Your Plan is the document that is generated as a result of your completing the BizDev Planner. If you want to make changes in your Plan, you must make them in the BizDev Planner, and they will be reflected in the updated Plan. You can return to the corresponding questions in the BizDev Planner by clicking on the topic on your Plan.
The benefit of a plan is to help you use your time wisely. With no plan, there is a great possibility that your biz dev effort will be random acts of outreach. You are likely to be influenced by less-valuable opportunities that cross your path - rather than being clear about strategies based on the BizDevCoach tutorial.
While we will make every effort to securely save your Plan on our backup system, you should always save a current copy of the PDF on your computer and print a copy as well.
You can send a copy of your Plan to others, including your PlanPal®, by using the PlanPal link on the menu bar.
You should review your Plan frequently. Many changes are likely to occur in your business and in your target market over time, so you need to make sure that your Plan is adapting.
Keep in mind that an effective biz dev plan requires that you are engaged in a variety of activities. Don't fall into the trap of believing that you should only focus on your strengths. Too often, people who like to write will focus exclusively on writing articles. And while writing articles could be a valuable component of a biz dev plan, it is not enough.
You need to develop your skills in all five steps in the selling process.
1. Meet new targets.
2. Build trust
3. Clarify needs
4. Get approved
5. Close
You will find more information about the selling process in the Target Worksheet and Introduction help links.
There are three fundamental processes that will help you improve your plan.
1. Study the tutorial. Don't assume that you know how to answer the questions in the BizDev Planner. If you make that mistake, you may be locked into preconceived ideas that may not serve you well. It is a good idea to read the entire tutorial as soon as you can. That way you will be able to answer the questions in the BizDev Planner within the context of your entire plan.
2. Develop your ability to notice biz dev opportunities as they present themselves to you. For example, you may be driving down the street and see the sign of a company. You might normally just ignore that name. But if you could develop the ability to let seeing the name be a catalyst to your biz dev planning, you might ask yourself if there is a biz dev opportunity learning more about the business.
3. Reviewing your BizDev Planner. Develop the habit of reviewing your BizDev Planner frequently. In the early stages of your working with BizDevCoach, you might want to review your plan daily. It might surprise you how quickly a single experience could dramatically alter your biz dev plan. For example, let's say you meet a prospect who is in an industry in which you do not have other contacts. That single individual could be an ambassador into an entirely new and fertile environment. You may not have realized it at the time you met. But by answering the BizDev Planner about what new industries you should consider, you might remember the new contact and add the industry to your Plan.
