Finding a routine can unlock the growth potential of a business.  To establish a routine, one way is to write a 'one-page plan'.  By keeping it simple, and you have to admit that just one page is about as simple as you could get, goals are very clear.  On the other hand, goals are worthless if there is no change or things don't start to be done differently.

A one-page plan does not have to be complicated.  Its purpose is to focus on strategy because SME's are facing around two to five times more competitors than past years.  Whether the market is local or overseas you can be sure that the competitive landscape has changed, hence the importance of routine and repeatability for the organization.

What are the three main barriers to growth or improvement?

1. Growing the people, or The Right People doing the Right Things Right.

In any size organization, all of the wisdom does not reside at the top (true, even at mine), so everyone needs to know what you want to achieve (say $1M turnover), the few key initiatives to achieve it ( x new customers, explain and sell value not price, y new products or services, etc.).

2. Get the processes right , and ensure these are scalable.

Systems are reasonably simple, but ensure you consider the work needed to use the system.  Larger businesses have systems and the people to run them; don't tie up your productive people just to get data to do your GST returns, the data gathering and systems must help your people to achieve the goals (and also do the BAS).

3. Be effective in marketing.

Nothing happens until you sell something, and to make a sale, it is the function needed to attract customers, convince them you provide value, and ensure they return.  Your marketing must be aimed at the right target market and tell them what they need to know; it's not just the media you use, but also the message and the 'feeling' it leaves.

Let's not bog down using a one-page plan (yet); we'll first have a look at how to look forward by looking back, and then why your marketing needs to be about putting your best foot forward.  (And, really, you wouldn't read it anyway if I put it all in one article!)