Stategic Blueprinting: It’s More Than Just a Strategic Plan

Strategic blueprinting vs strategic planning

Merely mentioning strategic planning can strike terror in the hearts of small business owners.  Many entrepreneurs think it’s not for them; it’s for the big guys.   Usually, they dread the process because they don’t understand the process.  They envision months of work and piles of paper.   But this does not have to be the case.

It is this archaic image that made me rethink how planning is traditionally done.  Streamlining the process to accommodate today’s fast-paced business environment led to a more concise and easier system to implement – strategic blueprinting.  This system provides a more contemporary and visual mechanism designed as a guide for how and where you want your business to grow.  The more visual and concise, the better.

Still not clear?

Forget your business for a moment…let’s consider how you build a house – big or small.  You begin with blueprint drawings.  You lay a foundation, then build according to the plan.  And, you get what you drew on the blueprint – be it a 500-square foot cottage or a 20,000 square-foot mansion.  The outcome is predictable.  And, predictability is the key to success.

Now, let’s look at what you are doing.

Do you want to build a company, launch a new product or sell a service? Do you want to generate a part-time income from a hobby, create a one-person consultancy or build a multi-million dollar mega-corporation?  You know it can be done.

So, where do you begin?

You begin with a vision of your desired result.  What are you going to build, create or grow?  Once you decide what your goal is, developing a strategic blueprint will get you where you want to go.   Some of my clients have found that mindmapping the process helps visually.  While you can do a mindmap with pen and paper, there are a number of free sources for mindmapping software available – just do a google search.   Another free tool you may find helpful during the blueprinting process is The Brain.

Strategy Talk Tip:  visualize before you venture.

It will save you time, energy and money.

Before you go, share this post with your friends it you found it helpful.   Thanks.

Amelia Brazell, Strategy Source, Inc.