Very seldom do two entrepreneurs ever have the same goals and objectives. Because of this uniqueness, it is important for emerging businesses of all sizes to know where they are going and how they are going to get there. This is important not only from inception but also throughout the lifecycle of the business. Planning is the first step in helping the entrepreneur accomplish his or her goals. Without a well thought out strategic plan you won't know if you're as effective as you thought you could be, or even worse, you may find yourself wasting time or spinning your wheels.
Most people believe that planning is no more than thinking.
To help you create a strategic plan that is effective, simple and that does not require a lot of preparation time, use the G.O.S.P.A. model . Goals have a general direction, however, they are not quantifiable nor do they set timetables. Goals should be viewed as your Company's mission statement. Objectives should be specific, quantifiable and should incorporate timetables. Strategies imply specific action and further breakdown the objectives into manageable subsets.