the Right Brain Business Plan- an interview and giveaway

 

I was recently contacted by the publicist of a newly released book called The Right-Brain Business Plan , authored by Jennifer Lee of Artizen Coaching. I was offered a copy to give away. Why yes, thank you. Since so many of you run your own creative shops, dream of starting small businesses, or are contemplating taking the leap right now... I thought it might make a perfect gift.  Maybe even a very useful  jump start, if traditional business plans have felt intimidating. Disclaimer: I haven't read through it in its entirety, but skimming  through with a cup of tea proved quite inspiring. My favorite part was the success stories interspersed throughout the book coupled with photographs of their business. Who doesn't love a happy story?



To give you a better idea of what the book is all about here are some questions Jennifer answered:

What is a Right-Brain Business Plan? And how is it different from a traditional business plan?

Typically business plans are boring, lengthy, written documents and financial reports that get placed in a binder and never looked at again. A Right-Brain Business Plan, on the other hand, is a visual, creative and fun work of art that provides constant inspiration and guidance. The Right-Brain Business Plan has the same basic building blocks as a traditional plan, but because we approach the planning through pictures, colors, emotion, and intuition, it’s business planning for the rest of us. 

Why is it important for entrepreneurs to have a business plan?

A business plan is a roadmap that helps articulate the vision of where you want to go and the details of what it’s going to take to get there. The Small Business Administration estimates that 50 percent of small business in America fail within their first five years. Lack of planning is often to blame. Not having a business plan is like driving without directions to an unknown destination.

What are the top three things that stop creative types from doing a business plan?

First off, creative types and solopreneurs assume that business plans are only for large corporations or for those seeking funding. But since a business plan is a roadmap to success, even a one-person crafter operating out of her kitchen would benefit from having a clear plan. Secondly, creative types are often intimidated by the dry format of traditional business plans. The Right-Brain Business Plan, however, invites you to make your plan a work of art that inspires you. And lastly, creative types are usually too busy doing the work that they love that they don’t pause and  plan. What they don’t realize is that planning can actually be a very creative process that leverages their natural right-brain gifts.

Being an entrepreneur often means you’re working on your own. What advice do you have for people to get support in their business?

Just because you work for yourself, doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. One simple, no-cost way to get support in your business is to find an accountability buddy. This is someone you meet with regularly either in-person or on the phone to report progress, talk through issues, and celebrate successes. You might consider working with a mentor who can show you the ropes. I also suggest writing what I call a helping hands wish list. This is a list of all the things you need help with in your business. Use it to identify where you might want to hire some expert help like a graphic designer or bookkeeper. And finally, people won’t know you need help unless you ask, so practice making clear requests.

Thanks so much, Jennifer and congratulations on your new book release!

 Jennifer Lee is a certified coach, writer, artist, yogini, and the founder of Artizen Coaching. Before pursuing her own passions full-time, she consulted for ten years for companies such as Accenture, Gap, Sony, and HP, helping leaders and organizations manage change. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and her websites are artizencoaching.com and rightbrainbusinessplan.com


If you, or someone you love, might benefit from from adding this book to your library, please leave a comment in this post by Tuesday at 9pm EST. I'll announce the winner and the next giveaway on Wednesday morning.

Note: Yes, I will ship internationally! I will always send parcels anywhere on the planet, unless otherwise specified.