Tell Me It's Not a Scary Movie...
Strategic Planning - it's not scary, and you need it now more than ever
Hello again my lovely! 👋🏻🤩
Well now, that has been an interesting1 couple of weeks, hasn’t it…
I meant to post this article last week about strategic planning - bringing together everything I’ve talked about since last November - but I was too busy watching possibly the world’s first private sector coup unfolding before my eyes, and wondering how y’all got to this stage so quickly.
And make no mistake, the scrillions of fairly insane EOs coming from the pen of the first President of the US to also be a convicted felon, coupled with a private sector takedown of the apparatus of State by a small collection of unelected, unappointed, and definitely un-security-cleared post-adolescent computer dweebs, was NOT something I had on my bingo card for 2025.
Well not this quickly anyway…
And here’s the thing - I know that it’s almost certain you’re looking at your business right this minute and thinking “What the actual feck? Where do we go from here?”
Well we need to start with working out how you can keep your business operating, and how you and your team can navigate the next four years.2
So let's talk about the elephant in the room - strategic planning.
You know, that thing that makes many of us break out in a cold sweat and reach for the "too difficult" box to file it away in?
Yeah, that one.
I get it. With everything happening in the world right now - from AI reshaping entire industries (including itself) overnight to the increasing chaos in US politics (hello, leopards eating faces!), and let's not even start on what that’s doing to the already existing global economic uncertainty - it might seem like the worst possible time to sit down and plan for the future.
But here's the plot twist: it's actually the perfect time.
Why Now?
Remember that old saying about the best time to plant a tree?
The best time was 20 years ago, and the second best time is now.
Well, the same applies to strategic planning.
In times of uncertainty, having a clear roadmap doesn't limit your options - it actually gives you the freedom to navigate changes more effectively.
Think of it like this: if you're driving through unknown territories on a dark and foggy night, would you rather have GPS to help you reach the destination you had in mind, or just wing it, hope for the best, and absolutely refuse to stop and ask for directions3?
The Three Pillars You Can't Ignore
In my work with founders over the years, I've identified three critical pillars for successful scaling: Strategy, Structure, and Leadership. Think of them as the holy trinity of growth - miss one, and the whole thing gets wobbly.
Your strategy is your roadmap, your structure is your vehicle, and your leadership is the driver. All three need to work together to get you where you want to go.
Of all of these, I know that stabilizing the strategy pillar is the bit that many Founders feel a bit out of their comfort zone on, and it’s the bit that tends to get put in the “too difficult” box the most…
Not enough time to think strategic thoughts
Operational delivery is more important
Not at the right stage for this yet
Don’t know where to start…
Breaking Down the Scary
One of the biggest reasons Founders put off strategic planning is that it seems overwhelming.
But here's the thing - it doesn't have to be, my lovely.
You don't need to hire expensive consultants or lock yourself away for months to create a dusty tome that'll never see the light of day.
Modern strategic planning is more like creating a living, breathing document that evolves with your business. It's about asking four simple questions:
🎯 Where are we now?
🎯 Where do we want to be?
🎯 When do we want to get there?
🎯 What do we need to do to make this happen?
That's it.
Honestly.
The Secret Sauce: Rolling Planning
Here's something the big consulting firms don't want you to know: strategy isn't a one-and-done, big-ticket, every three-years deal.
The most successful companies use what we call "rolling strategic planning" - regularly reviewing and adjusting their plans as conditions change.
Think of it like “the internet” updating your GPS route when there's traffic ahead. You're still heading to the same destination, but you might take a different path to get there.
Why It Matters More Than Ever
In today's VUCA world (that's Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous for those playing buzzword bingo), having a solid strategy isn't just nice to have - it's essential for survival. Here's why:
💥 It helps you make better decisions faster
💥 It aligns your team around common goals
💥 It makes you more attractive to investors
💥 It helps you spot opportunities (and threats) earlier
And let's be honest - with the current state of global politics and markets, wouldn't you rather have a plan B (and C, and D) ready to go?
Making It Happen
Here's the good news: you don't need an MBA or years of experience to create a solid strategic plan. You just need:
🎯 A clear vision of where you want to go
🎯 The willingness to ask tough questions
🎯 The discipline to review and adjust regularly
🎯 A framework to guide you
Your Next Steps
If you're reading this and thinking, "Okay, but where do I start?" - I've got you covered my lovely. I'm sharing my comprehensive strategic planning framework as a free download with this newsletter.
It's the same framework I use with my clients, and it's helped countless founders move from "overwhelmed" to "in control."
Remember, strategic planning isn't about predicting the future - it's about being prepared for whatever the future throws at you.
And right now, that's more valuable than ever.
The Bottom Line
In a world where the only constant is change, having a solid strategy isn't just about growth - it's about survival. But more than that, it's about thriving in uncertainty and building something that lasts.
So, are you ready to give strategic planning another shot, my sweet summer child?
Download the framework, block out some time in your calendar, and let's make it happen. Your future self (and your team, and your investors) will thank you.
Go! Confront the problem! Fight! Win! And call me when you get back, dahling. I enjoy our visits…
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Thank you for reading Founders' Fuel™. I write these posts so that I can help people like you become the leaders their businesses (and dreams) deserve.
This post is public so please feel free to share it with someone that you think will appreciate or benefit from it.😎🤜🏻🤛🏻
P.S. If you're wondering whether the US is still the right place for your business (and I know many Founders are), let's talk.
Strategic planning isn't just about what you'll do - sometimes it's about where you'll do it from, and just because you started the business in the US doesn’t mean you have to stay there…
I’m in the middle of helping two clients who are relocating to the UK as a direct result of what’s happening on the other side of the pond, and am working on a Sanctuary Scotland program where I’m hoping to plug in support from the various public sector agencies to make the move a bit easier for Founders and CEOs who need to get out of Dodge.
As in “May you live in interesting times” interesting…
We hope it’s only 4 - but it’s not looking as if your mango felon will hold to that bit of the Constitution, as he’s ignored pretty much everything else in it so far and we’re only 2 weeks in🙄
Or is that just my husband? Thank feck for Google Maps, and better internet coverage, because I no longer have that argument with him when it looks like we’re lost… 😎