25 Responses

1. MARKET RESEARCH - Help me and you can win all THIS... - WarriorForum - Internet Marketing Forums

   11|Aug|2008 1

   [...] the 2 winners. Please post your reply to the question above (parts A and B) by heading here: MARKET RESEARCH CONTEST: Win the Entire Prometheus Strategy Planning System (and then some!)byProme… *** NOTE: That’s a direct link to the contest details on the blog so that you don’t have to find [...]

2. john

   11|Aug|2008 2

   A) How much time have you devoted to even the basics of planning and strategy work (this can include mind-mapping, business plan development, marketing campaign strategy)…

   2) Some

   B) Do you feel it is important to develop a “big picture” strategy for an organization (including small and individual businesses)? Why or why not?”

   ‘Yes’ if it is the brick and morter biz. If it is a home base business it needs to be a vehicle that is all set up and the newbie just jumps in and drives. the vehicle needs a budget plan (cost to travel from point A-to point B),a GPS (road map -step by step directions 1 at a time step instruction:eg do 1 then tell step 2, etc, Needs to make some income ASAP within 1-2 weeks.
   Because there are 100K of biz opportunities on offer and most are BS, scams, try for a month and move on to another, Nobody wants to spend time develop a “big picture” strategy for an organization (including small and individual businesses because there is a 95% chance the biz on offer is another BS scam.

3. Doug McIsaac

   12|Aug|2008 3

   “In your own income and business growth pursuits …
   A) How much time have you devoted to even the basics of planning and strategy work (this can include mind-mapping, business plan development, marketing campaign strategy)…

   1)A lot, especially at the beginning of a venture. Even though your business plan and/or marketing plan are changed when things actually start happening the original process of planning makes it much easier for you to change direction.

   B) Do you feel it is important to develop a “big picture” strategy for an organization (including small and individual businesses)? Why or why not?”

   Definitely, if you don’t have a big picture strategy you get caught up in the minutia. You will also guide your decisions by following your big picture strategy.

   Doug

4. Tara Jensen

   12|Aug|2008 4

   A = 3 … not enough

   B) Sure. But it’s one of those things people overlook (including me). It’s much easier to just focus on the excitement of creating quick cash instead of drafting out a proper attack plan. Yet the proper attack plan (the strategy) can probably create a lot more money then when we just jump in.

   And I respectuflly disagree with the other comment on here. “newbie” start up brick and mortar businesses all the time. A real business does not have a “we did it all for you, you just press this button” solution. Anyone looking to develop a REAL business needs to implement a REAL strategy.

   ps. hope I win!

5. Tim Hodges

   12|Aug|2008 5

   A.) I know that I am not devoted nearly enough time, but it’s also due to the ignorance on my part of confusing tactics and strategy. Thank you for the great teaching and clarifying.

   B.) In my opinion, it’s always a must to have a “big picture” strategy. I have worked with people for a long time, and that’s what I have taught them. I especially work with high level athletes in their mental game, and that’s critical for their success.
   When I began to transition to on-line endeavors, I began to focus on tactics…forgetting my own strength as a coach–long-term vision and strategy.
   Thank you for the help. I’m looking forward to even greater success with your help.

6. Paz

   12|Aug|2008 6

   A) 1) A lot….a whole lot. In doing so one learns so much that’s valuable to everystakeholder of an organization, directly or indirectly.

   Which is why,

   B) It is vital to have a living strategy that’s not only “big picture”, but also understood throughout the organization; ideally this would be richly enough depicted and widely enough understood to serve as the basis for a cohesive, cooperative, and passionate organizational culture– a team. A superior strategy evokes more positive energy from human resources than a superior mission (statement) because it involves action vs. description of a state. A team is best when actively engaged in doing something, not passively contemplating a value system. Strategy bridges the gaps of liaison that occur as a matter of course within corporate operative structures, everybody stays on the same page and everybody works hard at their part because everybody understands that their superorganism is doing something in it’s greater environment– surviving, growing, attacking, defending? This strategic understanding is the difference between people that clock in-n-out and barely tolerate the time between, and enthusiastic associates that you know have at some point exceeded into a friendship via trust earned working hard and smart together.

7. Barbara G

   12|Aug|2008 7

   A) Not nearly enough. Spending to much time on details and not on the big picture.

   B) Anyone in any type of “business” needs to understand their overall strategy. If we don’t where we are going then any road will get us there and that’s not the way to success.

   I like to stratigize from a reverse engineering approach. I decide on where I want to be and then I figure how to get there. I like to do that through brainstrorming with others. I also love to do mindmapping as I find it really helps me figure out if I have all the parts to the whole.

8. Jason P

   12|Aug|2008 8

   Answer to A : 3.) Not enough

   The term “business plan” sounds overwhelming and scary and it is easier to hold to the idea that having one is unnecessary, especially for an online business run by a 1 man operation.

   It evokes images of 3 piece suits, large scale operations and SBA loans. That is of course a misconception. I have found that a LOT of time can be wasted and mis-spent without one.

   Answer to B :

   Yes you need to have a Big Picture.

   It’s easy to get caught up in the daily details of the operations
   and get caught up in analysis paralysis.

   You need to a rudder to guide the ship and be able to make course corrections and having a Big Picture can guide you in the right direction.

   It’s easy to get off track when you keep your head down too long and don’t come up for air once in awhile. You need to know where you stand at any given point in your plan.

   Jason

9. patrick

   12|Aug|2008 9

   A) How much time have you devoted to even the basics of planning and strategy work (this can include mind-mapping, business plan development, marketing campaign strategy)…

   A lot. I’ve been researching/planning for my latest (online) business for approximately 6 months. Just about ready to start.

   B) Do you feel it is important to develop a “big picture” strategy for an organization (including small and individual businesses)? Why or why not?”

   Yes. And the smaller the business, the more important the strategy becomes. It’s important to remain focussed on the the long-term direction of your business and not act/react to every new opportunity you see.

10. Marsha Anderson

    14|Aug|2008 10

    I have developed my business plan. It took me eight weeks. The entire series of workshops are 60 weeks which ends some time in early spring 2009. I spend a lot of time now in order that I have a sound foundation to stand on. I did receive a certificate for accomplishing my business plan. I am certified to help others develop a plan.

    Every time I go through my plan I tweak it by highlighting what works and what isn’t working, as well as what isn’t working YET because some strategies take longer to process as I go along. Also, I see the big picture when I go through my plan. A plan is very important, I see it as a series of strategies that develop into the big picture.

    Marsha Anderson

11. meegan

    14|Aug|2008 11

    Am learning internet marketing for about 6 months now….getting ideas together and watching and listening to some and deleting others……..here I watch and learn…….Here I stay……win or lose
    Thank you Jim for some valuable sharing, which is a ‘winning’ in and of itself.

12. Michael

    14|Aug|2008 12

    Hi Jim,

    every once in a while strategic planning seems to have a sort of revival.
    Glad to see you make this happen in the online world …

    How do your concepts and “Prometheus” relate to the ideas of Mintzberg and his colleagues Ahlstrand and Lampe?

    But as you asked first, here are my answers to your questions now:

    A) 1. A lot, but still feel like 3. Not enough. I find it difficult to cope with the speed of change regarding my limited resources in a strategic frame.
    Planning back from the future is one thing, wishful thinking another …
    Law of Attraction to the rescue?

    B) To me seeing the “Big Picture” is very important. It helps to keep / regain focus. Without it we’re like ships without a clear course. Either we just drift or get blown by the winds of change to anywhere THEY like …

    Regards,

    Michael

13. bob mc alister

    14|Aug|2008 13

    a. a lot
    b…more than is necessary , maybe. have just recently dug myself OUT of the rut of accumulating vast stores of details before doing anything and have focused on ONE …we will see

    thanks

14. Rich Joyce

    15|Aug|2008 14

    A. NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH!

    B. Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” More than just funny words, the compact statement is the basic tenet of any strategic planning - just where DO you want to go? And what will you do when you get there? And even more importantly - HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GOT THERE?

    Take the time to plan up front.

15. Rick

    15|Aug|2008 15

    Hi Jim,

    I definitely have not devoted enough time to any form of strategy in my business, although I know it to be so important!

    It is one of those crazy phenomenon’s on the Internet in that intelligent, highly knowledgeable (and some highly educated) people continuously fail to map a path or plan any form of strategy for their businesses going forward but rather jump from method to the other… as and when a new one comes along. Yet we plan and have a strategy for most every other area of our lives.

    And having a plan, as well as the strategy with which to carry it out, would give so many of us the focus and the direction that is so sorely needed in an environment where information overload is the order of the day.

    Thanks for this great reminder, its most definitely back to the drawing board for me!

16. Charles

    15|Aug|2008 16

    A) 3) Just not enough,
    We get soooo, so much information sometimes on the same info, but in a different way. It gets confusing and takes time to work through it all to see what is the same (or better) with trial and error to sort it out…..

    B) Big Picture - Yes, definatly required - we’ve just got to find the right target and audience, and nurture and massage it to get the best ongoing return.

    If you do not have a target, the aim (direction) keeps moving,
    Then it’s like trying to….
    instead of 1 shot gun (many pellets)and 1 duck, it is more like 1 BB gun (1 weak pellet) and a flock of ducks, and you need to get them all.

17. Thomas Harless

    15|Aug|2008 17

    A) I put well over 60 hours per week into my business. I enjoy what I’m doing so the time is well spent.

    B) Planning is extremely important. You also have to research as much as you can because the internet is a growing, evolving and ever changing entity. What your doing is like updating “Think and Grow Rich” for the internet age.

18. Carol

    15|Aug|2008 18

    A) How much time have you devoted to even the basics of planning and strategy work (this can include mind-mapping, business plan development, marketing campaign strategy)…

    3) Not enough

    B) Do you feel it is important to develop a “big picture” strategy for an organization (including small and individual businesses)? Why or why not?”

    Yes. I think it’s very important to develop but more important is to keep the strategy/plan updated. I see businesses failing weekly now. They fail because they haven’t stayed ahead of the game with a good workable, freguently updated strategy.

    A good strategy is akin to having a crystal ball. As an example CompanyABC depends on xyz for it’s resources. What happens if xyz no longer exists or the resource dries up? CompanyABC is dead if they have no alternative strategy..

    Internet marketing is the same…A good strategy is of the utmost importance.

19. David

    16|Aug|2008 19

    “In your own income and business growth pursuits …
    A) How much time have you devoted to even the basics of planning and strategy work (this can include mind-mapping, business plan development, marketing campaign strategy)…

    Not enough

    B) Do you feel it is important to develop a “big picture” strategy for an organization (including small and individual businesses)? Why or why not?”

    If you want to make serious money, I think you do need to develop big picture strategies. If you constantly think small business, then you’re constantly thinking small profits, which equals small income etc…etc.

    I think part of this would also entail constant and consistent review, and reworking of the plan. That way if something you’ve decided on is not right, change it and fix whatever problem you are facing.

20. jerin

    16|Aug|2008 20

    A)
    1. a lot

    B)
    it is important for an organization to give a big picture because when there is an understanding between the organization and the people take place, people’s mind will be occupied by the organization. There will be an image created in the people’s mind that will last long. There will be more people getting involved in the organization.

21. Johncy Edward

    17|Aug|2008 21

    “In my income and business growth pursuits …

    A) How much time have you devoted to even the basics of planning and strategy work (this can include mind-mapping, business plan development, marketing campaign strategy)…

    ) Some

    B) Do you feel it is important to develop a “big picture” strategy for an organization (including small and individual businesses)? Why or why not?”

    Yes, I do feel it’s important to develop a “big picture”. But my problem is little bit different and I am not sure if you can help me out.

    I am in position where I really don’t know how the bid picture is like.

    I love cooking and collecting recipes and I started sharing with others in this site http://8recipes.com.

    However, I am not able to make a single pie from that. I am not sure where I am wrong.

    Will you be able to help me out?

    thanks.,
    Johncy Edward

22. Patrick Crockett

    17|Aug|2008 22

    A. Some

    B. The big picture is important and especially so for the small to medium sized enterprise. The reason is that if there is no big picture it is so easy to lose one’s way by being caught up in the small, unimportant but urgent things. By referring to the big picture it helps to keep one on track.

23. Michael Cushman

    20|Aug|2008 23

    A. A lot

    B. In one word focus. It’s easy to get side tracked and onto tangents. With the big picture you don’t get down a pathway that doesn’t lead to the end result desired.

    The second benefit is subconscious programing. By looking at the big picture, you convince your subconscious that that is the desired outcome and, almost miraculously, forces outside yourself begin attracting the resources you need to reach the desired outcome and you are more foocused.

24. Debbie

    21|Aug|2008 24

    A. A fair amount. Goals are essential to the growth of a business. Over the last year I have seen mine change and be refocused.

    B. I only have a small enterprise, so speaking to that, I can say that you need a plan, goals and a vision. As it changes and you change you need to work within those parameters. When I reach a goal then I need to be grateful and go on to the next goal and so, on. It is very important to know the direction you want your company to be going in at all times.

25. Mark

    21|Aug|2008 25

    “In your own income and business growth pursuits …
    A) How much time have you devoted to even the basics of planning and strategy work

    3) Not enough

    B) Do you feel it is important to develop a “big picture” strategy for an organization

    Yes.

    The reason is that as I move along in my business I am finding I am getting increasingly bogged down in multiple tasks that I later realise were not as essential as they first appeared.

    Also I feel the ‘big picture’ is necessary to be kept in the awareness so every system and task can be checked as to whether it helps the ‘big picture’ or not. It will also prevent me from buying stuff or services that in hindsight are not what I really need.

    Lastly, the biggest loss is in getting mentally tied up and losing time.