Starting your business plan

The first fundamental question we are going to address is, where are you going?

Let's Get Started!


The first fundamental question we are going to address is, where are you going? In order to do that, we are going to dive into the Collins-Porras vision framework developed by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras. This is the simplest and most effective way that we have found to clarify your organization's vision. Your vision is the answer to the question of are you are going. 


"if you examine the historical evolution of great companies closely… you will find that, at some point, while the company was still relatively small, key leaders instilled a compelling vision into the organization." – Jim Collins and Bill Lazier (Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0)


So why does vision matter? There are lots of reasons, but here are a few significant ones we want to highlight for your consideration. 


  1. An excellent company vision inspires action in everybody. 
  2. Your vision creates the story of your organization. 
  3. A compelling vision unites people.
  4. A strong vision guides our decision-making. 


"If nobody knows what the vision and direction and goals are, then employees have nothing to serve but themselves." - Ken Blanchard, Author of The One Minute Manager. 

 

One challenge in creating a business plan is that key terms can vary widely depending on whom you talk to. At StacDek, we try to keep things simple, so we are going to provide the best definitions that we have found for every key term in your business plan. Be aware that as you communicate your organization's business plan, you may need to provide these definitions to other people to encourage alignment.  


Values & Beliefs - The principles and philosophies that guide your business. 


Purpose - The "Why" behind your business. 


Mission - The big goal you are currently pursuing. 


Jim Collins uses this analogy to help explain the difference between mission and purpose better. "Think of pursuing a guiding star across a mountain range. Your purpose is the guiding star, always on the horizon, never attainable, but always pulling it forward. Your mission, on the other hand, is the specific Mountaineer climbing at the moment."


Before we dive into writing your company's vision statement, it will be helpful to download our vision statement form by clicking here. 

Up next

Outlining your values and beliefs

what are the principles and philosophies that guide your business?

Course content

Business Plan 1.0 - Overview
Business Plan 1.0 - Overview
Starting your business plan
Starting your business plan
Outlining your values and beliefs
Outlining your values and beliefs
Let's talk about purpose. 
Let's talk about purpose. 
What's your current mission?
What's your current mission?
Let's talk about strategy
Let's talk about strategy
How will you know if we are on track?
How will you know if we are on track?
So what's next?
So what's next?
Review
Review

Starting your business plan

The first fundamental question we are going to address is, where are you going?

Let's Get Started!


The first fundamental question we are going to address is, where are you going? In order to do that, we are going to dive into the Collins-Porras vision framework developed by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras. This is the simplest and most effective way that we have found to clarify your organization's vision. Your vision is the answer to the question of are you are going. 


"if you examine the historical evolution of great companies closely… you will find that, at some point, while the company was still relatively small, key leaders instilled a compelling vision into the organization." – Jim Collins and Bill Lazier (Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0)


So why does vision matter? There are lots of reasons, but here are a few significant ones we want to highlight for your consideration. 


  1. An excellent company vision inspires action in everybody. 
  2. Your vision creates the story of your organization. 
  3. A compelling vision unites people.
  4. A strong vision guides our decision-making. 


"If nobody knows what the vision and direction and goals are, then employees have nothing to serve but themselves." - Ken Blanchard, Author of The One Minute Manager. 

 

One challenge in creating a business plan is that key terms can vary widely depending on whom you talk to. At StacDek, we try to keep things simple, so we are going to provide the best definitions that we have found for every key term in your business plan. Be aware that as you communicate your organization's business plan, you may need to provide these definitions to other people to encourage alignment.  


Values & Beliefs - The principles and philosophies that guide your business. 


Purpose - The "Why" behind your business. 


Mission - The big goal you are currently pursuing. 


Jim Collins uses this analogy to help explain the difference between mission and purpose better. "Think of pursuing a guiding star across a mountain range. Your purpose is the guiding star, always on the horizon, never attainable, but always pulling it forward. Your mission, on the other hand, is the specific Mountaineer climbing at the moment."


Before we dive into writing your company's vision statement, it will be helpful to download our vision statement form by clicking here. 

Up next

Outlining your values and beliefs

what are the principles and philosophies that guide your business?

Course content

Business Plan 1.0 - Overview
Business Plan 1.0 - Overview
Starting your business plan
Starting your business plan
Outlining your values and beliefs
Outlining your values and beliefs
Let's talk about purpose. 
Let's talk about purpose. 
What's your current mission?
What's your current mission?
Let's talk about strategy
Let's talk about strategy
How will you know if we are on track?
How will you know if we are on track?
So what's next?
So what's next?
Review
Review