…Oh Business Plan, Oh Business Plan

If you have a business plan, when was the last time you actually sat down and read through it?  When was the last time you looked at the plan and compared it to what you are doing in your business?  Is this where you meant to be compared to the plan?  It’s a hard task to write a business plan and sometimes when people finished such a large project they want to take a break from looking at it.  That’s all good, except a break means that eventually you get back to the plan. 

The plan helps keep you on track. Have you gotten off track- is the place you ended up the place where you wanted to be?   The plan only works if you follow it and work to make it yours.  Sometimes the plan has to be updated with new information.  Things change daily in business and that means that your business plan should change over time.  

It’s important as you begin the New Year to look at your plan and decide what needs to be updated, what you need to take out because it no longer fits or because you have completed the task.  Also, look at the direction the plan has you going.  Is it the same direction your company needs to be going in the New Year?   Sit back and read the plan you worked so hard to complete, you may be re-energized for the coming year. 

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

…List Maker

My husband always laughs at my lists- he always asks if I have a list of all my lists.  Well….. almost.  I am a very detailed oriented person and frankly find that if I don’t write things down I just don’t remember them. And no, this isn’t age related- I’ve always been like this.  

For me, keeping lists helps me understand what I’ve gotten done and what I have yet to accomplish. I love the feeling of marking things off a list and the feeling of looking at the list with lines through every single thing on the list. 

How do you keep track of your things to do? Some people like the online version of list making, one is called Workflowy.  I tried that one but found that I didn’t like logging on all the time when something popped in my head. I like the good old fashioned piece of paper.  Usually it’s several sheets of scrap paper with lists on it- anything from the things I need to get done at work to the store list to the list of things to do at home. 

How do you stay organized?  Do you have the tools you need to keep yourself and your business organized?  As we begin the New Year, it’s a great time to consider how you stay (or get organized) and how to make the best use of your time and talents.  

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

…the Buck Stops Here

As a boss are you one of those people who blame every mistake on anyone but yourself? Or do you take responsibility and handle the issue?  Many times, bosses do one of two very bad things.  They blame every mistake on someone else or they take all the credit when a team effort produced a result. 

These types of behaviors make for a very poor work environment.  People have a hard time respecting bosses who have no ability to admit a mistake or who blame everyone else.  They know that no matter what they do, good or bad they will get the blame or no credit.  

As a boss, you should listen to what you are actually saying to people- especially at times when things may not be going right.  Your staff may be doing their best and deserve that recognition.  Sometimes the mistake may be yours and you should own up to it when that happens. All of us make mistakes but not all of us make mistakes all of the time.  So give credit where credit is due and let the buck stop with you- after all you are the boss. 

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

…Control Freak

I was speaking with two friends recently at different times and they told me pretty much the same story about their bosses.  They each work for control freaks, you know, people who do not trust anyone to be an adult and do their work.  These bosses keep tabs on every worker regardless of whether these workers are stellar employees or slackers. They believe that if they cannot see the employee doing their work then they must not be doing their work.

I was amazed at the lengths these bosses go to in order to make sure people are doing exactly what they say when they say it.  It’s as though they have five year olds working for them and they feel like they have to make every decision for the employee or oversee every job they do.

To me this has to be exhausting. I mean think about it- you are doing your own job then try to micromanage many employees on everything they do. Are there enough hours in the day for that? 

What type of boss are you? Do you hire competent people, let them do their jobs and trust that the results will show you that they are indeed doing their job? Or do you nit-pick and micromanage every person who works for you?  I hope you are the former because if you are the micromanager you must really be tired!

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

…Self Esteem

OK ladies let’s talk.  Sorry gentlemen, I’m directing this one to all the ladies.  I’ve talked about Girl Power before, but I want to talk about something I am guilty of and have met a lot of other women who do this too.  It’s called self-doubt.  Now I’m sure men experience this but I’ve not had a lot of conversations with them.  

I was meeting with two accomplished, intelligent ladies recently who wanted to start their own business. What I heard repeatedly was self-doubt from both of them. They really criticized themselves for their perceived short comings.

After we had our conversation I told them my observation. They were a little surprised but admitted that they did downplay their strengths and did not always talk about themselves in a positive light. I’ve met a lot of women who do this.  I grew up in a family of women (four sisters, two nieces and two grandnieces and I married a man who has four sisters and two daughters) so this theme comes up. 

Women are not always programmed to think about what they have accomplished or when talking about themselves finding that balance that lets people know they are accomplished but not bragging.  I think it’s a fine line sometimes. 

So the next time you are talking with someone listen to how you describe yourself and your skill set, etc. and see how positive you are being about yourself.  If we don’t talk in a positive light about ourselves no one else will do it for us.  Our self-talk becomes who we are.  Who do you want to be? 

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter