How to Motivate Yourself to Start Writing a Business Plan

Writing a business plan can sometimes be very challenging. Motivation can take you places so do not be discouraged... Follow these steps and you watch yourself write that business plan you so much need for a successful business outing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Pen
• Paper or
• Computer
• A Business Idea or Existing Business

1. Use your original motivation and inspiration. The same motivation that prompted you to want to start your own business should be channelled to help you write your business plan. If, for example, you are motivated when you read about other successful entrepreneurs, immerse yourself with those same reading materials. If it was your business idea that motivated you, revisit the idea either mentally or physically. Review whatever it was that inspired you to be an entrepreneur.
2. Using the motivation you have generated through step one, immediately grab a pen and paper or your computer and start writing or typing.
3. Outline your plan. Start by dividing the plan into sections or chapters, such as marketing, financials, operations, and so on. Divide each section into subsections and headings. Then start writing each section by developing each heading and subsection. As you complete each section, the plan will begin to take shape. Do not be discouraged by thinking about all the work it would take to complete the entire plan. Rather, look at working on little bits and pieces at a time. Good business plans are not actually written from start to finish the same way you read a book. They are developed, much in the same way as you build a house, piece by piece.
4. Devote yourself to work on one section or topic at a time. It is easier to motivate yourself to write a few pages at a time, or on one section at a time, than to write the whole business plan at once.
   For example, you may decide to write a few pages on operations. Work in sessions, each session no more than two hours long. Make sure you have a break between sessions. As long as you do this regularly, your business plan will eventually take shape.
5. Write down what you know first. Begin with the sections you are eager to write, and have ready information and material. Start by writing down your ideas. Do not concentrate so much on the information you still require. Those can always be gotten later. Do not discourage yourself by bothering about the form and structure of the words and sections at this stage. This is not the final draft. Concentrate on getting your ideas done. Emphasize ideas over wording. Sustain your motivation by writing in a positive and enthusiastiv manner. Later, you will re-arrange, edit and proof read your document. Right now, the ideas are most important; the working can be refined later, if not by you, then by someone else.

Tips & Warnings

• It's always advisable to let a professional do the final editing of your business plan.
• Never reveal the contents of your business plan to someone you don't trust. If you're going to hire a professional ensure a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is signed.