Six generations of my family before me were born and lived in this same valley, and although I call myself "a Vermonter", I always leave out the fact that I was born and lived my early years in a tough neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Maybe I'm "a-kind-of Vermonter" since I've lived in this same valley for 50 years, but I do know my place in that I am not "a true Vermonter". Those are Vermont Rules!
Yes, it's mid-September, and, yes, the leaves are beginning to turn here in southern Vermont. As I write this, the maple out at the end of the driveway is flaming red. With the long weekend of October 8th, leaves will be at their peak...and then it's abruptly over that Monday as everyone quickly shifts to prep for the winta' in what we call taint as in taint summa', taint winta'.
The importance of leaf peepin' in VT is that, as a state, its population is tiny (more people live in Boston.)
If one translates that same planning preparation that the general store is going through for inventory, for hiring in a wicked tough environment and for cash flow back to our own companies, the impact of the timing is the same. Most of us are just now beginning our own annual planning process that will take us to final 2022 business plans by mid-December when we as managers most importantly present those to one another to get to a point of complete buy in and agreement as a team. That team agreement needs to be the impact of any meaningful planning process, not a document that you present to your board or corporate bosses. Don't get me wrong, board approval is critical, but most importantly, no BS team agreement is much more important.
The bottom line for this fall's planning is agility, immediacy, and adoption of new tactics, new technologies and new thinking as we shift from marketing and selling our products and services to marketing and selling the value that our products provide. 2022 will be clearly the year of the customer like no other!
You can take a look at our 2021 revised ebook, "Writing the Winning Business Plan" for additional ideas and processes or just connect with me at any time. Right now, I'm off to the general store to grab a breakfast sandwich before my first zoom call at 8:30.
Have a great day selling today and enjoy what looks like a great weatha' weekend! Talk to the family about
coming to see the spectacular leaves in VT in a couple of weeks...we can use the tourist dollars!
If at any time, you have a need for a confidential sounding board for your 2022 planning process, just connect with me at any time. Text or email me, and I'll quickly set up a call. I'm a pretty good listener, and we can get deep into tactics if you want. Obviously, no cost for a call or two; just an opportunity to listen intently and make a few recommendations based on decades of experience.
Derby Entrepreneurship Center@Tufts.