The PLAN or Your Gut? – Ronan Kilroy FocalPoint Business Coaching
This is an interesting topic for me. And I would welcome your views. Clearly as someone who works with entrepreneurs this is a challenge I come across all of the time. And there is no catch all answer from my experience.
The reason I love working with entrepreneurs or entrepreneurially minded executives, is that they have that in built instinct to generate new ideas. Ultimately many I’m sure like you ended up being an entrepreneur by listening to your instinct, your gut, in the first place.
This is definitely a major asset. And many many successful businesses have been built or sheer instinct, drive and ambition.
I also believe that we have an innate ability to tap in to our “gut” and get answers to problems that have troubled us. As you know I am a passionate believer in the power of your Subconscious mind, which for me is constantly sending us messages, and guiding us. Most of the time though we don’t act on these impulses or messages.
Truly great entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson, James Dyson and Steve Jobs, have relied heavily on their gut when making decisions. Arguably today this instinct is needed more, and more as your markets and industries adapt and change so quickly.
But we also need to plan better in order to execute better. Often the best ideas falter in the execution. Which is again why I am obsessive about the need for great planning.
And don’t be deceived. Your plans don’t have to be lengthy. Your plans don’t have to be mind numbingly detailed. Often your plan just needs to tease out some level of detail, in order to get you started in a more structured way.
There are two building blocks to successful businesses. One is Vision. Clear visions are often generated from your gut, your instinct.
The other is Structure. Structure and planning are unavoidable if you want to get to the next level of success your business.
Maybe you are not the right person to be doing the planning. And if you’re not fine, get someone else to do this for you. It is too important to leave to chance. However whether you write the plan or not, you have to have input.
In my view the most important of the two is the “gut”. Call it innovation, call it brainstorming, or mindstorming or just plain dreaming. You need to spend time thinking, clarifying and experimenting. You need to spend time allowing your instincts the room to connect with you. You need to listen more to your gut.
You need to allocate time every week to work on refining your skill in developing your instincts. On your skill in developing new ideas. This is pure Entrepreneurial Time.
You don’t have a choice. If you don’t innovate you die.
Once you have an idea that excites you or opens up possibilities to you. Then you work on a plan. Don’t skip this step. Planning saves time, money and a lot of heartache. Planning is essential. A business without a business plan is going nowhere fast.
Actions
Remember what got you in to being an entrepreneur in the first place. Remember how you got started. Remember your ability to act on impulses and deliver.
Now spend time every week deliberately developing this skill. It is the essence of entrepreneurship. It is you at your best.
Track your impulses your ideas and what your gut reactions were to the idea. Keep a log.
Then and only then set about writing a plan. Don’t get hung up on the detail just yet. Just flesh out the idea. Allow your gut to guide you through the plan also.
If you marry these two skills you will get results beyond your expectations consistently.
Best of luck.
Ronan
Ronan Kilroy Certified FocalPoint Business Coach
Profitability, Productivity, Possibility.
