Business Planning for 2019 and Beyond...This is the year to get "Traction"



For anyone who has ever started a business, reading business books to get ideas and inspiration is a part of the journey.  So, we want to use the wisdom of a simple little book with a powerful tool kit inside to help our clients use November 2018 as a breakthrough in their business growth. In my case, my first business growth spurt was started without the benefit of reading any books on business. Thanks to PowerLink, I grew in revenue and profit, but my planning skills were reinforced for only the one year I had my PowerLink Advisory Board.  That was 25 years ago.  Today, PowerLink works hard to help our clients build their planning and execution skills. Most PowerLink Advisory Boards run for two years or longer and we implemented monthly CEO Circles (mini Advisory Boards) to help our clients test and build their planning skills.  
In November, we are adopting the book, “Traction,” by Gino Wickman as the PowerLink book of 2018 to study and use as a planning tool for 2019.  For PowerLink clients (117 small and emerging businesses), we gave away a copy of “Traction” in October and this month, will be using it as reference for a very important step in every business owner’s journey.  We hear the  phrase...” work on your business, not in your business...” a lot.  The reality is, for those of us who jumped into the fire and started a business, working on your business vs. in your business is harder than it looks.  So, this year, PowerLink adopted a new program that launches this week.


Beginning with our CEO Circle schedule in Indiana, PA (Thursday, November 8that 3:30 pm), we are launching the first ever Goal Setting 2019 session in our November series.  The purpose of the meeting is to help our clients work out a simple five-step strategy for building a 2019 plan that they will work on executing through the next 12 months.  We are using “Traction” as our theme because Gino Wickman developed a very cool framework for running a business with goals. He and his devotees insist that his method for growing a business helps smart, strong, healthy companies achieve their goals faster and more consistently than anything else they have ever tried.
“If you can learn to execute on any plan and manage the details of that plan, you will have mastered the three steps for growing a business—setting the plan, executing on the plan, successfully navigating the issues that confront you as you are executing.” My personal business coach’s wise words from last week.  
Doesn’t that sound so simple?  Yet how often are we confronted with issues that prevent us from achieving that primary goal?  Or we get distracted putting out fires from a different problem and suddenly we are off track and far away from achieving the first goal? Or we rationalize that the first goal might not have been realistic, etc. etc.  Personally, I am a little tired of hearing my own excuses on some goals.  So, I am as committed to following this plan as our 117 current small business clients.
Then we will use our monthly CEO Circles and guest advisory board members and “Traction” methodology to help our owners achieve those goals.  For anyone who is a current PowerLink client or advisor, you are already invited to join us as we experience “Goal Setting for 2019.” And if you have ever had a secret desire to grow, but keep getting stuck, now might be the time to join PowerLink.  Please fill out a Discovery Form here
Special CEO Circle Series (pre-registration required) for Goal Setting 2019—three-hour sessions once per year—all other sessions are two hours
Indiana, PA (Thursday, November 8th, 3:30-6:30 pm)
Cranberry Twp., PA (Tuesday, November 13th, 8-11 am)
Monroeville, PA (Wednesday, November 14th, 3:30-6:30 pm)
Washington, PA (Thursday, November 15th, 3:30-6:30 pm)
Cranberry Twp. Executive CEO Circle (Monday, November 19th, 4:30-7:30 pm) (By invitation only)
Penn State, PA (Tuesday, November 20th, 2-5 pm)
Northside, Pittsburgh (Tuesday, November 27th, 5-8 pm)
Wilkinsburg, PA (Thursday, November 29th, 10 am – 1 pm)
If you are a PowerLink advisor and have not committed to joining one of these sessions, please reach out and let us know which location is the most convenient for you.  Happy planning!  

Anita Brattina, CEO, PowerLink
anita@powerlink.org
November 5, 2018


Comments