Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
- Description
- Curriculum
Welcome to The Ultimate Enterprise Planning Bootcamp
Starting a business is never easy β there are so many elements to consider and hurdles to overcome when launching a company, but thatβs where The Ultimate Enterprise Planning Bootcamp comes in.
Embark on a 16 step, bespoke experience that takes you through every step of running a successful business!
Each stage is designed to help you overcome any hurdle you are facing by providing a tried, tested and proven framework that our own experts used when they were in your position.
Each section of the Bootcamp is packed with easy to digest information, tools and activities that will see your business bloom and thrive with regular nurturing and care from our on-hand team of professionals.
My name is Tonisha, an enterprise educator and co-author of this guide with my son, Tyrique, a young entrepreneur who saw a golden opportunity.
At only 17, Tyrique knew that he wanted to own a business, so I gave him the necessary questions and checklists to consider before embarking on his journey to running a successful company.
In a eureka moment, Tyrique realised that the worksheets he used to map out his ideas eventually took the form of his very own personal business planner, and opportunity soon dawned on us; this planner is something that every budding entrepreneur would need.
And so our mission was clear: To help guide new entrepreneurs on their path to starting and running a successful business. The journey can be confusing and overwhelming, but this guide aims to transform those barriers and hurdles into useful tools and resources that will support you and your business.
Broken into five interactive months, The Ultimate Enterprise Planning Bootcamp covers all the necessary bases that are critical to achieving success as an entrepreneur, and will evolve and expand with you on your road to becoming a CEO.
This is YOUR comprehensive and personalised program that will grow and develop alongside you on your journey to success.
So, what are you waiting for?
Letβs get started!
- 2β²π Mission 1
Step one explores your vision, goals and reasons for getting into business in the first place. By delving into what motivates you as an entrepreneur and why you want to create a certain product/service, we gain the opportunity to create a unique profile that will help feed into the curation of your unique brand and selling point!
- 3What Does Success Look Like To You?
Success assumes many forms and will look different to you than it will to others. This section of Enterprise Planner Bootcamp will see you focus on the important questions that will help you to understand the reasons for going into business and what sort of career you want to lead.
- 4β π© Worksheet 1.1.1
- 5SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis is a tool used by businesses to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that surround a company. By exploring these elements, business owners are in a better position to adapt their strategies and tactics to compensate for their weaknesses, while also being able to take advantage of new opportunities and ward off issues that may arise down the road.
- 6β π© Worksheet 1.1.2
- 7What is Your Why?
Everyone has a reason for going into business. For some, itβs all about changing their life and generating wealth, and for others it is the pursuit of a remedy for an issue that is affecting parts of the world. This section of the Planner allows you to explore your motivations and what inspired you to go into business and become an entrepreneur, so dig deep and be honest!
- 8β π© Worksheet 1.1.3
- 9What is Your Mission
A business cannot operate without a directive; a mission and overarching goal that governs their every step towards a desired result. Whether itβs changing the world through the revolution of outdated transactional systems or simply providing a better quality of graphics for small businesses, this part of the Planner allows you to define who you are and what your customers can expect from your company.
- 10β π© Worksheet 1.1.4
- 11What is Your Vision
This section of the Planner allows you to explore where you see your business and career going and what direction you want it to take as it begins to grow and expand. A vision is like a dream, one that inspires you to undertake certain actions or work towards a certain goal with your business. This is where you must look to the future and imagine where you will be in 5, 10, 15, 20 and so months from this exact point.
- 12β π© Worksheet 1.1.5
- 13List Your Five Favourite Brands and Businesses
Inspiration comes in many forms and from a multitude of sources, most of which are the leaders of our industry who pave the way for smaller businesses with their success and affluence. They needn't be the biggest brands, but they are certainly your favourite, and this section of the Planner will see you explore what makes them successful and how your brand can follow their example.
- 14β π© Worksheet 1.1.6
- 15β²π Mission 2
Step Two is also about providing yourself with honest feedback and self-assessment. We will be drawing on both practical and academic sources for analysing the traits of your business, with models such as Cliftonβs Strength Finder, The 5 Languages of Love, your associative colours and what they mean, followed by a personality assessment to discover what kind of entrepreneur you really are!
- 16Why Personality Tests
This section of the Planner is designed to test your ability to be objectively self-critical and create an honest profile of who you are, how you operate, and how well you get along with others. By determining your business personality, you will be in a better position to adapt your approach to others and build better leadership skills for when you reach the point of hiring your first employee.
- 17β π© Worksheet 2.1.1
- 18Exploring Your Colours
This section of the Planner is all about the popular Colour Energy test where you find which colours are associated with your personality type. For instance, red is the colour of passion, strength, vigor, assertiveness, dominance and aggression, whereas blue reflects contemplation, calm, tranquility, logic and reasoning.
- 19β π© Worksheet 2.2.2
- 20The Five Languages Of Love
The Five Languages of Love is a system adapted from The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, a book by Gary Chapman. Business analysts use the Five Languages to help leaders become better at working with their team. The βFive Languagesβ are as follows: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch. In a professional environment, physical touch governs handshakes, handling material goods, preferring the analogue to digital and enjoying socialising outside of work.
- 21β π© Worksheet 2.3.3
- 22Clifton Strengths Finder
Clifton Strengths Finder is a tool used by business owners to measure your specific talent DNA by explaining the unique ways in which you accomplish your goals by building relationships, thinking strategically, executing plans and influencing others. Similar to a SWOT analysis, this model focuses on turning weaknesses into strengths and working with others.
- 23β π© Worksheet 2.4.4
- 24Other Recommended Assessments
This section of the Planner will pose a number of alternative assessments you can conduct in order to discover more about yourself and how you operate in a professional environment. Moreso, this section will equip you with the ability to assess others on your team in the future, once youβve hired employees or found partners to work alongside as you build up your business.
- 25β²π Mission 3
Following Step Twoβs self-assessment period, we will now be in a unique position to review your results and put into place some actionable goals, feeding into the creation of 5 unique SMART objectives to focus on in the near future. Hereβs a list of the assessment results we will compile together to build your entrepreneur profile
- 26My Vision
This page focuses on answering important questions for both yourself and your business, the answers to which will eventually feed into a greater picture of your organisationβs overall vision and mission statement. Additionally, this section of the Planner allows you to build your personalised S.M.A.R.T objectives; specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based, such as how much you want to earn in a year and how to go about doing it.
- 27β π© Worksheet 3.1.1
- 28Five Smart Objectives
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Based
- 29β π© Worksheet 3.2.2
- 30Failure Log
Failure is merely a stepping stone towards success; it is the ultimate teacher and everyone encounters it at some point in their personal lives and career. Merely a setback, failure defines how well we recover and make the best of our situation, and this section of the Planner will allow you to record your mistakes and the actions you took to resolve them.
- 31β π© Worksheet 3.3.3
- 32My Purpose
Your purpose in life does not need to be the same as that of your business, but exploring your reasons for being can help to build your confidence, bring clarity and remove stress from the process of building a company. This section poses a number of challenging questions that will require complete honesty and introspection.
- 33β π© Worksheet 3.4.4
- 34Planning For The Future
What lies around the corner is often uncertain, but with the right planning you are better equipped to manage the growth and expansion of your business. This section of the Planner is dedicated to looking forward and creating strategies for how to manage your business across the coming years, while identifying future opportunities and barriers.
- 35β π© Worksheet 3.5.5
- 36Four Focus Areas For Building My Professional Credibility
Credibility is the lifeforce of a business, for without it, one is surely doomed to fail. The section of the Planner is dedicated to exploring what makes you a credible business owner, be it your certifications/qualifications, brand, authority on a subject or ability to influence others. This space is also useful for noting down the areas that you need to work on in order to build the credibility factors you will need for success as an entrepreneur. Remember, what you write comes true! So use this space to note it all down (even that PhD you secretly wish you had) because this is the first step to becoming the new you!
- 37β π© Worksheet 3.6.6
- 38Prospective And Past Clients Log
A perception of your business and yourself is created by what others think of you. This image is often recorded and observed through the reception of feedback for your work, product or conduct and governs your reputation and credibility. This section is dedicated to exploring the feedback you have received in the past how it can be used to grow and adapt.
- 39β π© Worksheet 3.7.7
- 40Colour Energy Results
Previous sections of the Planner saw you explore what colours reflect your personality, and now is the time to analyse the results and what they mean in relation to your traits as a business leader.
- 41β π© Worksheet 3.8.8
- 42Love Language Result
This section of the Planner provides you with time to reflect on how you deal with others and like to be dealt with in regards to your professional relationships. There are no wrong answers here for everyone is different, but exploring the questions below will help you to better influence others in a positive and productive manner.
- 43β π© Worksheet 3.9.9
- 44Gallop Strength Result
Following your Gallop Strength test, this section of the Planner allows you to correlate and analyse the results in order to determine your best qualities as a business leader as well as the areas in which you need to improve. On this page, you will also think about how your results can be applied to your business overall and perhaps even feed into your companyβs brand.
- 45β π© Worksheet 3.10.10
- 46β²π Mission 4
Now we really start getting into it! Step Four is all about identifying and exploring your unique selling point and how it will solve a customerβs problem.
- 47Business Brainstorm
This section of the Planner provides you with time to really think about the scope of your business and what industries you wish to operate it. Be it purely online, a mix of digital and analogue, or just a local store, now is the time to decide how and where your products will be delivered to by answering the important questions seen below.
- 48β π© Business Brainstorm (Worksheet 4.1.1)
- 49What Are The Problems Your Customers Have?
A product is a solution to a problem; a pain remedy that can be something as simple as a magazine that cures someoneβs problem of not knowing what to wear this winter. This page is designed to have you think about what problem your product is solving and ways in which you can understand your customerβs issues by interviewing them and reading reviews of similar products.
- 50β π© What Are The Problems Your Customers Have? (Worksheet 4.2.2)
- 51What Are The Solutions You Sell?
Now that you understand the problem your customers want resolved, it is time to consider the remedy you are going to be selling them. This page will require you to consider what makes your product different from the competition and its unique selling point (USP).
- 52β π© What Are The Solutions You Sell? (Worksheet 4.3.3)
- 53Who Do You Need To Form Partnerships With?
The growth of a business can often rely on solid partnerships and collaborations in order to break into new markets, and this page will have you consider your potential relationships with other businesses, entrepreneurs and shareholders. Partners can have considerable sway over a business if their investment is big enough, so use this space to strategize and deliberate on the opportunities and threats they bring.
- 54β π© Who Do You Need To Form Partnerships With? (Worksheet 4.4.4)
- 55What Will Be Your Day To Day Business Activities?
Every day, your business will be involved in various activities no matter its size or scope. Using this page, consider what you will do on a day-to-day basis in order to keep the cogs of your company turning smoothly and to avoid a backlog or build-up of essential tasks.
- 56β π© What Will Be Your Day To Day Business Activities? (Worksheet 4.5.5)
- 57What Is Your Value Proposition?
A unique value proposition, or βUSPβ, is what makes your business different from the rest. Using this section of the Planner, you can determine the benefits your company offers to customers and why they should come to you over your rivals by coming up with a value proposition that will entice new buyers.
- 58β π© What Is Your Value Proposition? (Worksheet 4.6.6)
- 59How Will You Build And Maintain Relationships With Your Prospective Customers And Employees?
This page is designed to have you consider the professional relationships with your customers and employees; a vital bond that must be maintained with regular nurturing across multiple channels and modes of communication. You will have the opportunity to consider additional factors such as how to empower your employees and engage customers on a deeper level than just selling to them.
- 60β π© How Will You Build And Maintain Relationships With Your Prospective Customers And Employees? (Worksheet 4.7.7)
- 61What Communication Channels Will You Use?
Maintaining a strong relationship with your stakeholders (customers, employees, shareholders, followers) requires you to think about the communication channels you will be utilising to send your message and build those bonds. This page allows you to consider the various digital modes of communication such as social media and email.
- 62β π© What Communication Channels Will You Use? (Worksheet 4.8.8)
- 63Where Will You Sell Your Products And Services
This page has been designed for you to consider the various markets and areas in which you can sell your product, be it local, national, international or purely through word of mouth. Additionally, you will be able to determine whether your product is designed for a mass audience or a more niche market.
- 64β π© Where Will You Sell Your Products And Services (Worksheet 4.9.9)
- 65β²π Mission 5
A minimum viable product is a version of a product with just enough features to satisfy early customers and provide feedback for future product development. Building an MPV comes with a number of important technical requirements that may seem stressful and confusing at first, but with the right amount of research into what customers are looking for, you can build a decent prototype.
- 66Data Driven Innovation
Data is the lifeblood of any successful business; it informs every single decision big or small, drawing from multiple sources of research. Thusly, this page enables you to really consider the important research you need to conduct before your product goes live, such as the demand, industry, potential market share and demographics.
- 67β π© Data Driven Innovation (Worksheet 5.1.1)
- 68Redefining Problems
As you advance in your research about your target audience and product, you will inevitably discover new problems and issues that your business can solve for your customers. Using this page, you will be able to consider 5 additional concerns to provide remedies for.
- 69β π© Redefining Problems (Worksheet 5.2.2)
- 70Unique Value Proposition
Your unique value proposition, also known as βUSPβ, is something you will determine using this section of the Planner. Here, you will be able to explore your businessβ deliverable benefits, how itβs different to the competition and its overall relevance to the marketplace and potential customers.
- 71β π© Unique Value Proposition (Worksheet 5.3.3)
- 72Preparing To Manufacture Prototypes
Prior to making a finalised product, there is the drawing board, planning and the creation of a prototype. This section of the Planner is for considering the necessary components, elements, resources and production costs/requirements that go into manufacturing the first version of your product/service.
- 73β π© Preparing To Manufacture Prototypes (Worksheet 5.4.4)
- 74Services Possible
This page of the Planner gives you the opportunity to expand on the services your business provides and how they compare to your rivals and competitors. No matter how big or small the services are, this page is designed to get you thinking about their USP and the problem they are solving for your customers.
- 75β π© Services Possible (Worksheet 5.5.5)
- 76β²π Mission 6
During Step 6, you will validate all of the ideas you have generated so far laying the foundations for data collection and harvesting by planning out surveys and focus groups as well as the necessary resources associated with quantitative and qualitative data gathering.
You will also have the opportunity to consider your business model and the places you can stress-test it, with a particular focus on using a compatibility matrix to ensure your ideas are in-touch with current trends and attitudes.
- 77Product Categories
This section of the Planner is a space for you to consider what category your product falls into, as well as the components that go into the creation of your product and where you will source them from. Examples of what to consider include categories such as convenience products, speciality products, emergency products and shopping products.
- 78β π© Product Categories (Worksheet 6.1.1)
- 79Product Description
Every product has a story and this is the space to begin tailoring it in order to entice and persuade customers to make a purchase. Consider the art of copywriting and how flavourful text can enhance the buyer experience while being clear and concise in what issues your product is solving for the customers. Get creative!
- 80β π© Product Description (Worksheet 6.2.2)
- 81How Or Where Can You Test Business Model Assumptions
Stress-testing your business model requires you to consider the platforms in which to do so, such as industry events, surveys, forums and blog posts. Using this page, you are able to consider the various methods in which to test your business model with the general public who are ultimately the deciding factor in whether they will turn into a customer or another person of value to your business.
- 82β π© How Or Where Can You Test Business Model Assumptions (Worksheet 6.3.3)
- 83Who Do You Need To Form Partnerships With?
- 84β π© Who Do You Need To Form Partnerships With? (Worksheet 6.4.4)
- 85Survey Planner
Surveys allow you to gather important data on opinions and societal trends, and this page will let you plan out where your surveys will be delivered to, who will be surveyed and what questions you will be asking in order to paint a picture on the perception of your product and business.
- 86β π© Survey Planner (Worksheet 6.5.5)
- 87Focus Group Planner
A focus group is a small collection of individuals from a diverse background, and most importantly, completely random members of the public. Using this page, you will be able to consider which stakeholder groups your focus groups will hone in on as well as its composition and the questions that will be asked during the session.
- 88β π© Focus Group Planner (Worksheet 6.6.6)
- 89Focus Group Resources
This page is designed to have you consider the resources that go into crafting an effective focus group, such as who will be involved, the location, venue, travel cost, incentives and time frame for the session. You may wish to consider how to incentivise people to attend the focus group and make it worth their time and how to encourage their participation.
- 90β π© Focus Group Resources (Worksheet 6.7.7)
- 91Extra Things To Consider
No focus group is the same and they take on many forms depending on the context of your business, product and the questions you require the answers to. Extra things to consider for an effective focus group depends largely on your imagination and the scope of your research, but this page will give the opportunity to note down anything else you can think of that might be important for hosting your first session.
- 92β π© Extra Things To Consider (Worksheet 6.8.8)
- 93Validation Data
Validating your products and services is done through the collection and analysis of hard data gathered from the various research methods at your disposal in the digital world. This section of the Planner gives you time to think about the feedback you have received for prototypes/mock-ups and from focus groups, allowing you to make the necessary changes to your product or service.
- 94β π© Validation Data (Worksheet 6.9.9)
- 95Compatibility Matrix
The Compatibility Matrix is a tool to determine the compatibility of two or more entities to find the most logical and realistic outcome. In the context of running a business, the Compatibility Matrix allows you to analyse how well your product/service fits into the current market while considering the financial requirements of distribution and supply.
- 96β π© Compatibility Matrix (Worksheet 6.10.10)
- 97Business Case
Following the research methods covered previously in the Planner, this page allows you to build a business case outlining all of the validated facts you have gathered so far in order to bring more clarity to your venture. This is also an excellent opportunity to review the reasons for starting your business and the solution is selling to your prospective customers.
- 98β π© Business Case (Worksheet 6.11.11)
- 99β²π Mission 7
A carefully-crafted product that is validated by data from your research now requires proper marketing! Step Seven will see you explore the many facets of promoting your product, starting with identifying its market, key audience, who is the most likely to buy, your competitors and ways in which you can join the conversation. All this will lead into creating a customer persona; a reflection of the ideal buyer of your product!
- 100Determine Your Target Market
This section of the Planner provides you with a great opportunity to really hone in on your target market by determining the ideal demographic of who would be interested in your product or service. Additionally, you can use this space to determine what type of person your typical customer is, such as their background, location, buying habits, hobbies and careers to provide more accuracy to your future marketing.
- 101β π© Determine Your Target Market (Worksheet 7.1.1)
- 102What Is Your Target Market Looking For?
Identifying the deeper psychology behind the mind of a consumer is the purpose of this page, allowing you to delve into the societal attitudes that drive trends and dictate what products are successful. In this section of the Planner, you will also have the opportunity to further refine the solutions your business is solving for prospective customers.
- 103β π© What Is Your Target Market Looking For? (Worksheet 7.2.2)
- 104When Are Clients Most Likely To Look For Your Services?
Timing the release of your product is a key strategy that is easy to learn but hard to master. This page of the Planner is dedicated to planning and scheduling the release of your product and service, and deciding whether you want something seasonal, constant or a one-time release. In addition, you can use this section to consider how to track website traffic.
- 105β π© When Are Clients Most Likely To Look For Your Services? (Worksheet 7.3.3)
- 106Where Are Potential Clients Looking For Similar Products?
Using this page, you can explore your competition and discover their strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities as well their conduct in the industry. In addition, you will have the opportunity to analyse your rivalsβ customers to determine why they shop with your competition, enabling you to better strategise and adapt your tactics when marketing the final version of your product.
- 107β π© Where Are Potential Clients Looking For Similar Products? (Worksheet 7.4.4)
- 108How Can You Join The Conversation?
Communication is a vital element in keeping a business alive, and the conversation surrounding your product ultimately leads to creating a perception, thereby forming a reputation and adding validity to your brand. Using this section of the Planner, you can plan how to join and lead the conversation across multiple channels and platforms of media.
- 109β π© How Can You Join The Conversation? (Worksheet 7.5.5)
- 110How Can Potential Clients Contact You?
This section of the Planner is designed for you to consider the various methods in which potential customers, clients and other stakeholders can contact you, be it via the phone, social media, email or instant chat feature found on your website. Additionally, you can use this to consider how to call your potential clients/customers to action on your website or social media.
- 111β π© How Can Potential Clients Contact You? (Worksheet 7.6.6)
- 112What Channels Will You Use To Communicate With Prospects?
Considering the right channels to communicate with is a vital element in connecting with key prospects, be they clients, customers, press or potential partners. Using this page, you can strategize on the core principles of marketing, otherwise known as the β4 Psβ, which are: price, place, product and promotion.
- 113β π© What Channels Will You Use To Communicate With Prospects? (Worksheet 7.7.7)
- 114Stakeholder Personas
A stakeholder is someone who has a stake in your business, such as a customer, client, shareholder, social media follower, journalists and employees. This section of the Planner gives you some time to think about who your stakeholders are and then build a persona based on how you think they will interact with your business as well as their thoughts and feelings regarding your products and conduct.
- 115β π© Stakeholder Personas (Worksheet 7.8.8)
- 116β²π Mission 8
Now itβs time to determine who you are going up against in the marketplace! Within Step Eight of the Bootcamp, we will cover how to identify your rivals and figure what they do best and why customers are buying from them, enabling you to benchmark your product to meet industry standards, and then eventually exceed them! We will be considering your competitorβs social media, advertising campaign, content, value proposition, events, their community and their customer profiles.
- 117Top 20 Competitors
This section of the Planner is all about coming up with a battle plan to combat the competition by considering how they operate online, their communication techniques, marketing strategies, promotional content, product performance, reviews and relevancy as a merchant. On this page, you will have space to consider your top 20 competitors and analyse why theyβre so popular.
- 118β π© Top 20 Competitors (Worksheet 8.1.1)
- 119Branding
A solid brand requires nurturing, care and regular maintenance to remain relevant and in the minds of your customers, so this page is designed for you to consider the platforms you can use to house your brand. In addition, you will have the chance to consider promotional material for your brand such as business cards, logos, online content and any merchandise you might want to start selling further down the road.
- 120β π© Branding (Worksheet 8.2.2)
- 121Value Proposition
Every business needs to boast its unique value in order to bring in customers and beat the competition, so this page is designed for you to start building on your elevator pitch and being able to sell your business in under two minutes. You will also have the chance to explore your brand narrative and the markets it will be most successful in, be that local, national or global.
- 122β π© Value Proposition (Worksheet 8.3.3)
- 123Content
Promoting your businessβ products and services requires fresh, original content that is both engaging and interactive in order to enhance the buyer experience. Using this page, you will be able to consider what type of material you think would best reflect your brand as well as the tone you will employ to engage with your target audience.
- 124β π© Content (Worksheet 8.4.4)
- 125Social Media
A strong social media presence requires you to strategize on various important elements such as the best platform, when to post, influencers/conversation leaders, metric tracking software and other analytical tools. This page is also for noting the ways in which your rivals operate on social media and the types of followers they attract with their content.
- 126β π© Social Media (Worksheet 8.5.5)
- 127Keywords
Keywords feed into something called search engine optimization, otherwise known as SEO. SEO governs what results a customer receives when searching for particular things online, so this page is designed for you to consider the keywords associated with your product and what your potential customers are searching for when trying to find a solution to their problem.
- 128β π© Keywords (Worksheet 8.6.6)
- 129Advertising Spend
Like marketing, advertising is a form of product/service promotion that is designed to generate sales and revenue, rather than engagement and brand credibility that a public relations campaign would bring. Using this page, you are able to consider the platforms, message, format and budget for your advertising, as well the goals you wish to accomplish with your promotional content.
- 130β π© Advertising Spend (Worksheet 8.7.7)
- 131Campaigns
A marketing, advertising or PR campaign is a necessary component to increasing the popularity and profits of your business, and using this page, you will be given the chance to plan your own campaign. This section of the Planner is also a great space to consider the buyer experience and how to close the sale by putting yourself in the shoes of an average customer.
- 132β π© Campaigns (Worksheet 8.8.8)
- 133Events
To build credibility and popularity, businesses host online and offline events that carry various themes and purposes, such as fundraising, drawing attention to an issue, celebrating an achievement and so on. Using this page, you can come up with some event ideas and the necessary elements that go into making a successful session, such as cost, resources and attendants.
- 134β π© Events (Worksheet 8.9.9)
- 135Community Engagement Strategy
A powerful public relations tool is community engagement; a strategy in which a business seeks to reach out and connect with their stakeholders in a meaningful way to make them feel involved or to simply give something back. This page is designed for you to consider different tactics to engage your community, and the actions you will take to make the experience a positive one.
- 136β π© Community Engagement Strategy (Worksheet 8.10.10)
- 137β²π Mission 9
Building and marketing a product requires your business to have a consistent image, otherwise known as a βbrandβ. During Step Nine, you will learn all about how to create a brand that reflects your values and mission statement, while also exploring the best channels to communicate your brand across.
- 138Your Companyβs Name
If you havenβt already, it is now time to really finalise the name of your company. This section of the Planner will let you think about themes and connotations surrounding different names, such as whether or not you wish to opt for something more humorous in nature or strictly corporate and no-nonsense. Be creative!
- 139β π© Your Companyβs Name (Worksheet 9.1.1)
- 140Logo Ideas
A business needs a face, one that must be simple yet memorable to your customers, clients and other stakeholders. Using this section of the Planner, you will be able to plan out the surrounding elements of what makes a great logo, such as its design, composition, balance, colours and format.
- 141β π© Logo Ideas (Worksheet 9.2.2)
- 142Who Could Be Your First 3 Customers?
The first and major milestone of any new business is the acquisition of your first three customers, and this section of the Planner allows you to visualise who they are, their personas, reasons for buying from you and the value they provide to your brand and business overall. You will also be able to analyse their current suppliers and benchmark your product based on what makes them so popular.
- 143β π© Who Could Be Your First 3 Customers? (Worksheet 9.3.3)
- 144Competitor Profiles and Positioning
Profiling your competitor is an important aspect of gaining a better understanding of how they think, feel, operate and persuade customers to buy their products over those of their rivals. Using this section of the Planner, you will be able to analyse the position of your competitor and discover ways in which you can be as popular as they are.
- 145β π© Competitor Profiles and Positioning (Worksheet 9.4.4)
- 146Market Segmentation and Sizing
Using this section of the Planner, you will be able to segment your market in order to provide better accuracy in the marketing and sales of your product by considering elements such as market size, location, value and the needs, wants and desires of your potential customers.
- 147β π© Market Segmentation and Sizing (Worksheet 9.5.5)
- 148PESTLE Impact
PESTLE is the abbreviation for political, economic, societal, technological, legal and environmental impacts that surrounds your business. Using this page, you will be able to consider those very factors and how they will impact your dayto-day operations and relationships with your stakeholders.
- 149β π© PESTLE Impact (Worksheet 9.6.6)
- 150β²π Mission 10
Every business needs a home; a store front to welcome shoppers and display everything you have on offer. Step Ten takes you on a comprehensive exploration of what is required to craft an effective website by planning the layout, design, text and other elements that go into a domain.
- 151Web Page Design Plan
Using this section of the Planner you will be given a chance to plan the creation of an effective web page by planning the necessary elements such as the name of the site, the overall theme, design of the pages and the type of content you want to publish on the page. Additionally, you can use this space to review different website builders such as WordPress and Wix.
- 152β π© Web Page Design Plan (Worksheet 10.1.1)
- 153Your Target Market
Every business has to hone in on a target market to sell to, and this page allows you to further explore the people and locations you are trying to reach with your product/service. Additionally, you will have the chance to bring greater detail to miscellaneous entities such as how to find leads, your promoters, review sites, influencers and bloggers.
- 154β π© Your Target Market (Worksheet 10.2.2)
- 155Benchmarking
Adhering to the highest quality standards is what benchmarking is all about, and this page will allow you to begin planning the ways in which to optimise your product, services, promotional content and communication techniques. In doing so, you will have the ability to reach the standards of your most popular rivals.
- 156β π© Benchmarking (Worksheet 10.3.3)
- 157Blogging Goals
Blogging is an essential tool used by businesses to show the world that they have expertise and authority on a particular subject matter, one often surrounding their industry or sector of operations. Using this page, you will have the chance to determine the goals you wish to accomplish by blogging, but also the resources and personnel who will go into making it engaging and popular.
- 158β π© Blogging Goals (Worksheet 10.4.4)
- 159Launch Timeline
This section of the Planner has been designed to provide you with a space to begin planning the launch of your product and the actions you will be taking during the first three to twelve months. Also, this page is a good place for jotting down any additional notes on where your business will be and look like depending on the actions you take during the early stages of production.
- 160β π© Launch Timeline (Worksheet 10.5.5)
- 161First 100 Subscribers
This section of the Planner is designed for you to explore the methods in which you will accumulate your first 100 subscribers/followers on a single social media channel, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. In addition, you will have the chance to categorise your followers and provide more detail to your client profiles with elements such as digital trends, who they follow and what they like to do online.
- 162β π© First 100 Subscribers (Worksheet 10.6.6)
- 163What Are Your Unique Value Propositions
In business and marketing, the UVP (unique value proposition) is a statement that clearly tells your potential customers how they will benefit from your offer, how your products or services will address their needs and solve their problems, and what makes your offer different from the competition. Using this page, further explore and define what makes your product/service unique while trying to imagine you are standing in front of a board of investors who need to be wowed by your pitch.
- 164β π© Operational Impacts (Worksheet 11.1.1)What Are Your Unique Value Propositions (Worksheet 10.7.7)
- 165β²π Mission 11
Step Eleven takes you on an introspective journey where we will be conducting research into the day-to-day operational impacts on your business, such as the key drivers of your business, sustainability, risks and cost management and competencies and cultural significance.
- 166Operational Impacts
The-day-to-day operations of your business need meticulous planning, and this page will allow you to consider the various resource requirements and drivers that will keep the cogs of the company turning. Also, you will have the chance to explore your businessβ competencies (what you excel at) and how to support cultural change by promoting diversity and inclusion.
- 167β π© Operational Impacts (Worksheet 11.1.1)
- 168Strategy Cascade
A strategy cascade is the process in which you disseminate your organizationβs overarching strategy, and using this page you can develop supporting tactics such as: planning your growth and expansion, conquering the market, configuring your business to adapt to big changes and how you will invest in the business and how to manage priorities and risks.
- 169β π© Strategy Cascade (Worksheet 11.2.2)
- 170BCG Matrix
The Boston Consulting Groupβs product portfolio matrix (BCG matrix) is designed to help with long-term strategic planning by considering growth opportunities and reviewing your portfolio of products to decide where to invest, to discontinue or develop additional products.
- 171β π© BCG Matrix (Worksheet 11.3.3)
- 172Win Loss Analysis
Using this page, you can analyse, predict and prepare for any eventual wins and losses by deciding on how you will monitor where you went right/wrong, in addition to using collected data to prevent losses by developing collection and storage methods.
- 173β π© Win Loss Analysis (Worksheet 11.4.4)
- 174β²π Mission 12
Money! Profits! Revenue! Resources! They are the lifeblood of your business and likely the reason why you started a company in the first place. Finance and resource management is the focus of Step Twelve, a session that provides an essential framework for the planning of resource acquisition and allocation, be they digital or physical.
- 175What Brings You Money?
Using this section of the Planner, you can explore your primary sources of income by determining which products/services make the money and their respective costs. This is also a space to differentiate income, profits and revenue in order to better manage your finances and resources, especially if you plan to hire employees.
- 176β π© What Brings You Money? (Worksheet 12.1.1)
- 177What Are Your Supplier Costs?
Your suppliers are one of your key stakeholders and must be paid on time and your relationship with them nurtured in order to get the best deals and perks from the arrangement. Using this page, you can explore the best options out there when it comes to who can supply materials for your product so you can minimise the outgoing monthly costs and maximise profits.
- 178β π© What Are Your Supplier Costs? (Worksheet 12.2.2)
- 179What Are Your Production Costs?
Any product, big or small, has a production cost, and this section of the Planner has been designed for you to consider every facet and element that goes into the daily costs associated with getting your product onto the market and into the hands of your customers.
- 180β π© What Are Your Production Costs? (Worksheet 12.3.3)
- 181What Are Your Operating Costs?
Using this section of the Planner, you can determine how much it costs to keep the business running on a daily basis and what entities are the biggest contributors to the outgoing flow of cash. This is also a good space to consider the scope of your business and to plan for eventual growth and the corresponding operational costs that come with expanding into new markets.
- 182β π© What Are Your Operating Costs? (Worksheet 12.4.4)
- 183What Resources Will You Need?
Resource allocation is the vital component to running a successful business, and this page will allow you to think about all the elements that will go into running your company, even if you are likely starting small and working your way up. Factors to consider include the financial, physical, digital and human resources along with their associated costs.
- 184β π© What Resources Will You Need? (Worksheet 12.5.5)
- 185β²π Mission 13
You either love it or probably hate it: itβs the legal stuff! From patenting, copyright law and trademarking to employee contracts, every company must follow the laws of business to the letter, but luckily Step Thirteen will cover everything you need to know, such as: how to officially form your company, registration, tax, insurance, hiring staff and business banking.
- 186Company Formation Information
Officially forming your company will require you to think about the less flavourful and engaging elements of running a business such as tax, registration, insurance, hiring and firing, banking for your business and anything else you think might be uniquely associated with your business. This page is also a good space to start thinking about whether or not you need help from an accountant or solicitor.
- 187β π© Company Formation Information (Worksheet 13.1.1)
- 188Copyright
Copyright laws govern your intellectual property and who can use your brand/idea to trade with and generate income. Using this section of the Planner, you will have the chance to explore whether or not you need to copyright one of your products and the ways in which you will monitor compliance to ensure you remain within the boundaries of the law.
- 189β π© Copyright (Worksheet 13.2.2)
- 190Patenting
A patent is a government authority or licence conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention. Using this page, you will be able to consider what elements in your business should be patented and licensed.
- 191β π© Patenting (Worksheet 13.3.3)
- 192Staff/Client Contracts
Getting your first client and then hiring employees is the first milestone in the growth of a business, and this section of the Planner will enable you to plan out the elements required for building client and staff contracts. Things we will cover include how to create an official contract and the surrounding laws.
- 193β π© Staff/Client Contracts (Worksheet 13.4.4)
- 194Supplier Terms
Suppliers and their terms change frequently as new laws and regulations are relaxed. Using this section of the Planner, you will be able to research and consider the terms of agreement with your suppliers and how to remain up to date with any important changes that could affect your business dealings.
- 195β π© Supplier Terms (Worksheet 13.5.5)