It just occurred to me that it’s often a good idea to write a plan more generally, not just for business plans. The benefits are similar to the ones you laid out for writing a business plan: it’s a simulation that can prompt you to consider points you wouldn’t otherwise consider, evaluate the strength of your current beliefs, get feedback from others, etc. If it is true that writing plans in general is a good idea, then I think the burden of proof for writing business plans specifically shifts towards proving that there’s something specific about business plans that make them a bad idea.
Indeed, I’ve had many other thoughts about planning in general that I’ll write up at some point. Like, planning your life :)
On occasion I’ve used a checklist of business plan headings & points when planning entirely different things, as many of them turn out to be relevant.
I think things like planning should be taught formally at school. They are key life skills (similarly, decision making). You’re given vague advice sometimes to plan (e.g. plan your essay) but not really told how to, other than one or two very basic points (e.g. make a to-do list). Similarly if you’re given something to plan, e.g. some college event. Just kind of left to figure it out for yourself.
It just occurred to me that it’s often a good idea to write a plan more generally, not just for business plans. The benefits are similar to the ones you laid out for writing a business plan: it’s a simulation that can prompt you to consider points you wouldn’t otherwise consider, evaluate the strength of your current beliefs, get feedback from others, etc. If it is true that writing plans in general is a good idea, then I think the burden of proof for writing business plans specifically shifts towards proving that there’s something specific about business plans that make them a bad idea.
Indeed, I’ve had many other thoughts about planning in general that I’ll write up at some point. Like, planning your life :)
On occasion I’ve used a checklist of business plan headings & points when planning entirely different things, as many of them turn out to be relevant.
I think things like planning should be taught formally at school. They are key life skills (similarly, decision making). You’re given vague advice sometimes to plan (e.g. plan your essay) but not really told how to, other than one or two very basic points (e.g. make a to-do list). Similarly if you’re given something to plan, e.g. some college event. Just kind of left to figure it out for yourself.