The document discusses the importance of business planning and goal setting. It states that while plans will inevitably change, having a plan provides structure and a sense of purpose. An effective plan includes both short-term tasks and long-term goals extending five years into the future. The plan should be flexible to allow for learning from mistakes and setbacks, which are opportunities for continuous improvement. Successful businesses are the product of an adaptive, learning mindset from their leaders.

1. What is the Plan?
The Importance of Business Planning
and Goal Setting
Melissa Evans
-VP of Motivating The Masses-
@masterbizcoach

2. Clearly an action plan to pursue a business or a career
opportunity is more often than not a case of dealing with
many, many unknowns. Plans, as they say should not be set
in concrete; not in sifting sand. But we all need plans. The
human condition is such that most people require structure,
a sense of purpose, a clear direction. They also express the
mission, the underlying "reason" to be doing what you're
doing.
@masterbizcoach

3. A plan is often complex but it need not be. Simplicity and
elimination of unnecessary steps should be guiding
principles. Typically, people learn by taking action and then
take corrective action in developing a basic model or
prototype.
@masterbizcoach

4. First, and foremost we need a short-term plan and a rhythm
that sets the tasks for all involved in the business. Each
successful business has a certain 'rhythm' about it. There's a
strong sense that people are busy but not chaotically busy;
that things get done within the context of a master plan. The
long term plan addresses the question "where do you want
to be in five years?" What will the business look like? What
are the metrics that make up this long term business goal?
Create the picture, down to the detail (number of people,
location, and the like).
@masterbizcoach

5. The rules?
The first rule is: don't put limits on your goals.
The higher you aim, the higher you'll go. To quote Werner
Von Braun, the early developer of the space rocket, who
said, "Man belongs where man wants to go."
@masterbizcoach

6. Business planning needs great flexibility and business
leaders who have their sights on the 'big picture', the long
term goal, will invariably be willing to respond to
setbacks, with an attitude of "what can I learn from this?'
This is something that great medical practitioners attest to.
Doctors learn about the patient and their disease when they
apply their skills to the situation. There would be no learning
if they did nothing. Commodity traders make plenty of
mistakes but they learn from their mistakes and move on.
Business planning is like any discipline: it's a learning 'curve'.
@masterbizcoach

7. There is little doubt that successful businesses are the
product of a successful mindset. This is something that is
challenged every day in business. Every setback is an
opportunity to continuously improve an aspect of the
business. The role of the business leader is to:
@masterbizcoach

8. - Identify weaknesses and take action to correct
- To be relentlessly persistent about improving procedures -
to stay with the goal but also try new approaches.
- Understand and appreciate that there is a good side to
every situation.
- Accept that every setback is a lesson.
@masterbizcoach