(ThyBlackMan.com) Good business plans create great roadmaps for a new or existing business. After reviewing hundred business plans in my career I have come to one conclusion. All business plans need an action plan to go with it. They need to Actionify.
An action plan is different than a business plan. Most of the time business plans for small businesses and non-profits capture high to medium level detail. Frequently I read statements in a business plan like, The Company will 
target local investors such as the Micro Money Fund group to secure capital. Or statements like, The Company will utilize the local paper to advertise on an x,y,z schedule. Those statements will satisfy many reviewers but they are not sufficient for you, the one who is going to perform the plan. To effectively take those business plan statements and make them a business reality you have to actionify them. Here is how:
1. Develop specific action items for each key piece of your business plan with specific target dates.
Example – The Company will acquire $50,000 of startup capital by February 1, 2012.
2. List specific resources that are needed to achieve each action item.
Example – To acquire $50,000 by February 1, 2012 The Company will need to network with X type of people, have our business plan prepared X type of way, and acquire access to X type of list of people that provide funding.
3. Benchmark action item achievements that lead up to the targeted completion date.
Example – The Company will acquire three meetings with investors per month. The Company will secure $20,000 of capital within the first month of setting meetings.
4. Act on a defined list of very specific activities to hit your benchmarks.
Example – The owner of the Company will call ten potential funders each week to arrange a meeting and will write the results and feedback from each call down for future reference.
Business plans are great starting points but action creates success. If you want to be successful faster, and increase your survival chances actionify your business plan with the four simple tips above. Remember, a dream is not a vision, a vision is not a plan, and a plan is not action. We must take our dreams through the process to action to achieve fantastic success!
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Staff Writer; Dell Gines