Business Planning, Development, and Management

Venture Capitalists

In a quest to unveil the underlying secret(s) for developing and operating a successful business in the world of entertainment, I unearthed two (2) prominent venture capitalists: Tim Berry and Guy Kawaski. Otherwise charged with leading tenderfoot entrepreneur's pitching their best pitches or overall best ideas for launching start-up companies year-over-year to self-efficacy, these two (2) real-world cognoscente's in business planning, business development, and business management have exemplary track records in establishing effective ways to devising well-written business plans.

Balance

A process in which Tim Berry is well-versed, particularly as an accomplished author, teacher, writer, speaker, blogger and father of five (5) children. After earning his BA at the University of Notre Dame and his MBA at Stanford University, he would achieve great success serving as President, Founder and Co-founder of Palo Alto Software, bplans.com, and Borland International. All of which, in the larger context of things contributed to the influence of his more recently published book entitled, “The-Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan”. Almost in the same way, Mr. Berry's longstanding status as an expert panelist for the Willamette Angel Conference contributed to his great achievements as a business manager. And his thirty (30) plus years, as a business owner contributed to his expanding company that has grown in size to over forty (40) employee's, which is otherwise indicative of the 70% market share he managed to secure during that time. A true testament to his proficiency, as a business planner, business developer, business manager, and business owner given his impeccable resume of extraordinary accomplishments.

Road Map

According to Mr. Berry, however, the business planning and business development process simply establishes a means to an end. It is not an end itself. In fact, it represents a road map that delineates how to get from point A to point B. He also stresses that it is a useful expedient for optimizing and tracking the company’s rate of success. It connotes flexibility as well as exhaustive study of the market. And despite the numerous articles and books written by skeptics attempting to invalidate its effectiveness, Mr. Berry makes it his business to otherwise stress its ability to successfully reign in capital investors, especially when simply constructed. A function that he asserts all-in-all, as being essential in treating "... the business plan as an increasingly dynamic body of work that is always changing and used to guide the businesses long-term goals", which includes steps applicable to strategic planning for more effective branding.

Escalation of Commitment

Mr. Berry's system provides a pragmatic approach to strategic branding that defends against threats known to the process as an escalation of commitment. A condition that he mentions is debilitating to many of today's entrepreneurs and calls for dispelling the misleading notion that “having a plan means getting locked into doing something that doesn’t make sense, mindlessly, because it’s in the plan". When leveraging the ensuing changes of the times by constructing and implementing a system that allows you to 'plan-as-you-go' best applies. A technique that Mr. Berry purports will provide a "powerful tool for managing your company better, controlling business destiny, establishing accountability, and developing teamwork," which above all helps to circumvent common pitfalls known to compromise quality brand building efforts of varying sizes and complexities.

Just one (1) of Mr. Berry's fellow associates in this complex field of business planning and business development is Guy Kawasaki, an accomplished author, writer, speaker, blogger and father of four (4) children, who earned his BA at Stanford University and his MBA at UCLA. After which time, he would land a position with Apple, Inc. and would work as a Software Evangelist from 1983 to 1987. In 1987, he would leave for approximately 8 years and return in 1995. From 1995 to 1997, he would serve as Apple's Chief Software Evangelist and Fellow before he would make his last and final departure from the company.

Shortly thereafter, Guy Kawasaki would go on to co-found Garage Technology Ventures and eventually Alltop.com. Two start-up companies validated and fortified by his desire to “make meaning” or "change the world". According to Guy Kawasaki, it is making meaning that serves as a key component in successfully transacting business. It represents a working principle borne out of his experience as a venture capitalist. Hence his natural inclination to inspire entrepreneurs in constructing business plans that "make the world a better place, increase the quality of life, right a wrong with the world or prevent the end of something good. Rather than focusing solely on making money". A business plan worth its weight in gold because it is virtuous and otherwise developed to represent the greatest good for the greatness number of people.Which often times is an initiative that gives way to socially responsible businesses that seek to solve social problems and contribute to social goods such as clean air, clean water and literacy.

Perpetual State of Flux

In that same fashion, Guy Kawasaki expresses how important it is to give emphasis to "changing as you learn more and more about the market“ by treating the business plan as an increasingly dynamic document and tracking tool. Like his fellow associate Tim Berry, he stresses that being “deliberate and acting emergent” when drawing up a business plan does not necessarily mean "adhering to the plan in the face of new information and new opportunities". Instead, it means being nimble, flexible, and exhaustive when managing that change. It means acknowledging the business plan as a viable document that is always in a perpetual state of flux and constantly evolving.

Moreover, the business plan represents a promulgation of standards that lead to better business management. Whether short-term or long-term, it can improve everything from products, services, and leadership effectiveness to increasing company productivity when constructed for the right reasons such as providing financial projections plus key metrics and/or defining success. These deliberate steps taken with enough discernment according to Guy Kawasaki provides the very foundation needed to successfully manage any business since one of the most salient elements of the business development process is the business plan itself. When treated as a living, breathing, constantly evolving document and tracking tool, it is very likely to meet the ever-changing demands of the marketplace. Aside from that, it provides a company's leadership with the guidance, focus, and support that is required to effectively manage day-to-day operations. Also, it satisfies overarching business priorities and drives company success. Success achieved through hard work, collaboration and proper execution of the business plan, as well as, an inherent social focus on social good similar to that of the pious businessman like Guy Kawaski. 

Check him out in this YouTube Video where he discusses what it means to build a more productive future and a better world by "Making Meaning in Your Company".