I'd recently read several conversations about using a hula hoop for exercise in the Virtual DiVAs Yahoo Groups Digest; it sounded so much like fun and like something I could easily tackle. Next thing I knew, I was walking from the store with a hula hoop secured firmly on the store cart I was pushing in front of me. A lady passing by wondered if I “remembered how to use it”. Humph! Of course; I'd made sure there were explicit directions securely attached.



A dilemma is already brewing, alas.

I haven't figured out where I can use the darn thing. Its circumference is enormous. Even when I'm inside! In fact, it's “big around” is more so than the “sonic” hoop I originally considered; but then decided against. The “sonic” hoop had flashing “somethings or other” located on the hoop opposite each other. They were a bit annoying.

Besides, in the event I decided to use the hoop outside in the dark, it seemed like the flashes would easily draw attention (much like June bugs to zapper lights) to that “crazy neighbor lady over there with the hula hoop”. At the same time it might annoy the neighbors. Or would that be just me?

Have you noticed where I'm going with this?

A “plan”. “You gots to have a plan”. For whatever you do! Many times things just come so naturally you do them without thinking. I don't suppose you gave much thought to putting on your socks this morning. (If you did put them on, that is.) You just did. However, subconsciously, getting dressed is a “plan”. We just don't talk or think much about it. Unless you're three, and your mother's trying to coax you into quit playing with whatever it is that has your concentration at the moment—and pay attention to getting ready for, say--church.

If you genuinely want to “dress up” your business, make it work, and take it to where you really want it to be, to where it ought to be—you must have a plan. A well-thought out “business plan”!

Where do you start?

The library? The book store? Google, Yahoo, Lycos? Use a search for “business plan”. Try “Business Plan for Virtual Assistant”. Or, pose your question at several Virtual Assistant forums; you'll discover you can get a sample plan in sizes varying from a simple one-pager to one with 12 or 21 pages. Or more!

When I personally Googled my way around the web in pursuit of topics one might include in a Business Plan, I discovered the result can be many and varied. Because of this, it seems a “simple start” perhaps using the “5 Ws & an H stand-by (Who, What, Where, When, Why and How)” can also help you get your groove on. Here goes:

Who: An Introductory Letter – tell us your intentions

What, Where: Title page; include the name of your business, address, contact information

Why: Executive Summary (short and sweet) summarizes the key components in your plan

How: How are you going to get there from here?

You can then segue into a good round of 20 questions:

What are your Vision and Mission Statements? Why are you in business? What are your business goals—as in what does your company look like?

Who do you want for alliances?

Marketing and Sales Plan: What are your products or services? How will you use to set your prices? What are the demographics of your target market-- age, income, occupation? Who is your competition? How will you become visible to your target market? Will you use a Web site? Will you advertise? What and how much promotion will you do? How are you going to build your company? What do you have to do to get you where you want to be 1 year, 3, 5 years from now?

Operations Plan: Will you be a single entity, or in a partnership? Will you incorporate?

Financial Plan: Project your actual Income and Outgo flow

Action Plan: How are you going to accomplish what you set out to do?

Contingency Plan: What will you do for a “rainy day” If the money isn't there to pay your bills?

That iridescent, “hot” pinkish-purple, speckled sphere sort of thing may look pretty good on a rainy day