Why Planning Alone Won’t Build Your Business

Don't bank on excitement; it builds nothing.

“By wisdom is a house built.” That's how the wise saying goes. It doesn't say, “By wisdom is a house talked about.” Neither does it say “By wisdom is a house wished for.” No.

The key word is BUILT.

So the proof of wisdom is that the house got built. Not that the house got discussed, or was desired, or got prayed about. It got built!

So I'm not heavily impressed with talks of plans and to-dos. I am impressed with 'execution'.

Neither do I comfort myself with thoughts of great things. No, unless I have done them, I haven't done them.

A lot of us are there, aren't we? Or we used to be. That place where you tell friends and associates the things you plan to do the 'this year'. As you talk about it, you get visibly excited. Your friends and associates also catch that excitement! They clap, they cheer, and you get so certain that something this exciting will surely be done, must surely be done!

A week later, the excitement may still be there when you talk about it—especially when you talk about it with a new set of people. They also clap and cheer, totally feeling your energy.

But four months go by and because you didn't take steps to execute, that thing—that important, beautiful thing that would have moved you forward, moved your business forward, or situated you in a new untapped market—falls to the bottom of your priority list. You don't talk about it anymore. You're not excited about it anymore. To be honest, you've almost forgotten about it.

Save yourself that depressing reality.

How?

? When you spot a golden opportunity, take steps. Immediately. Let it be that while you're excitedly talking about it, you're also quickly taking action.

? Plot the next steps you need to take after the first one. Add timelines to them.

? Track progress on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. Every time you check your progress, let what you have currently covered be more than what you covered last time.

You can't hope that the excitement you feel will last long. It will fizzle out. Life will crowd in and give your mind pressing, daily needs to tackle. So unless you've done something about that thing you are excited about, you WILL forget about it. Strange as that sounds, it's true.

Do you want to apply for a licence? Do!

Do you want to register the business? Do!

An inquiry has come in that let you realize you could expand your current operation to offer a new service. Act!

I'm sitting here in my office, and it feels like the very air I'm breathing is charged with energy. Can you feel it?

Let's go get things done!

Have a great week ahead.

- Nkechi