I'm here to tell you - DON"T PLAN for 2012! Take a look at 2011. Was there a plan? How visible was it to you as you went
through the year? Can you even tell me what your specific plan was? Some say the biggest error made by business owners (and we are all business owners), is not to have a plan. I don't agree! THE BIGGEST error is not LOOKING at that plan on a regular basis once it's created - So I say if you're not going to set a plan to review your plan minimally monthly, then don't bother writing one. It's a waste of your time (but then again, you may have a lot of time to waste???)
So If you're Planning for 2012 and in your plan is a REVIEW of that plan each month or week,(Some need a review daily - I'm in that category) let me suggest an approach. Post a summarized view of that plan in a place you will see it DAILY - I suggest a One Page Summary - and FRAME IT - so it doesn't get lost on your desk or thrown away. I also suggest you VIDEO tape yourself reviewing your plan - It can be light - can be introspective - whatever you'd like - it's just for you but keep it brief - 1-2 minutes - so once monthly you can watch it and remind yourself of the passion you felt in late Dec/early Jan when you put pen to paper and defined this road you would take in 2012.
Adjustments - Adjustments are ok - In a prior world when I worked for large manufacturers (running technology efforts for those companies), I'd be called in to many strategy discussions about the company's Plan and their Forecast - The PLAN is something that is kept as a measurement for the year and not changed - But the FORECAST is the adjusted plan. SO let's say mid year you look at that video and you KNOW the entire plan is NOT WORKING - ADJUST YOUR PLAN BUT DON"T GIVE UP - Track your business against both if you can - Just don't feel you have to give up because your plan isn't working...Adjust your plan and track yourself against that - SMALL STEPS in the RIGHT DIRECTION will get you there! 
What if you don't plan? You may do well - or - you may not - It won't be in your control. You may even have a banner year in 2012, but one thing you won't have is stability.
In this business, the only way to ensure continued success, is to be consistent with our efforts, measuring the results of those efforts, and adjusting those efforts to ensure future success. So don't plan - roll the dice - it may be a good year for you or it may not - I choose to plan and know I'm heading in the right direction!
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