It’s that time of year when resolutions, big-goal conversations, and planning are a top priority. Here’s my take on the simple plan that will move your business forward with focused action. 1-3-5 plans are nothing new, and using them the right way will mute all of the noise to advance key initiatives for your business. Start with a single piece of paper and your writing utensil of choice.
Choose the big goal your business is moving toward. List three initiatives that will make that goal happen. Under each of those three initiatives, you’ll place five action items that support your ultimate goal. Each action item moves you forward so that you can complete your three initiatives. Each initiative drives you toward your goal.
I can’t say enough how much unnecessary noise comes with typical business planning. People get wrapped around the axle and repeatedly stuck. At the end of the day, it’s about taking action. Think about it—most business plans bigger than one page are filed away somewhere, never to see the light of day. Your one-page, 1-3-5 plan can be hung on the wall to remind you every single day of your big goal and the path to reach it. Keeping it simple can be counterintuitive and more difficult than you think. It’s so easy to come up with dozens of initiatives that could benefit your business, but you’ll move the needle in the right direction by picking the most important and moving forward.
