Starting a business can be a daunting experience, but with a clearly mapped out strategy, you can obtain results that help you not only break through business barriers, but also scale in time and grow exponentially.
This is why I recommend this little but insightful book “Strategy Plain and Simple” by Vaughan Evans. Just like the title, it’s a pretty straightforward book, written in simple terms. This makes it easy to understand and implement.
It’s focused on three key areas: 1. Understanding the market. 2. Creating competitive advantage. 3. Managing risks.
These three key areas have been broken down further into small bites and explained in detail. It’s such an insightful book that gives valuable and practical advice.
You’ve got to read this one to see for yourself.
Highly recommended for entrepreneurs, startup managers and business oriented individuals.
PS: This isn’t one of those bulky business books that may take you forever to read. So for those who love small and insightful books, this is one of them.
This is a great book, but one that is difficult to read, because some chapters will hit you harder than some.
Especially when those chapters are focused on places you’ve probably experienced some defeat in that past, so your heart remains open and eager to see some real and tangible change.
It’s a book you may need to read slowly, and revisit over and over again. It’s a book that will help you become more specific with how you pray and will empower you with new knowledge and practical ways to do so.
I particularly like the tone of this book, it’s almost like you’re having a very warm and friendly conversation, spiced up with relatable girl talk with the author, Priscilla Shirer.
One that leads to practical steps and intentional focus on core areas of life that really matter.
Think of this book as a strategy tool for war, while on your knees.
It’s a book for everyone and every woman.
I certainly recommend this book by Priscilla Shirer. Definitely a great read.
“Passing It On” is a great book about the core of leadership. Written by the late Dr. Myles Munroe of blessed memory. Someone I consider to be one of the greatest leadership Coach, Teacher and Leader of all time.
This book will have you think deep and experience some mind shifts, if you really desire sustainable and impactful leadership. It’s about the legacy of leadership and about the greatest leader of all time that walked the face of the earth. Find out who this is.
It’s a book that can’t be rushed. One you’ll most likely have to go back to from time to time as you go through your own journey of leadership and service. It applies to all industries for anyone with an open mind, a thirst for growth and truth. It’s a book for everyone who desires to have an impactful life and a great Legacy that transcends time.
It was bittersweet reading this book, knowing it’s author is no more. But his words, his knowledge, his legacy, lives on and that makes me happy, hopeful and thankful for this gift. His gift to us all.
Not done with this book yet. But I certainly recommend this to everyone, every leader, young or old and all those who aspire to lead their lives and organizations well.
Organization and a well rested mind is key to achieving success as a virtual worker or coordinator.
Today’s jobs no longer entail just physical coordination, but also a handful of virtual responsibilities, since a lot of job roles are beginning to get more automated and entail a lot of digital tools and applications for successful operations.
For a person whose sole work entails virtual coordination or for a person who has a mix of both virtually responsibilities and physical responsibilities, some ground rules and balance have to be established in order to achieve success.
Here are seven (7) things to consider:
Structure:
Just like a physical workplace, your virtual work place also needs to be well structured to function optimally.
From the devices needed for your execution, to the resources and tools such as the internet, power supply, your work space and furniture, applications and software that are required to get the work done.
The state of all of these determines if you will experience less stress while working. If these are all in good condition, it influences and enhances the mind’s productivity and reduces the number of hitches that may be experienced.
Coordination and Prioritization:
To stay organized virtually implies good organization and coordination.
From proper naming of files to grouping of relate items or files, to effective and clear communication about tasks to your virtual team, to prioritizing on the urgent and important tasks that need to be attended to before others, etc.
When all of these are properly aligned, it enhances greatly the success and speed of execution of tasks that you may have for each day. Creating a “To-Do-List”, scheduling tasks and setting reminders for your activities will certainly help you achieve better coordination and prioritization.
Automation and Activities:
Working virtually can be a very huge task, especially when multiple minute tasks are lined up for execution daily.
Many of these monotonous tasks would be more enjoyable if they were automated.
It is very easy to fall into the trap of
thinking these things would take very little of our time, however after a
while, it can become tiring, especially with others physical tasks that need
our attention come our way. It is also very easy to lose interest in the
monotonous ritual and we find that some crucial details in communication may become
mixed up often or lost when working virtually.
All of these can be avoided when software, applications or structures that aid automation or reduces the daily stress or responsibilities are used. Some of them include cloud services such as (Google Drive, Dropbox etc.), file sharing applications (WeTransfer, Google Drive), Content automation Services (MailChimp, Hoote Suite, Buffer etc.) and any other applications that enhance your workflow virtually.
Third parties and Team work:
Having a strong and reliable team, that understands the work process, the purpose of a project, the urgency of various task and the cooperation required for execution, is very important.
It also helps greatly if the team members are equipped with the relevant hard skills for execution.
This is very important especially for rainy days, when you need the total support of the team or their assistance in getting some things done on your behalf.
To achieve this will require effective communication, sometimes training and a lot of patience as the team grows. In the long run, time with a steady team helps you understand each member, their strengths and weaknesses. This eventually leads to the establishment of a workflow that empowers you all to work in sync without too many corrections, back and forth conversations or confusion on how to get things done virtually.
Activity follow-up:
Working virtually can many times entail multiple communication platforms and tasks with a variety of people.
As an enabler or driver of a task, it is important to do a regular follow up regarding diverse responsibilities assigned to the people you work with virtually.
This is because as humans who have other needs that require our attention daily, we sometimes forget virtual conversations that require our input or feedback.
So, it won’t hurt to do a follow up or send a subtle reminder regarding tasks and responsibilities. This way, you would be able to meet the timeline assigned to various projects or responsibilities.
Boundaries and the close of business:
It is easy to fall into the “Superman” and “Wonder Woman” trap.
Meaning, getting caught up totally in work without adequate breaks or short walks instead of long hours sitting and other self-care routines.
Many times, we find ourselves working late
into the day or night and this could sometimes be a strategy for urgent
projects for short periods, but the long run effect of such a work culture is
“Burn-Out” and “Ineffectiveness”.
So it is important to draw the line without
guilt and set some boundaries and switch off from the work mode, like you would
for a physical work place. Effective virtual work requires that these rules and
boundaries be adhered to achieve success.
Some of them could include: having a check-out time from work without taking work home virtually and creating a system that accommodates your lunch breaks and other rest periods as required.
Relaxation and mental health:
Sometimes working virtually or remotely can be hard and lonely, especially when your team is located in a different geographical location or if you work alone as a consultant or an entrepreneur.
This sometimes affects your motivation to
keep working effectively and consistently. So a leave from work or a period of long
rest is always welcomed after a long sessions of work, because it is really important
to get refreshed and get the necessary rest required for the long haul.
This time off virtual work, creates room for
you to bond with friends, catch up with colleagues or with other more relaxing
and fun activities. This certainly is a good investment for sound health
(physically and mentally) and enhances productivity at work.
In conclusion, working virtually at optimal performance can
be achieved, but not without the required efforts to ensure your virtual work
experience and that of your team becomes enjoyable and effective.
The above highlights are only guides that can enhance this process, however, what counts most, is being able to have clarity of purpose and establish a virtual structure that works for you, one that is sustainable and can be replicated.
Thank you for reading.
Article by Opeolu Adeyemi. Corporate Communications and Public Relations Consultant Founder, Brave Publicity Ink!
Vision is the ability to see clearly. The ability to see beyond the immediate circumstances that surround us to what could be. It is the driving force for anything that would stand the test of time.
It fuels our passions, decisions, thoughts and actions towards the actualization of the things we deeply desire. Vision is the force behind successful brands. It keeps the dream alive and propels the dreamer forward in spite of obstacles and challenges.
Without vision, dreams will be lost and dreamers will give up easily at seed time, never pushing through to harvest season to see their visions come alive. Vision fuels the passion and staying power till all is fulfilled.
Vision always precedes structure and content, and the power of vision is strengthened with excellent strategy and consistent execution.
If businesses, brands and people could understand this clearly mapped out principle, then the world would become a much productive and better place.
The Strategy for
Vision
Using some Biblical principles and lessons in view of vision, outlined below are some strategies and practical steps. Principles that can be applied by anyone in the pursuit and accomplishment of their vision, goals and aspirations.
Vision
Why should you work with a strategy when you’ve got a vision?
You should because God is the Ultimate and Grand Master Strategist. His DNA flows through you and you have no choice than to function just as He does. He set out with a strategy pattern right from the beginning, one we can all learn much from.
Genesis 1:1 says “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:2 says: “The earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep.”
What does this mean? The first statement says heaven and earth were created and then the very next verse says, the earth was without form, it was empty and there was darkness. Contradictory right? No.
God already saw what He wanted to create right from the beginning. A complete vision, even though the reality at that moment was emptiness, darkness and the existence of nothing.
Lesson 1:
You’ve got to see the end from the beginning.
Your dreams and aspirations have to be a concluded matter in the eye of your mind. Many times, when we have big aspirations, the reality around may look like nothing could happen, but once you are able to see and have clarity of Vision, you’ve completed the first phase of your strategy.
Structure
Between Genesis 1: 1-18, we see God get busy with putting things in place be speaking and calling forth things to ensure that there was structure in place.
Lesson 2:
Vision without structure would only make a mess.
Many people, nations and economies could learn from this. Without proper structures in place, one would end up putting right things in wrong places. So structure for all things is a very critical next step.
Sometimes, you may not have any resources to put structures in place, but as God’s child, you have His DNA and He is your ultimate resource. In fact, He is resource Himself.
So you speak things into existence, just like your Father in Heaven did at creation. Not just positive declarations or affirmations, but declarations of His promises from His word, the Bible.
As you speak these words, you begin to believe them and it encourages you when faced with obstacles.
Faith or a firm believe comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. So you have to hear and constantly remind yourself of the truth of God’s Word about you and your future. This propels you to take actions that move you forward.
So make moves in faith, take steps.
This is important because God blesses the work of your hands and not just your words or dreams or desires. Remember, faith without works is dead. So, make moves to put structures in place about whatever vision or dream you have in mind.
Now, “Structure” can mean different things to different people. To one it could mean “Finance”, to another “Training” and yet to another “Skill acquisition”.
It could also mean a variety of things like getting “An Education”, “Become an Expert”, “Securing a Physical building”, “Documentations”, “Creating a website”, “Creating an Online Presence” etc.
The bottom line is, you have to be able to identify the structures you need to put in place, structures that would make what you’ve envisioned work smoothly eventually.
Order is critical to the success of any vision and without the right structures in place, trying to accomplish any vision or a goal can easily turn a great dream into something very chaotic with lots of regrets.
Content
Next, from Genesis 1:20-27, we see God begin to fix in the creatures he made into the various structures He had put in place. That’s called CONTENT. He first created the resources and structures required for their survival, before bringing them in.
Lesson 3:
Vision and structure always precedes content.
So, how does this relate to you?
Well, as you go through your life’s journey, God will place dreams and aspirations in your heart for various purposes and industries. You’ve got to see it first and believe it. Then work towards making it a reality, putting structures and resources in place first.
For without structures, those you bring aboard your vision could become confused about where you are headed as their leader, or what is expected of them in terms of roles and responsibilities that would help move the vision forward. So, do things differently.
The above are strategies and life principles, that are applicable to individuals and corporations. One provided by the Creator Himself, proven over and over again to always work and produce results.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time for some strategies!
Getting Practical with a Strategic Plan.
Taking into consideration the principle above of VISION, STRUCTURE and CONTENT. We are sure you’ve realized that for any vision that would stand the test of time with a strong legacy, requires much depth, structures, resources and input from others or a team for success in the long run.
Every vision takes time before it becomes a true picture of itself, but the important thing is to be able to plan efficiently and pace yourself for the long haul.
This implies having a “Strategic Plan” for specific periods that must be evaluated from time to time.
A simple strategic plan should contain the following:
1. Your Vision Statement
This refers to your overall vision as a carefully articulated statement.
An example could be: “To become Africa’s Leading Pediatric Consultant with a chain of state-of-the-art medical facilities across the African continent, offering prompt and excellent medical services to children.”
The point is, you need to identify the big picture and try to articulate this clearly as a vision statement.
2. Your Action Plan
This should be broken into short-term goals (6 months, a year) or long-term goals (5 years, 15 years or more). Irrespective of which you choose, your action plan should capture action steps that will help in the actualization of your vision for that period of time.
Still in line with the example above, a short-term action plan for a year under a career category could be to:
“Get into Medical School” and some action steps for this particular goal could include:
*Study for 2 hours daily after each class. *Ace all courses, especially science courses. *Graduate with an excellent result in high school. *Volunteer with medical related organizations during school breaks to increase my extracurricular activities via Internships and volunteer work experiences. *Apply to win a college scholarship among the top 10 leading medical colleges in the world etc.
3. Your Key Performance Indicators
Also known as KPI’s. This means you need to identify those things that indicate that you are making good progress towards the accomplishment of the goals for your vision.
Your KPI’s using the example above could include some of the following:
* Studying and understanding better my subjects after each school day. *Obtain an A grade in all courses especially my science courses. *Successful internship with a medical nonprofit at the end of my summer break. * Securing at least 5 medical school scholarship offers at the end of my school year etc.
4. Your Accountability Resources
This means identifying those things or people that will help keep you accountable for accomplishing your goals in view of the vision set.
This could include: Family members, mentors, teachers, friends and people you can really trust. It could also mean the use of technology and tools such as your mobile phone for keeping a schedule or setting reminders that help you stay organized and keep you on track daily.
Usually a schedule or tool that helps you identify things you need to do, friends or people that you can partners with in achieving some action step such as “studying daily” etc.
We hope you get the idea, and all of this should ultimately help you make steady progress daily.
Conclusion
Your strategic plan does not have to be detailed to the T, but should only help enhance your productivity in the accomplishment of your goals and overall vision.
It is however important to stay flexible, as sometimes our plans are influenced by external factors, changes and challenges. In such moments, you must think productively about what can be done to move forward in accomplishing your vision, instead of staying stuck.
As long as you have the vision within your heart and believe in it, your actions, decisions and steps will automatically flow and align towards its accomplishment, until it is done.
The Brave Planner Tool
Now, if putting together a strategic plan would prove to be too much of a task for you, not to worry! We have just the right tool for you, called the “Brave Planner Tool” designed and created by Brave Publicity Ink.
This tool is available at ouronline store. It is a ready-made and easy to use tool. It can be customized to help you get more organized in crafting and putting together a compelling and actionable strategy for your vision!
Article by Opeolu Adeyemi. Corporate Communications and Public Relations Consultant Founder, Brave Publicity Ink!
Brave Publicity Ink! 