Whether you are just starting a small business or you are looking to reinvent your existing one, creating a business plan is the first step toward setting goals and generating your action plan. Creating a business plan can be overwhelming, but the good news is that you don’t actually need one to really get going. If you don’t know where to begin but want to take action, start with the following three tasks. These will help you define your ideas and make your business dreams a reality.

• Have a vision and goal in mind. What do you ideally want your business to be? What will the experience be like for you? How about the customer? Answering such questions helps form a vision for your business, which in turn will allow you to set specific goals to fit that vision. Even if you can’t work out the specifics right now, having a vision and goal in mind will give you a focus point and motivation to continue. It will also help to be able to describe this vision for others you want involved in your business. So take some quiet time and figure out what you want this business to be so you can work toward making it a reality.
• Focus on people by networking and building a good team. Don’t forget that above all else, a successful business is built by hard-working, intelligent, and creative people. Start to surround yourself with good people through networking. When interacting with others, don’t hesitate to ask questions about their own experiences launching a business. You will not only gather ideas for yourself, but you will begin to build professional relationships that will prove essential to your success. Work toward gathering a team of people who share your goals and ambitions. Collaborating with others is a highly effective way to achieve your objectives.
• Build momentum, but don’t focus on perfection. Don’t get caught up in making sure everything is done perfectly, at least not right away. Initiating momentum in achieving your goals is more important at this stage of the game. This is the time to form good work habits like setting a consistent schedule for yourself, creating daily agendas and following them consistently, and reaching out to others for ideas and assistance. The best way to learn how to do something is to actually do it, so jump right in and get to work. Have the confidence that you’ll figure out the details along the way.

The specifics of a business plan such as tasks, deadlines, and finances are certainly an important first step for any startup. However, by creating a vision, focusing on people, and building momentum, you can be well on your way to launching your business before you delve into the details of an official business plan. Do you have other ideas to add to our list? Please share them in the comments section below!

When you’re in a business that requires you to work with others, it’s important to understand their working styles, as well as your own. People have different approaches to work and motivation, and when you can understand these styles, you can create an environment that nurtures success.

Which of these working styles describe you, and those you work with?

• The Doer: These are the “aim and shoot” type people. They get to work right away on the task at hand, but sometimes forget to plan. This type of person may need to team up with someone who is a planner, and who can provide the strategic tasks to the doer that will be most successful. The doer also often needs immediate feedback and positive reinforcement, so having someone who can acknowledge the doer’s effort can be helpful.
• The Leader: The leader is someone who loves to create the vision and inspire others to follow in a certain direction. Sometimes, however, the leader can forget the followers’ perspective, so it’s important for the leader to have someone they trust and listen to who can provide feedback on how the leader’s direction is resonating with others. At the same time, the leader thrives in an environment when he or she can think outside of the box, and explore new journeys, so it’s important for the leader to have people that support the vision.
• The Lover: The lover is the relationship person. They love to connect with others, understand where they are coming from and be supportive. Sometimes, however, the lover spends so much time on relationships that they neglect to move forward. They can lose their way a bit in the challenges of others. Therefore, this person needs to be connected with those who are passionate about moving forward and doing the work.
• The Researcher: This working style loves to study and understand the situation, but needs help creating the plan and following through. The researcher can be exceptionally valuable to the leader, since he or she can provide important information that helps the leader set the course for the team. Researchers often do best when they receive positive reinforcement for their contributions to the team, and can be encouraged to move forward by showing them how their research can be applied towards the goal.

When building your team, it’s important to understand that everyone has unique working styles. Successful leaders leverage the strengths of each style and team styles appropriately in order to help the entire team achieve success.

What working style are you? How do you work with other styles? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments below!

Sometimes when a task seems challenging or just a lot of work, it can be tempting to put it off and procrastinate. Even though you know that the task is something you should do, you find reasons and excuses to put it off, or you just never seem to get to it. But procrastination can hold you back from meeting your goals, so it’s important to work through this and get things done. Here are five powerful ways to combat procrastination so you can continue on the path towards your goals.

1. Write it down. Having a written list is a powerful reminder that there are things you must do to accomplish your goals. If you find yourself putting off important tasks, make a list of what must be done and keep it in front of you as you work through your day.
2. Do it first. In the morning, we have more energy for tasks that seem like a lot of work. So prioritize your list of things you must do, and make the difficult task number 1 on your list. If you know you must complete something in order to get to a more enjoyable task, you’re more likely to get it done.
3. Ask for help. If you are finding that you simply cannot motivate yourself to get a particular task done, reach out to a spouse, family member, or good friend and ask them to hold you accountable, or even to help you complete the task. When you know that someone is going to ask you about something, you are more likely to get it done.
4. Be creative. Perhaps the reason you don’t feel like completing a particular task is because it isn’t interesting to you. Why not look at the task and think about a different way to do it. Be creative! For example, if organizing your desk sounds like a drag, why not get your kids involved in helping you create a filing system? Give them prizes for the most decorative file box or prettiest space. Or if you are putting off those calls you know you really must make, why not change your location by going to your local coffee shop or park, and rewarding yourself after making a few calls with a treat? Find creative ways to make the task more enjoyable, and you’re more likely to get it done.
5. Give yourself a deadline. Sometimes it’s easier to complete a task when you know you have a deadline. So schedule something (a conference call with a colleague, a more enjoyable task that you will do with others, etc.) that can only happen once the task at hand is complete. Especially when others are involved, you are more likely to complete the task to avoid disappointing others.

Wanting to procrastinate is natural sometimes, but be firm with yourself and get help when needed to keep yourself on track towards reaching your goals. Those that keep themselves going are the ones who succeed. You can do it!

How do you avoid procrastination? What are some tips you would offer? Would love to read your suggestions in the comments below!