Creating an inspiring business future

By John Corban

Think back to when you started your business – you were probably somewhat fearful, but incredibly excited about what you were starting. And you probably imagined growing your business over time to a larger business with a key team, great clients, good profits, and a reasonably high profile.

When you look back, have you achieved what you imagined, and more? Are you still in that process? Have you given up on that imagined vision?

What I am writing about in this article will help all business owners, regardless of what stage they are at in their business timeline.

Ideal for any business

Creating and communicating a business vision is a very uplifting, unifying and inspiring experience for any company. The companies that have achieved their first five or ten-year vision need to keep the next five years fresh, to unify and inspire both themselves and their team. Obviously the same applies to companies that are still in the process of achieving what they set out to do.

To the businesses that feel it’s too hard now to achieve what they first envisioned and have given up – I say, don’t give up! Let’s pull out the vision you had and revisit it, make it realistic and adapt it to current times. It will be just the thing you and your team need.

What is a business vision?

Your business vision is a blueprint that illustrates what your business will look like, and act like, when it has been fully developed in five or ten years. Once it’s created on paper, it will help clarify how you want your business to operate, your type of clients, the type of team members you will have, and the system and culture you have developed. Remember, it means looking five years into the future and writing your vision down.

And when your vision for the next five years has been written and printed, communicate it with your team. Let them know that you want them to be an important part of the next five years.

This process is unifying. It makes everyone feel that they are part of a greater whole and a common purpose.

This process is inspiring. It energises and motivates you and will do the same for your team.

This process provides goals. A vision provides a sense of purpose and urges you to create and achieve your short and medium-term goals while helping guide your decisions.

I am suggesting that you don’t do this half-heartedly. It deserves a structured, careful approach. In other words, write your thoughts down, take a few weeks to think it through, and then when you feel this is how you want your business to be in five years, communicate it over a breakfast to your team.

Richard Branson says, “Setting some milestones for you and your team to work towards will keep you motivated and driven. If you have a clear vision of where you would like your business to have expanded to after 10 years, plan how you can achieve this.”

A clear business vision will give you a roadmap for the future, keeping you inspired with purpose.

John Corban
Business Coach for Landscapers, Horticulturists and Nursery owners
Mob: 0433 27 1980
awww.landscaperscoach.com.au

Main image: Create a vision for your business and communicate it with your team (Image: Karen Smith)