The roadmap from start to growth and prosperity

PICTURE: Helge V. Keitel, KK-Net, Sotkamo (22.1.2013)

I sketched an easy to use roadmap and business plan for anyone dreaming about becoming an entrepreneur, innovator or a business person.

1. innovation
2. business idea
3. start-up
4. financing
5. organization
6. facilities
7. building the bridge over the valley of death (the distance can be measured in “months” and /or “years”)
8. how to finance and execute growth
9. international operations (penetration – dedication – saturation)
10. the challenges of competition, cost efficiency, productivity and continuous innovation

This picture is a great metaphor of the early stage of any entrepreneur. Make sure you’ve someone willing to help you, to give you advice and take you over the bridge of troubled waters. The “business angel” is also visualized. There’re new dangers waiting around the corner when your business starts growing.

Create a Business Plan: Step 3 of 10 Steps to Open for Business

Create a Business Plan: Step 3 of 10 Steps to Open for Business: "In our experience, the process of creating and writing a business plan is as valuable as the end product itself - a document that will provide the priorities, context and sanity you’ll need as you start up your business.

Just remember that the most important audience for a business plan is YOU!

You’ll be forced to be accountable to all of the statements, claims, stats and facts inside of it. You may also use your business plan as a tool to generate interest from financiers, prospective employees and strategic partners.

We focus on 3 aspects of business planning to consider as you write a business plan:

1. The 'Defining Dozen' questions you must answer
   
2. Key components of a business plan
   
3. Writing a business plan