Business Strategy Journal: A Step by Step Guide to a Successful Business Plan & Strategy

By Ashley Guillard

The Business Strategy Journal was created to break down the business planning process into simple steps that anyone can complete. When I started out as a full-time entrepreneur, I lost thousands of dollars because I did not fully understand the planning process, strategy, marketing and overall the core fundamentals of my business. Had I known what I know now, my business would have made 6 figures sooner, and I would not have lost as much money as I did.  
 
I created this book to help fellow entrepreneurs avoid the mistakes I made. It is in a journal format to help you answer the questions along the way, reduce stress, and to create your business plan in bite-size components. It is more than a book. Think of it as a teacher. It teaches you how to be successful in your business. Upon completion, you will know exactly what it takes to start and run a successful business. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Live In Fantasy Land, LLC
• Release date: Apr 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386008392

Ashley Guillard

Ashley Guillard, a Chicago native, is an entrepreneur of a digital publishing company, Live in Fantasy Land, LLC., and the author of numerous books to include, DR3AM: The Spiritual Pathway to Success, DR3AM Journal, Business Strategy Journal: A Step by Step Guide to A Successful Business Plan & Strategy and her next release, I Wrote This While Sipping Tequila: Relax & Have A Sip. She is also a Combat Veteran of the United States Army, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the mother of Lamar Guillard, Jr. As a purpose-driven millennial, Ashley is widely-known for her passion for encouraging people to pursue excellence and to become the person God has called them to be. Email: [e-mail] Website: www.AshleyGuillard.com Facebook: Ashley Guillard Instagram: @AshleyGuillard SnapChat: BeAshley1908 Amazon Author: Ashley Guillard iBooks: Ashley Guillard Barnes & Nobles & Nook: Ashley Guillard DR3AM: The Spiritual Pathway to Success Business Strategy Journal: A Step by Step Guide to A Successful Business Plan & Strategy

Book preview

BUSINESS STRATEGY JOURNAL

Also by Ashley Guillard

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Business Strategy Journal: A Step by Step Guide to a Successful Business Plan & Strategy

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Watch for more at Ashley Guillard’s site.

BUSINESS STRATEGY JOURNAL

A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PLAN & STRATEGY

ASHLEY GUILLARD

Live in Fantasy Land

Contents

Disclaimer

Introduction

SEGMENT ONE: FOUNDATION

1. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

2. PURPOSE & CUSTOMER ANALYSIS

3. OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS

4. VIABILITY

5. EXIT STRATEGY

6. LEGAL ENTITIES

7. BUSINESS NAME

8. MISSION STATEMENT

9. VISION STATEMENT

SEGMENT TWO: IDENTITY

10. CORE VALUES

11. TARGET MARKETING

12. MARKET ANALYSIS

13. COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

14. S.W.O.T. ANALYSIS

15. BUSINESS STRATEGY FORMULATION

16. BRANDING STRATEGY & EQUITY

SEGMENT THREE: EXECUTION

17. S.M.A.R.T. GOALS & OBJECTIVES

18. BUSINESS MODEL

19. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

20. ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

21. RESOURCES

22. FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS

23. BUSINESS DESCRIPTION

24. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

25. ACTION PLANS

26. SOURCES OF INFORMATION

About the Author

Copyright 2018 by Ashley Guillard

All Rights Reserved

Manufactured in the United States of America

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the author. For more information contact: [e-mail].

This Journal is dedicated to the soldiers who inspired me to found S.T.A.W. Entrepreneur Academy, Stevens, Toy, Antwan, and Washington.

You died for our freedom so why don't we be free.

#IAMSTAW

Disclaimer

The paperback version of this book is written in a journaling format to allow for aspiring business owners to develop their plan as they go along. The eBook version is to inform readers of the business planning and strategy formulation process. You may also answer the questions along the way to develop your plan.

Introduction

Idea, plan, action! Many people have ideas. Some even act on those ideas. However, those who successfully bring their ideas to life and produce positive returns, do so by starting with a plan. It is said, when you fail to plan you plan to fail, and it’s true! Business plans are designed to guide your actions, give you knowledge about your business and industry, and put processes in place that lead you to success. Essentially, it is a plan as to how a business will achieve its goals. Without one, you are entering into the market blind and doing so substantially decreases your likelihood of success. Additionally, it makes no sense to enter the market blind when you have the option to enter with knowledge, focus, and intent. Imagine a blind man walking down the street with a cane. The cane’s purpose is to guide the man to his desired destination without injury. Any bumps along the way are caught by the cane instead of the man. Now imagine, a blind man without a cane. It is possible he’d be fine, but it is more likely that he’d be hurt or misguided. This guide was created to act as a cane, assisting you with your entrance into the market by walking you through the business planning and strategy formulation process.

Some people believe that business plans are for borrowing money. Yes, you typically need a business plan to borrow money. However, equally important, the plan is also operational guidance. Summarized in your plan are the key elements of the successful operation of your business. Your plan is also used as a management tool, communication tool, identifies risks, opportunities, weakness, and threats, a guide, gives information about the industry and market, and helps to formulate a business model and strategy that is best for you. I like to compare the business planning process to the process of planning long distance road trips. When people go on long-distance road trips they take the following steps:

•Get a map or global positioning system (GPS)

•Estimate how much money they’ll need for gas and essentials

•Determine when and where they’ll need to stop

•Consider taking people with them for help

•Estimate or make a goal as to when they will arrive at their desired destination

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They take those steps, so they won’t get lost, stranded or hurt. That’s the perfect example of the importance of a business plan. It’s a plan determining everything you’ll possibly need to get you to your desired destination. It does that by developing a strategy that makes money while also minimizing losses and damages. Like a road trip, without a plan, you are setting yourself up to get lost. Still, some people take better care of road trips than their own business. Most intelligent business owners, however, understand that having a business plan is beneficial and crucial to success. Nevertheless, some skip the planning process because it seems tedious and they do not know what to do. That’s why this journal was created. It was created to make the planning process as easy as possible. It breaks the plan down into simple steps so that it can make a big impact through the accumulation of small steps. That way, it is easy for business owners to make the right decision to take positive control of their business by starting with a plan.

What’s Ahead

This guide takes you through the planning process in three segments. The information learned in each segment is needed to accurately complete the next. It is very important to thoroughly complete each segment before moving ahead. Each segment is divided into bite-size components that together complete the purpose of the segment. For example, segment one is the foundation of the business. Each component builds/adds to the completion of the foundation. You do this segment first to ensure everything you build in the latter segments are in alignment with the purpose of the organization. Segment two is the identity of the business. This segment is just like going to high-school or college as a new student. You enter and observe the different groups all going to the same school for a similar purpose but have different experiences, friends, courses, and focuses. Upon entrance, you evaluate them all and determine where you fit in based on your individual interests and needs, as well as the needs of the school. Similar experience entering the market. Upon entrance into the market, you determine where you fit in based on the needs of the market and your business’ competitive advantage (what you do best). Lastly, just like faith without works is dead so is planning. The components of segment three complete your plan by taking you through the necessary steps of action. This is where you determine how you’re going to make money (business model) and what you’ll need to do so (business strategy and resources). Successful completion of this segment may result in saving money by ensuring you and your team act with intention, focus, efficiency, and resourcefulness. Upon completion, you will have everything you need to write a persuasive executive summary. Once your plan is complete, if done correctly, you’ll be able to successfully start your business.

Segment One: Foundation

Segment One starts with guiding you through the steps to develop the foundation of your business. The foundation consists of the