I don’t believe in business plans anymore.
Professor LaTanya White
Social Scientist and Authority on Minority Business Development
Have you heard the recent reports about the global wealth gap and wealth inequality? Research shows that family dynasties built by the Rockefellers, the Waltons and even Bezos actually perpetuate the wealth gaps that we experience today.
Professor LaTanya White is a social scientist that teaches Black and African American people how to create an entrepreneurial mindset so they can create their own family dynasties and close the wealth gaps in their families and communities.
…and I haven’t believed in them since I traveled to Bali Indonesia to participate in the inaugural cohort for The Change School (formerly Change Ventures) in 2013. Change Ventures was a social entrepreneurship accelerator program that challenged the participants to go from idea to market in 30 days.
I write about one of the most impactful experiences of my life, one that truly oriented to me to what I feel is my life’s purpose, as a participant in that very first cohort in my first book, Becoming FEARLESS. The long and short of it is, anyone can easily accomplish this…with just a little bit of retraining.
As an advocate for Black and ethnic minority entrepreneurship, there are so many assumptions about what we think it takes to launch and grow a viable business idea- assumptions that the White majority just don’t operate under.
Waiting to start your business until after you write a business plan is one of them!
Let’s face it: if you think your business idea has the possibility to change the way we move through the world and improve the quality of life for people around the world, can the world really afford to wait until you think your idea is perfect enough to ‘put it out there’? If that is the case, then you must be really comfortable with the idea of putting your purpose on hold as well. #jussayin
Enough of me lecturing though :).
What you will find below are my go-to resources (in priority order) for launching and growing almost any business idea you have in 30 days or less.
Check out the resources below to get started on your journey...the right way!
Step 1: Select Your Destination
Every business has a story. Sharing yours in the best place to start if you want to develop meaningful connections with your perfect prospects. Use these resources to build yours with Donald Miller’s Story Brand concept.
In a nutshell, you want to think about the conflict, problem, or frustration that your customers face. From there, clearly outline the outcome and results that your brand creates for them.
This will help you build a very clear mission statement that should drive you and your staff members in every decision you make. It also makes your marketing messages much more clear.
Step 2: Chart The Path
There is always more than one way to skin a cat and more than one path to travel. With more than 20 years’ experience in business development, customer relationship management, integrated marketing communications and strategic pricing, I have found that the shortest distance between an idea and executing the idea is Business Model Canvas.
Got 20 minutes to change your life?
Take a look at this video where I breakdown the concept of Business Model Generation to help you start building your operations manual in no time.
After watching the video (you’ll need to watch it a couple of times lol), take very detailed notes about each of the building blocks mentioned will be carried out in your business.
Remember, if you want to scale your business, you can’t be the only person that knows how it works! If your business is software- or tech-based, then it may also help to record screencasts of your proprietary process…to make sure they get it right in your absence! My favorite tool to do this is Loom.com.
Step 3: Prepare for the Long Haul
From here, prepare to start doing deep research dives on your brand identity, strategic pricing. I’m happy to contribute to your success in so stay in touch!
Professor White has been featured on the TEDx stage as well as in several media outlets including Ask.com, Essence Magazine, Florida A&M University magazine, Forbes.com and SiriusXM Radio.
