Do I need a 90-day plan?

Here at Action Coach, we really believe in 90-day planning. We believe that your 90-day plan should be moving you towards your “north star” or biggest goal. But not everyone thinks having a 90-day plan is essential. One of the common questions we get asked on the run-up to our 90-day planning events is “Do I need a 90-day plan?”

So we thought we’d take a neutral, unbiased, no BS look at whether EVERY business needs a 90-day plan, and why some companies might not need one.

Why is having a 90-day plan so important?

Hey there, entrepreneur!

Let’s talk about 90-day plans.

Trust us, having one can be important.

With a 90-day plan, you can break down your big, hairy goals into bite-sized chunks, and actually make progress. It’s like having a roadmap that guides you toward success.

Plus, having a deadline of just 90 days keeps you accountable and motivated.

And the best part?

At the end of each quarter, you get to celebrate your wins and set your plan for the next 90 days.

Some people might argue that plans are a waste of time, and that might be true if you’re not interested in growing your business. Or maybe you set goals and plan more regularly than every 90 days. But with a 90-day plan, you’re not over-committing or under-delivering. You’re setting realistic goals and hitting them.

Ultimately, your 90-day plan is the medium-term goal that keeps you moving toward your end goal. At Action Coach, we believe in chasing your dreams. So we start with the end in mind and help our members set their long-term goals. They are usually big, fat, hairy goals. Stuff that’s exciting, and can be a little scary.

We call it your “north star” and if you break it down and reverse engineer all the things that need to happen to get there, your 90-day plan can consist of a project that moves you closer to that big goal.

To find out how a business coach can help you with goal setting just click here.

Should every business have one?

Well, it depends on your business and your goals.

If you’re a start-up, a 90-day plan can help you focus on short-term wins, and build momentum toward long-term success.

If you’re a big corporation, a 90-day plan can help you stay agile and adaptable in an ever-changing market.

But, if your business is already thriving, and you don’t feel like you need a plan, then that’s cool too. It’s all about what works best for you and your business. So, take a step back, evaluate your situation, and decide if a 90-day plan is right for you. You got this.

What is a 90-day plan, and how does it work?

A 90-day plan is a roadmap that outlines your goals and action items for the next 90 days. It should consist of one big project per manager or director in the business. That project can be broken down into 3 or 4 rocks or actions that will help you complete the project. It’s also important to have a KPI or a way of measuring whether you complete the project or not. Finally, you can break those “rocks” or bigger actions down into weekly actions or weekly goals. Then all you have to do is turn up each week and complete the weekly actions.

Ultimately a 90-day plan is like a mini business plan, but instead of looking years ahead, you’re focusing on the short term. By breaking your goals into 90-day chunks, you’re able to prioritise what’s important and take action towards achieving it.

And the best part? You get to see results quickly and adjust your plan as needed. It’s like hitting the reset button every quarter and starting fresh. So, grab a pen and paper, and start planning your next 90 days. It’s time to crush those goals.

What are the benefits of having a 90-day plan for your business?

If you’re wondering why you should bother with a 90-day plan, let me tell you – there are so many benefits. First of all, a 90-day plan helps you prioritise your goals, and focus on what’s important. If you’ve got a big, fat, hairy goal or a “north star” then having a 90-day plan will keep you on track towards it. If being busy is stopping you from working “on” the business and “on” your goals, click here to find out how a business coach can help you with time and being busy.

It’s also like a filter for your to-do list. If something isn’t moving you toward the 90-day plan, it might help you filter that thing out.

Plus, having a plan keeps you accountable, and helps you stay on track toward achieving your goals. You also get to see progress quickly, which boosts motivation and momentum.

And perhaps the best benefit?

At the end of every quarter, you get to celebrate your wins, and adjust your plan for the next 90 days. It’s like a mini victory lap every quarter. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning and start winning!

How can a 90-day plan help you achieve your business goals?

Are you ready to crush your business goals?

First of all, by breaking your goals down into 90-day chunks, you’re able to focus on what’s important, and avoid getting overwhelmed by the big picture. Or even the day-to-day firefighting that small business owners often find themselves in.

You can prioritise and allocate resources efficiently when you have a 90-DP.

Secondly, a 90-day plan keeps you accountable and helps you stay on track toward achieving your goals. You know what you need to do every day and week, and it helps you avoid procrastination.

Finally, with a 90-day plan, you can track your progress and make adjustments along the way. It’s like having a sat nav for your business goals. So, what are you waiting for? Create your 90-DP, and let’s start making things happen.

What are the key components of a 90-day plan, and how do you create one?

So you want to create a 90-day plan, but you’re not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we got you.

There are a few key components that every 90-DP should have.

First, start with your big-picture goals – then you can figure out where you want to be in 90 days to keep on track for the big stuff?

Then, break those goals down into specific action items. What do you need to do every day and week?

Next, set timelines and deadlines for each action item, and assign responsibilities if you have a team.

Finally, track your progress and adjust your plan as needed. Follow that process and creating your 90-day plan is easy.

How often should you review and update your 90-day plan?

Ideally, only every 90 days. Sometimes when you set a long-term goal, things can change on route. Kind of like a road closure or heavy traffic when your following a sat nav.

But with a 90-day goal, it can be a little different. Because it’s a short-term goal, you should be able to get a good gauge of what’s going to happen in the next 3 months.

A 90-day plan is usually better when you are setting actions to take rather than results to chase. Because of that, you can keep taking the action you’ve put into the 90-DP.

If you’re going off track, by all means, adjust and go again. But you shouldn’t need to change a 90-day plan regularly.

What are the common pitfalls to avoid when creating a 90-day plan?

When creating a 90-DP, it’s important to avoid some common pitfalls that can derail your progress.

First, don’t set unrealistic goals – it’s important to challenge yourself, but also be realistic about what you can achieve in 90 days. When setting your “north star” or your big, fat, hairy goals, you can go as big as you want. They are usually long term and when setting long-term goals, that’s the time to go really big. But with 90-day goals, you don’t have long. Most people overestimate what they can do short term, and majorly underestimate what they can do long term. So go big for the long-term goals, and be reasonable with your 90-day and short-term goals.

Second, don’t forget to prioritise – not every goal is equally important, so make sure you’re focusing on what matters most. Your 90-day goals should be leading towards your biggest goals rather than fighting fires.

Third, don’t overcommit – it’s better to achieve a few goals than to half-ass because you’ve set too many.

Fourth, don’t forget to track your progress and adjust your plan if needed.

And finally, don’t forget to celebrate your wins along the way. Remember, a 90-day plan is meant to help you succeed, not stress you out. So, take it one day at a time, and don’t forget to have fun.

How do you measure the success of your 90-day plan?

Well, that’s where KPIs and measurables come in.

First, start by identifying the specific metrics that matter most to your business. For example, if your goal is to increase sales, then your KPIs might be revenue, customer acquisition, and conversion rates.

Then, set targets for each KPI, and track your progress against those targets. This will help you see how well your plan is working, and where you might need to make adjustments.

And remember, measuring success isn’t just about hitting targets – it’s also about learning and improving along the way. So, stay curious, stay flexible, and keep crushing those goals

Are there any alternatives to a 90-day plan that can be effective for business planning?

Yes, there are alternative planning approaches to a 90-DP that can be just as effective.

One such approach is a yearly plan, where you set goals and develop strategies for an entire year. This allows you to take a more long-term view of your business and plan accordingly. However, here at Action Coach, we set BOTH annual goals and quarterly goals. The 90-DP then helps you move towards the annual goal.

Another alternative is a quarterly rolling plan, which is similar to a 90-day plan but allows for more flexibility and adaptability. With this approach, you review and update your plan every month, based on your current business situation and performance.

Ultimately, the key is to find a planning approach that works best for your business, taking into account your goals, resources, and timeline.

Where can I go to create a 90-day plan?

There are lots of ways to create a 90-day plan. You can use online tools, virtual training courses, or find a good book to guide you through. You can find all of those things on Google pretty easily.

If you’d prefer some help or guidance, you could search for a coach that can do this with you 121.

We tend to find blocking out a full day to do your 90-day goals every 3 months with a coach can be expensive, so here at Action Coach we run a 90-day planning event every quarter. Most of our members come together, and they all set their 90-day goals in an electric atmosphere. That way, we can guide everyon through it together. The business owners can get advice from the coaches and each other, and most importantly the community really comes together.

To see when our next 90-day planning event is just click here.

Or to view our prices and programmes for our coaching memberships just click here.