Strategic planning

I think I speak for most of the business world when I say that 2009 has been a tough year and we will be glad to say goodby to it at the end of next month. Managing a business in a deep recession can force you to focus on today and not so much on tomorrow. In business you always need to plan ahead to make sure you are ready for what lies ahead both in the way of opportunities and adversities. In 2010 there will be opportunities and there will be challenges. How much of either remains to be seen. One thing for sure is most of us want to avoid the problems we faced this year. Now is the time start planning if you have not done so already. List out your opportunities and threats. Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Come up with a plan to maximize your opportunities and limit your threats. Put your plan in writting and hold yourself accountable. Be ready to kick off your plan on Monday the 4th of January. If you don't have your plan ready untill Feb you will have only 11 months, not 12 to make it the kind of year you want.
Start now and use every weekend to work on this. I can tell you where I will be this Saturday and every Saturday for the rest of the year, right here planning. I hope my competition enjoys their weekends and time off. Remember times have changed and you better change with it. What once was good enough will not fly going forward.