Positioned with Kimberly Knight

57: Strategic Planning Like Multi Million Dollar Corporations - Part 2

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Ready to stop winging it and start planning like kingdom leaders? In this episode, Kimberly shares corporate-level strategic planning methodology adapted specifically for Christian entrepreneurs who want to maximize both kingdom impact and business success.

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Speaker 1:

Welcome back to the Position Podcast. I am your host, kimberly Knight, and in our last episode we talked about why most Christian entrepreneurs are not getting the maximum benefit from their planning and goal setting, and how to plan, like my multimillion dollar clients, and see better results. So if you missed that episode, go back and listen to the first one, because what I'm sharing today is going to build on the foundations of that episode. You'll see the link in the show notes. In today's episode, I'm going to give you some of the methodology that I use with these corporations and other entities specifically for kingdom entrepreneurs, and this is going to help you to better plan out the practical and the spiritual aspects of your kingdom business. I will tell you this this process will transform how you approach business planning and it is going to set you up for extraordinary success. So we're going to dive right in Now.

Speaker 1:

Most of you, and myself included, are very familiar with Habakkuk 2.2, right. Write the vision and make it plain that he who reads it can run. In other words, when you have a specific vision, you can accomplish it faster with intentionality. The interesting thing here is that the word for vision in this passage actually translates as prophecy, so it is actually telling you to get clear about your kingdom purpose and prophesy. It prophesy into its future, over your business, what you want to see, what you want the result of your work to be. So that is the mindset I want you to have as we approach our planning session. Additionally, you're going to want to not only include things like how much money you want to make, how many widgets you want to sell or whatever, but also what is God calling you to complete and accomplish through your business. So don't forget to add that in as well.

Speaker 1:

Accordingly, you're going to need the wisdom from heaven. Let's do that first. Let's seek divine guidance first, through fasting and prayer. I'm telling you, this is your secret weapon, dear ones. This is your secret weapon. Before you touch a spreadsheet, before you write a goal, fast and pray. This will give you the opportunity to tap into the heart of God. It will clear up your hearing. It is going to give you the advantage that secular corporations and entities do not have. So take full advantage of your divine wisdom that you get to tap into.

Speaker 1:

Also, you want to make sure that, as you're setting your goals, as you're looking at your planning period, that it aligns with God's purposes for you and for your business. Because, remember, for us it is not just business, it is not just about revenue, it's also supposed to have a kingdom impact. Your business is the answer to someone else's prayers and petitions and needs that they've presented to God. And God said well, I am going to send a Kimberly who is going to help entrepreneurs plan so that they can increase their revenue and increase their kingdom impact, so that they can increase their revenue and increase their kingdom impact. So what impact is God calling you to make through your enterprise? Make sure that you're planning around those impacts, as well as the financial impacts and the other metrics that you'll use for measuring your planning and success. Measuring your planning and success. That said, again, define your vision beyond the financial.

Speaker 1:

You'll also want to look at where do you want your business to be by the end of your planning period. So, if you're planning for the year, it would be from January 1st to December 31st, or if you do it as a fiscal year, it may be from July 1st to June 31st, june 30th. But whatever that planning period is, what do you want your business to look like at the end of the period? Lives transformed, income generated. What are going to be your metrics of success? Also, what legacy are you looking to build through your kingdom enterprise? We have a connection to an eternal purpose also, a purpose that is far beyond how much income we made Now. Revenue is very important, don't get me wrong, but we also want to make sure that we are making strategic decisions that also line up with the will of God for our lives, our calls and our legacies. Accordingly, you're going to need to use your priority protocol. If you haven't listened to that episode, go back and listen to that episode, because a lot of what we're going to talk about today is going to be tied to your predetermined priorities. So, again, I'll leave that link in the show notes. Predetermined priorities so, again, I'll leave that link in the show notes.

Speaker 1:

Now your priority protocol and I spoke about this in part one needs to be applied strategically, so that looks like you establishing your priorities for that planning period ahead of time, so that every decision that you make from that point forward aligns with those predetermined priorities. Let me tell you why that's so important. That is hyper important, because you will no longer make emotional decisions. You are less likely to get distracted by bright, shiny objects I think I don't remember what movie it was, but the dog would become so distracted he would see squirrel and I definitely see squirrels sometimes and bright, shiny objects that may distract me from my main purposes and definitely may take me away from my four stated priorities.

Speaker 1:

So having the priority protocol, which helps you to define what your priorities are before you have to make decisions, is going to help you. When you have to make a decision in the moment and the decision is a difficult one or your choices are not the most optimal right, you'll be able to have that decision-making criteria that is going to eliminate double-mindedness before you need it. This is also particularly helpful for opportunities that may arrive right, because you will be able to evaluate them based on your priorities and intentionality and save time, money, energy, effort for the things that really matter to you and for the projects that really matter to you and for the clients that are best suited for you, rather than just being willy-nilly about it or accepting everything that comes along. Just because something is offered to you doesn't mean that you should necessarily take that project Ooh, that's a word for somebody. Just because you're offered a project doesn't mean you should take it Just because you're offered an opportunity doesn't mean you should take it. Just because you're offered an opportunity doesn't mean you should take it. It doesn't mean that it's best for you or for your business, or that it aligns with God's will for your life or your priorities for this season. Okay, that really was a word for somebody. If that was you, drop me a line, drop me an email, drop a comment. Let me know that that was you and how it impacted you. I would love to hear from you. All right, also, with our priority protocol, we're going to apply these priorities to every strategic decision, from your partnerships to your product launches, to how you spend your time. All of that is going to be filtered through your priority protocol. All of that is going to be filtered through your priority protocol. So, whether or not I connect to Brother Green Jacket or Sister Yellow Dress is going to look back at my priority protocol and see what I am supposed to be doing and keeping as the main thing during this season.

Speaker 1:

Now, once that's in place, you also want to look at your investment and growth planning. Investment and growth planning looks at your learning and development and hiring. How much do you need to invest in order to reach that level. Now here's the thing that's interesting. I cannot tell you how many people I've heard say you know, I want a six-figure business, but they're only investing in their personal and professional development and hiring to at a hundred dollar level. Oh, I know I stepped on some pinky toes, but I love you. I'm saying this in love. So if your goal is a hundred thousand dollars by year end and you're not planning for significant investments in coaching, in masterminds, in conferences, in hiring the right support team yeah, I've got questions and I'm asking them out of love, because if you invest just at the level you're at, what you're saying is I plan to maintain this level. If you invest at the next level or at the level that you would like to grow to, then you are also creating the context and the structure and the infrastructure for your business to be there. I love you.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so you want to identify what you need to learn and who you need to hire. You look at any skill gaps that you have that are preventing you from reaching your goals. You have that are preventing you from reaching your goals. You want to look at any areas where you need to grow or enhance your learning so that you can increase your capacity for that area of your business or meet your priorities in that area. Also, you want to look at and oh my gosh, this is so important. Okay, this is so important. So this actually changed my life and caused was one of the major causes that I made more money last year in my business than ever before. Jot this down. If you're taking notes, jot this down.

Speaker 1:

You want to look at what tasks you are doing that someone could either do better or that you need to delegate so that you and so you can free up time. Now, listen, there are some things that only you either do better or that you need to delegate so you can free up time. Now, listen, there are some things that only you can do and there are other things that anybody can do and do them well, and it would free up your time so that you can take care of higher level or exclusive tasks. Let me give you an example. One of the things that I have freed up it is a life changer people is meal prep. If one more person asks me what's for dinner, I'm going to scream. I know I am not alone in this right, so I have someone who preps meals.

Speaker 1:

Every week she sends out a menu. I'm not her only client. She sends out a menu. We select what we want, she makes it and delivers it. It sits in my fridge or in my freezer and when I'm ready I eat it, and I'm a happy camper. I know exactly what's in there, right? There's two meatball subs, there's one chicken with rice and string beans, there's or whatever is in the in the refrigerator or the freezer at the time. I don't have to worry about it, I don't have to allocate time, I don't have to sit down and write out a complicated menu, and I sure don't have to spend hours cooking it. And we praise the Lord, hallelujah and amen.

Speaker 1:

Another thing that I did this year was I hired someone to help me with household tasks. Glory to God. You know, the floors need to be mopped. They don't need to be mopped by me. Somebody needs to bring in the groceries, it doesn't have to be me. Someone needs to organize my storage room, but again, it doesn't have to be me. And maybe somebody does need to wash and fold those towels. But you guessed it, it does not have to be me. And I certainly don't have to be the one who loads the dishwasher. And it is not that these tasks are beneath me Please don't misunderstand me, beloved Please. It's that I can better use my time somewhere else, while delegating these tasks to someone who is fully capable of accomplishing them and accomplishing them well. And the irony of it is that he said to me recently he goes. You know what I realized? I realized it's not that you can't do these things, it's that you don't want to. Exactly, I have freed up hours of time every week that I can now use to do money-making activities and also kingdom impact activities, instead of washing dishes. And guess what? I'm also promoting and financing his business because I have hired him. I pay him a fee. This helps him to now promote his kingdom business, which is like a concierge kind of service with wraparound services Fabulous, that helps him to build his business. And guess what? We're keeping it in the kingdom. That's more offerings and tithes into the kingdom, oh my gosh.

Speaker 1:

And now I have time to record this podcast so that I can help you to strategically plan and make more money in your kingdom business and impact more lives in your kingdom business. Do you see how this works? Oh my gosh. And I hear some of you saying, well, that's great for you, because you made more money last year than you made in your business ever before, and blah, blah, blah. I hear you saying that.

Speaker 1:

So let me address this. What I am asking you to do is to do it on your level. One of the things I want is a private shift, and another thing I want is a household manager who will live on my property and oversee everything every bill pay, every repair person, keeping up with maintenance tasks, making sure that all the things that need to be done are done clean, make sure the gutters are clean and all that kind of stuff All those things I now have to oversee. So that's my plan long term. I'm not there yet. Income wise I'm not yet. So I will do luxury and lifestyle on my level. Luxury and lifestyle on my level.

Speaker 1:

When I was single parenting and I was. If I told you how much I made a year, you would be shocked and stunned, shocked and stunned. And I had two kids in private school, but I had a good God, hallelujah. I wouldn't have been able to afford this meal prep. But what I did do the meal prep so that it took the questioning away of what was going to be for dinner. My children were at an age where you know what. They could put something in the microwave and heat it up themselves. They didn't need me to do that. So every Saturday night or Sunday after church, I would make the meals for the week and then all they had to do was go in there and warm it up. So that was lifestyle on my level at the time.

Speaker 1:

I am now at a place where I can pay someone to do the shopping, do the cleanup, do the cooking and deliver it to my door, deliver it right to my fridge, and guess what? It's another kingdom entrepreneur. So there's another business I'm supporting. There's more income and impact into the kingdom and she uses the income from this to go on medical missions trips. She's a nurse, kelly, if you're listening, I'm talking about you Love missions trips. She's a nurse, kelly, if you're listening, I'm talking about you. Love you lots. She's an RN, so she uses this income to fund her medical mission trips, do you see? So now she's helping me because now I have these meals, I'm helping her to build her kingdom business and now she is giving more kingdom impact because she is out there doing medical missions. Luxury and lifestyle on your level. All right, I'm a proponent of that. You'll hear more about that in another episode as well.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so back to strategic planning. When you are planning annually or for whatever planning period you're looking at, because I will tell you, corporations don't just plan annually, they plan three, four, five years ahead, 10 years ahead. So, whatever your planning period is, you want to map out your quarterly outcomes with specific milestones, so you'll know if you're hitting them or not, because you'll have to track. And then you want to reverse engineer from the end of that planning period forward, right? Isn't that what God does, right? So God reverse engineered everything. He knows exactly how everything is going to end, and then he just works forward and gives us all the steps in between to get to that expected end, which is heaven. My God, hallelujah, oh, my gosh, I am so excited.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so when we reverse engineer let's say your planning period is for the year you want to go into quarter four and say, if your annual year is from January 1st to December 31st, then you want to go to December 31st, quarter four, and say where do I want my business to be? What kind of impacts do I want to have for the kingdom. What kind of revenue, how many units, what do I want to accomplish? And then, each quarter, you are going to say what needs to happen in this quarter for me to be on track. And then so, quarter three, what needs to happen? And then look at quarter two, where do I need to be? And then look at quarter one what do I need to start in order to get there by quarter four and accomplish all of those things that I've reverse engineered? Oh, this is exciting stuff, people.

Speaker 1:

Now here is another thing that a lot of kingdom entrepreneurs do not do and it is working against us. You know the word says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust right. So it's not just them, it's also us, right, and you know, things can happen. Stuff happens. I need to do an episode about stuff happens. But corporations take that into consideration by contingency planning and they will often have plan A, plan B, plan C, plan D. So if something goes wrong or doesn't turn out the way they expected, or the markets shift or the politics change and impact the business, they've already planned out how they're going to respond. So there's no knee-jerk reaction or emotional response, because they've already planned out. What am I going to do? What are we going to do as a corporation? What are we going to do as an entity? How are we going to respond if XYZ doesn't turn out the way we planned? Our divine strategic advantage right? We have a greater advantage than the corporations do because we have divine wisdom from God, who knows everything, to help us to do this.

Speaker 1:

You will want to develop multiple scenarios for different outcomes, and let me give you a key A lot of times, this stuff won't even happen, but we have fears about what if? What if? What if? What if? What if? I want you to develop a prayer strategy for every what if you come up with about your business or even your life. I want you to come up with. Okay, so if, let's say, your goal is to make a thousand dollars, what am I going to do if I only make 500?

Speaker 1:

Some of us don't start the business because we're afraid of the what ifs. I am telling you get to cracking. So what if? Write down your strategy and it doesn't need to be long, let's take away all the what ifs. I am telling you get to cracking. So what if? Write down your strategy and it doesn't need to be long. Let's take away all the what ifs. Okay, you also want a strategy for what happens if you exceed your expectations. Or what happens if God opens a door you weren't expecting right? Are you going to be positioned to walk through it?

Speaker 1:

So many times we are praying for God to do great and mighty things to us, have deeper kingdom impacts, but we're not prepared for them, we're not positioned if they should happen. So we want to show God that we want to position ourselves for the greater. Hallelujah, amen. So when we're asking God in prayer and we get these prophetic insights, or we get a word or we feel an unction, we want to make sure that we're positioning ourselves ahead of time for those opportunities. Oh, glory, all right. So let's make this practical. Let's make this practical.

Speaker 1:

Remember to start off with fasting and prayer. This is not an option, my friends. This is going to give you that supernatural advantage and access to wisdom and open up your hearing and your understanding. You're going to get heavenly help, hallelujah, you might as well engage a heavenly help. And then you want to schedule some quiet time to have like a strategic planning retreat by yourself.

Speaker 1:

I have to tell you, you know, to start off, remember lifestyle on your level. To start off, you may just block out a half day, kill every distraction, put your phone on, do not disturb, close your door, do not check your email, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Take that time as sacred. Get away from your normal environment. As you grow, you may want to plan a retreat, offsite right. One of the things that my husband and I do is we go away and you can go away to some really nice areas and do this planning. But to get away out of our normal environment so that we can get away from the distractions of the normal day, so that we can get away from the distractions of the normal day.

Speaker 1:

Okay, you want to work through all the things that I've talked about systematically, and this is not a full planning and training yet. These are just some of the things I want you to think about as you work through this process. You've got to keep in mind that excellent planning is going to take time and intentional focus. Time and intentional focus. So don't rush the process. You might get down some of the basics in that half day session, but you may need to tweak it. Let me not say may, you will need to tweak it.

Speaker 1:

I usually start strategic planning for the next year. Well, first of all, I have a five and a 10 year plan and then the next year's plan. I usually start in October late October and I'm tweaking it all the way through December. By the time January 1st comes, it's already in motion. Okay, you want to make sure that you incorporate regular review points and adjustment protocols? You want to schedule a regular reviews at regular intervals, right? That way you'll see if it's necessary to make any adjustments.

Speaker 1:

That said, it is a little I don't want to say complicated, but it is complex and there's a lot of moving parts. So I am having a planning day and I want to invite all of you. I am going to put the link in the show notes and I'm so excited because I'm going to walk you through it step by step, even some of the things that we didn't have a chance to talk about here on the podcast. We're going to look at these corporate level techniques that my multi-million dollar clients use, and I am going to make sure that you get everything you need to create a strategic plan and your contingency plans at the maximum level possible.

Speaker 1:

Again, if you haven't listened to my episodes on how my business made more money last year than ever before, as well as the priority protocol. Please go back and listen to them before you start your planning process. Those episodes are going to give you the foundational practical strategies that you're going to need to plan at this level. You also want to listen to part one before you start your planning and then, if you need to come back and listen to part two again, you need to save this episode because you're going to need to refer to it. And be sure, dear ones, be sure to look in the show notes, because I'm going to have links to everything Now. You now have access to the same techniques that I use with my clients, and they've been adapted, of course, specifically for us as kingdom entrepreneurs, and if this episode blessed you, please share it. Share it with another kingdom entrepreneur. Make sure that you subscribe to our YouTube channel so that you don't miss a thing. Until next time, stay wonderfully blessed and positioned. Bye now.

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Kimberly Knight

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