Trending
Traditional business planning often feels like a broken record.
You analyze your strengths and weaknesses, craft a direction, set goals, then massage the numbers until they appease the higher-ups.
But the approach I created (and was successful in driving a startup to A BILLION IN SALES) prioritizes financial goals as the starting point in building a strategy.
Here’s a new way to start: decide HOW BIG you want to be.
This seemingly simple question, HOW BIG? is the lynchpin of a more effective planning process.
Here’s why:
Financial Goals Drive Strategy — Traditionally, financial results come after the strategy.
But what if you flipped it? Setting ambitious growth goals (25% vs 10%) forces you to develop a bolder strategy with different tactics.
Think of new markets, strategic partnerships, or innovative marketing approaches.
Stretch Goals Spark Creativity — Setting a ‘realistic’ goal won’t push you to innovate.
Your HOW BIG target should make you sweat a little. It should force you out of your comfort zone and into creative problem-solving.
24 Months, Not 5 Years — The world changes fast.
Long-term plans create a false sense of security and can delay necessary actions.
Focus on a 24-month window that allows for agility and responsiveness to unforeseen events.
How to Craft Your HOW BIG Goal
- Push for Boldness: Don’t settle for a target you can achieve with business-as-usual. Aim high and force yourself to get creative.
- Embrace Discomfort: Your HOW BIG goal should feel risky. It’s supposed to push you outside your comfort zone.
- Focus on Intent: This is a declaration of ambition, not a detailed roadmap. You’ll figure out the “HOW” later. It will drive you to innovate.
- Challenge Trends: Don’t just project past performance. Disruption is the name of the game.
By prioritizing your HOW BIG ambition, you create a strategic plan that fosters innovation and positions you for real growth.
Related: Turn Surprises Into Strength: Reacting as a Winning Strategy