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FROM
GOOD GREAT
TO
HOW TO CREATE A STRATEGIC
PLAN THAT PROPELS YOUR
BUSINESS FORWARD
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By Lesley Mast,
CPA, principal
and director of
tax services
(Wooster office)
& Chad Bice,
CPA, principal
(Zanesville office)
great plan is only, well, great, if it’s backed by a great strategy – the more you
plan and forecast for the future, especially when it comes to business endeavors, the more likely you are to succeed. Success doesn’t happen without
some blood, sweat and tears, and neither does a solid strategic plan. It takes a great
deal of research, discovery and participation to bring such a plan to fruition … but
it’s well worth the effort.
Rea just went through the strategic planning process, and it was so eye-opening
that we wanted to share the wealth. Before we tell you about our key takeaways, you
really need to understand how important this type of plan is to your business’s future.
WHY?
As any business owner knows, it’s easy to get caught up in your day-to-day operations and lose sight of the long-term goal. And if you aren’t focusing on your longterm goals, how can you expect the rest of your team to have a clear vision of your
company’s future? That’s where a strategic plan comes in – it provides you and your
employees with a sense of direction, which helps you when you
make decisions and prioritize work.
Your strategic plan may seem like a moving
target (and, in fact, should be), but having specific, constant goals in mind while
running the operations of your business
will add purpose to your daily grind.
In other words: either you can run
your day or you can let your day
run you. Don’t choose the latter.
Vocalizing your strategic plan
will help you maintain control
over your company and will
align everyone under shared
objectives.
A STRATEGIC PLAN ALLOWS YOU TO:
CLARIFY PRIORITIES AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
ENGAGE ALL TEAM MEMBERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ROLE IN THE COMPANY
GIVE ALL EMPLOYEES COMMON TERMINOLOGY AND OBJECTIVES TO WORK TOWARD
ACCOMPLISH GOALS, AND PROVIDE A MEASURE FOR SUCCESS
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