6 steps to create a business plan in one hour
Trust me, one hour is all you need to get your strategy locked in.
Let’s get one thing straight: you don’t need weeks of brainstorming or a fancy 30-page document to start a business. You need one hour. Dassit.
When I used to do group sales presentations, I followed the standard 90 minutes-plus model because that’s what all my peers did. But after a while, I started noticing people checking out.
You could see it in their eyes - they were gone, long before I finished.
So, I cut the time down. Eventually, I got my presentation down to 40 minutes. And guess what? Same close rates, if not better, compared to my colleagues who stuck to the longer presentations.
Did you know that only 33% of entrepreneurs have a formal business plan?
And yet, most successful entrepreneurs will tell you having a plan - no matter how simple - is the biggest key to their success. Even with the twists and turns that all businesses face, the changes that need to be made along the way, it was much easier for them to stay focused on the end goal with a clear roadmap laid out.
But forget the idea that business plans need to be 50-page reports. What you need is a simple, actionable plan you can put together in one hour.
My S.I.M.P.L.E. Framework will take you from no plan to an actionable business strategy in just 60 minutes:
• S – Set a Clear Goal: What’s the endgame? Define your success in one sentence.
• I – Identify Key Steps: List 3-5 non-negotiable steps to get there.
• M – Map Your Resources: What do you have and what do you need? Quick assessment.
• P – Pinpoint Your Audience: Who’s this for? Be specific.
• L – Leverage Your Strengths: Use what you’re good at to move faster.
• E – Evaluate Weekly: Set time to review and adjust your progress.
Why This Works
When I shortened my presentations, people stayed engaged, and I saw better results without dragging things out. It’s the same with business planning. You don’t need to spend days or weeks on this. Focus on the essentials and get moving.
Here’s what you’ll get out of it:
• Clarity on your goals.
• Confidence because you know exactly what to do next.
• Less overwhelm since you’ve cut out the fluff.
“Subtraction is equally as important as addition.”
Your Turn
You’ve got one hour. Make it count.