Incorporating Trump and Oprah into Your Business Plans

With all the research into Oprah and Trump floating around my head, I decided to do something about it.  I am going to put some of their philosophies to work for my business plan.

Oprah has put out several articles over the past few years in O, The Oprah Magazine, which talk specifically about business plans.  In 2007 an article was posted by Polly Brewster: Your Great Idea, Whose Time Has Come.  In there she speaks about a one-page business plan.

Quoted from the sample business plan from 2008,

“The One Page Business Plan methodology is the fastest, easiest way to write a plan. Using key words and short phrases plans can be created for a company, business unit, department, project or program... on a single page. This methodology focuses everyone in your company on what is important and critical for success!”

KLEJ Productions is using this idea to help keep the entire staff focused on what we need and where we are going.  The company will update this yearly to enable the company to see our new goals and what we have accomplished.  Oprah wants us to monitor our plans and update often.  This will certainly be a key factor in the success of KLEJ Productions.

Oprah’s magazine is not only full of her own particular wisdom from her personal career, but it chuck full of ideas and tidbits that she has noticed are working for others.  This is what our company aims to do; see what works for others and find a way to incorporate that into our business plan.

In 2001 there was an article, Investing in Me, Inc., that shows you how to create a business plan for your career.  In that article I picked up on a very key element that has been implemented into KLEJ Productions.  Under the section Who Are You? the author, Ronna Lichtenberg, tells the reader to write down 10-15 lines about yourself,

 “not a résumé, but a description you might give to someone introducing you as a speaker.” 

Then repeat this with what you’d like the speaker to say in 15 years.  KLEJ Productions has implemented this idea to help strengthen the core of the business plan.  Investors need to know where your company is headed.   While this is very important for the investor to know, their main concern is going to lie in your marketing strategy and how you plan to profit.  Do your homework.  Make this plan bullet proof.  

Donald Trump was a big promoter of there being no success without a business plan.  Have an exact plan for your company and then alter it as you grow.  Make sure when you meet with your investors that they have the most up-to-date plan for your company complete with direction and focus.

Donald Trump writes blog postings.  These are great if you want to add them to your RSS feed.  In one entitled, The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative Blog, he relays some advice that his father gave him. 

“He always told me to "know everything you can about what you're doing." In other words, be thorough.” 

KLEJ Productions has really taken advantage of this sage wisdom.  Being able to incorporate this into all aspects of not only our business plan but also the company itself has been empowering.

Take some time out to really hear what successful business people are telling you.  Implement it.  Your business will thank you.