Why and how to create your perfect business

Seventeen years in business

Even with seventeen years in business, I rarely sit back and reflect. More importantly, I rarely look forward beyond the current year.

It’s time to look forward and keep looking there.

Creating a picture of my perfect business

I recently took part in a business course where the facilitator asked me to create a bigger picture of my perfect business. Once I’d described my perfect business, she kept telling me to look at it.

I looked at it.

And then I’d forget about it.

I wasn’t really paying attention to my perfect business, simply seeing it and then letting it get buried under my mental to-do list.

My ‘A-HA!’ moment

I realised she was actually asking me to look at my perfect business with a view to working toward it.

Oh, you mean as if it might really happen one day?

That was an AHA! moment.

Want more articles like this? Check out the setting business goals section.

The bigger picture versus the to-do list

I’ve always felt victorious when ticking off today’s to-do list. If I’m honest though, that list is full of stuff with no real consequence for the business.

As a result of thinking about what my perfect business will look like, I plan the week with one eye on the bigger picture. I’m not just ticking off today’s boxes, but boxes that are anchoring my business for the long term.

Long range business goals

I’m not sure I’ve ever strategically worked toward a long range business goal before. I’ve mostly been focused on staying in business. But now that I have a description of my perfect business, I feel like I’m already building it.

Instead of a to-do list that behaves like an unguided missile, my weekly and monthly program now points to my perfect scenario.

These questions helped me create my perfect business

• What is my perfect business renowned for?
• What does it feel like to own this perfect business?
• What kind of perfect people will work in and around my perfect business?
• What kind of perfect clients would I like?
• What would the perfect financial situation be?

Now ask, what is one thing I can do this week toward each of these five visions?

A big picture to-do list

I’ve found it powerful to start implementing a grounded long range vision for the business. I’m enjoying ticking long term as well as short term boxes off my to-do list.

Of course, not everything will go perfectly to plan, but at least I know what I’m aiming for.

Just imagine if I’d been this strategic seventeen years ago!

What are your thoughts on creating your perfect business?