16 | HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN
about the business—simply concentrate on
what makes you happy or unhappy.
If you enjoy talking to new people,
keeping books, or working with comput-
ers, be sure to include those. Put down all
the activities you can think of that give you
pleasure. Antoinette’s list is shown as an
example.
As a business owner, you will spend
most of your waking hours in the business,
and if it doesn’t make you happy, you
probably won’t be very good at it. If this
list creates doubts about whether you’re
pursuing the right business, I suggest
you let your unconscious mind work on
the problem. Most likely, you’ll know the
answer after one or two good nights’ sleep.
Antoinette Gorzak:
My Likes and Dislikes
Th ings I Like to Do- Be independent and make my own
decisions - Keep things orderly. I am almost
compulsive about this - Take skiing trips
- Work with good, intelligent people
- Cook with Jack
- Care about my work.
Th ings I Don’t Like to Do - Work for a dimwit boss
- Feel like I have a dead-end job
- Make people unhappy.
CAUTiON
if your list contains several things you
really don’t like doing and nothing at all that
you like doing, it may be a sign that you have
a negative attitude at this time in your life. If
so, you may wish to think carefully about your
decision to enter or expand a business at this
time. Chances are your negative attitude will
reduce your chances of business success.Specifi c Business Goals
Finally, list your specifi c business goals.
Exactly what do you want your business
to accomplish for you? Freedom from 9
to 5? Money—and if so, how much? More
time with the children? Making the world
or your little part of it a better place? It’s
your wish list, so be specifi c and enjoy
writing it.Antoinette Gorzak:
My Specifi c Business Goals- Have my own business that gives
me a decent living and fi nancial
independence - Work with and sell to my friends
and acquaintances as well as new
customers - Introduce clothing presently
unavailable in my city and provide a
real service for working women - Be part of the growing network of
successful businesswomen - Be respected for my success.