Page 6 - The 7 Biggest Mistakes Trades and Builders Unwittingly Make

Lack of long term

5 planning and

organisation

This again relates to the previous point, but of min support would you have in place etc. etc.
course applies to the wider business. Unless
you have an idea of where you are heading, you Then work backwards, using exactly the same
could end up anywhere, or more than likely go- questions but for the business in 2 years time
ing round in circles chasing your tail! and 1 year from now. Now break the next year
down into quarters and establish the key prior-
Unless you have a long-term plan in place with ities that need to be the focus for each quarter
measurable milestones along the way, it is e.g. recruit an admin assistant, purchase anoth-
very likely that all you will be doing is reacting er van, revamp the website.
to whatever appears to be the biggest priority.
Without a proactive approach, it is a very diffi- Finally share this plan with someone, this could
cult to ensure that you have time set aside to be a family member, business partner, your PA
focus on the bigger priorities required to move or a mentor and ask them to hold you account-
the business forward. able. The worst thing you can be is your own
boss, as it very easy to just not follow through!
First of all imagine where you would like your
business to be 3 years from now, what would TOP TIP – Hold a long term planning session
your annual sales be, how much profit would with key members of your team, asking them
you be making, how many staff would be em- for their input to highlight goals for the next 3,
ployed, how many vehicles would you have on 2 and 1 years.
the road, would you require an office, what ad-

EXERCISE

Where would you like your business to be in 3 years from now?

What would be different?

What would you be doing that would be different?

6 Alison Warner The 7 Biggest Mistakes Trades and Builders Unwittingly Make http://www.buildandgrow.org.uk/