area category to the personal areas, professional
religious, family and marriage. In our lives, what is more personally
important than these four areas? [Note: For some of my younger
readers, substitute the word "education" for the word "marriage."]
I generally look at the Mission Statement and the Business Plan as the
Mental/Visual perspective of the business while the Operational Procedures
are the Action Steps of the business. If considering just our Personal
Professional side of the business, we would approach it as follows:
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Mission Statement - Define your Reason for Being, Your Core Values and
what you as an individual bring to the Table.
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Business Plan - This is the Big Picture. It includes defining your
Objectives, Strategies, Goals and Measures in the context of where you
are and your environment. This includes defining your assets, liabilities,
resources and the keys to success.
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Operational Procedures - Here we define the day-to-day steps required for
success. There are actually far too many to be covered in a one-page
paper, so I will outline broad categories as I see them. I like to
look at the steps successful companies take in their day-to-day work and
emulate their procedures. For instance, just consider the broad categories
of Manufacturing/Service, Quality Control, Process Development, Products
Research, Packaging, Marketing, Public Relations, Sales, Advertising, Accounting
and Management. How would these specific tasks fit into the role
of a successful professional? Each day do you consider the following?
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Manufacturing/Service - How much did I produce today?
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Quality Control - Was the quality of my work up to my standards and the
standards of those around me?
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Process Development - Did I explore ways of doing what I do better, easier
or faster?
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Products Research - Are there other things I can do to improve my value?
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Packaging - Is your appearance reflective of the image you wish to present?
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Marketing - What other talents can I utilize to increase my value?
What other needs are there that I can fulfill?
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Public Relations - Are your actions that of a good neighbor?
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Sales - How can I convince others to make use of my talents, ideas and
skills?
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Advertising - How do I let others know of my talents?
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Accounting - What is the best use of your talents and time?
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Management - How do you bring all of this together for your best interest?
It is your Life Plan.
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