In the Heart of Business Learning Community I lead a planning process at the beginning of every month, and it’s not based in the two most common kinds of planning processes.
One popular kind of planning process is outcome based–planning in order to achieve certain outcomes. I don’t like this kind of planning because it doesn’t honor the non-linearity of life. I also think it’s an ingredient in colonialism and white supremacy, in the mindset of aiming toward an outcome, and working to achieve that outcome no matter what. No matter who you find living on the land, no matter who or what is in the way, including one’s own needs and wellness.
So, no.
A second kind of action-based–planning is based on scoping out certain actions, trusting that those actions will move you toward certain outcomes. For example, if you’re hoping to enroll 3 new clients, you plan on having 10 conversations with potential clients, and you create a plan to connect with enough people so you can schedule those ten conversations during the month.
This one is absolutely healthier, and can be useful. However, I think it doesn’t take adequate account of the unpredictability of what is unfolding for each of us. It also doesn’t give us the kind of foundation in our hearts to really follow through.
Here are five steps, or ingredients, of what I think is a much healthier approach to planning. It’s not outcome or action-based, but relational. It has to do with coming into a healthier relationship with what you want to work on, rather than forcing it through.
Let me walk you through the five steps and you can see what you think.
First, find acceptance and gratitude for your business, as it is now. Love it as it is, so that you are not attempting to work on development from a place of judgement, dissatisfaction, or “not enoughness.” That kind of judgement not only feels terrible, it can absolutely mess up your sense of inner guidance, because you may be reaching for what you think is going to fix the uncomfortable feeling, rather than hearing true guidance.
Second, ask to be shown your business’ own yearning to develop. This is a bit woo, admittedly, but my experience over twenty years and so very many clients show how real it is. The business itself wants to grow and become better, separate from your own feelings. In Heart of Business, we teach that each thing that exists has its own heart, including your business. It can be such a relief, such a miracle, for our clients when they are in touch with the business’ desire to grow, that it doesn’t need to be pushed.
Third, ask for a quality of being that will help you stay in healthier relationship with business development for the month. Put another way, asking what is your heart needing so it can be in a healthier relationship working on business development?
Maybe it’s a quality like strength, or love, or subtlety? On the call this past week, someone felt the quality of love for their business, despite everything. Written like that, it doesn’t sound like much, but we could feel how profound it was for this member in that moment. It was very moving, to be aware that business was lovable even when it wasn’t performing as one would hope.
A fourth step is to get clear/ask for the heart of your business what the focus is. Once you have the foundation of love, satisfaction, and a full heart, it’s more effective to then ask what is the business needing to develop this month? Sometimes it’s continuing projects from the previous month, because a calendar change doesn’t necessarily mean a project neatly finishes. Other times, it’s clear what the business is asking for.
Sometimes it’s really hard to discern, and maybe what the business is asking for is an assessment, or an outside perspective. What is it that is needed?
Final step, the calendar. When we’re working on important projects for our business, they need time and space. However, we also have our daily commitments, both within the business and in the rest of our lives. Giving too much time to projects can be as damaging as giving too little time. Spend time in your heart seeing how much space you have, truthfully, and putting it in the calendar.
It’s also important to know yourself somewhat. Do you like to work in big chunks, where you would do better to block off one or more half days or entire days to do project work? Or do you work better in small bits, 30 minutes to maybe two hours at a time? Schedule accordingly. (My colleague Leela Sinha has great insights into what she calls “Intensives,” folks who like to work immersively, among other traits that run counter how our culture is set up.)
I lead this process every month in our Learning Community, and intro and questions aside, it takes about 15-20 minutes.
It’s not your typical linear, strategic planning process, and yet I find it’s been the most helpful for our clients, and for us personally at Heart of Business.
How does it land for you? Questions? Challenges? Are there any steps that feel challenging?
With love,
Mark Silver, M.Div.
Heart of Business, Inc.
Every act of business can be an act of love.
This Friday, the Virtual Retreat
This kind of planning process needs space, and needs connection with the heart. Although I won’t be formally leading this process during the retreat, it’s the perfect time to bring this kind of process, any kind of guidance-based process around your business.
Or, maybe you need to decompress from everything that is going on. You need to sink more deeply back into love and care. Not closing your eyes to what you care about, but removing yourself from the agitation and overwhelm of what is hitting our nervous systems.
Or, maybe you want to be in a space with other heart-centered business owners who are going deep, and honoring the sacredness of their business, and their own beings.
I’d love for you to join us this Friday, even if you can only attend a portion of it. Priced at Pay from the Heart.
All the details are here: Friday, November 3 Virtual Retreat.
Jump in. Or ask questions.
