You all know how much I hate left-brained biz planning: Dense strategic plans. Bar charts. Power points. Spreadsheets. Gah!
Well, I’m not alone. Jennifer Lee just wrote a book that helps us creative types do business planning in a way that works for us by utilizing our right-brained creativity. And she gives us permission to use sparkles, pink markers, pictures of sunsets, and anything our hearts desire to make our business run.
To celebrate the launch of her new book The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success, Jennifer Lee has gathered an amazing line-up of leading creative entrepreneurs like uber-coach Andrea J. Lee, philosopher diva Danielle LaPorte, travel-hacking world gadfly Chris Guillibeau, super connector and friend Pam Slim and my buddy the Goddess Leonie Allan (and me!!!) who will share their insider tips and tools for running a successful business with joy, ease, and creativity.
You can watch my video conversation with Jenn on Tuesday, March 1st at 10am PST. Sign up here.
To give you a little taste of what Jenn’s about, we did an interview the other day for my blog.
What do you mean when you say right-brain business plan?
Typically business plans are boring, lengthy, written documents and financial reports that get placed in a binder and never looked at again. A Right-Brain Business Plan, on the other hand, is a visual, creative and fun work of art that provides constant inspiration and guidance.
We start with the right-brain creativity first and then we bring in the left-brain afterward to help organize the action steps and make things real. The Right-Brain Business Plan has the same basic building blocks as a traditional plan, but because we approach the planning through pictures, colors, emotion, and intuition, it’s business planning for the rest of us. Some creative formats include a leather cuff bracelet, a paper plate mobile, and a plan in a paint bucket decorated with a feather boa.
How can we help to take away some of the intimidation about doing this kind of planning for people who think they can’t do it because they don’t know how to draw?
A lot of Right-Brain Business Plans are made using collage so you don’t have to draw at all. You can just cut and paste images from magazines to create a visual plan that inspires you. I’d also like to emphasize that you don’t need to know how to draw to make a visual plan. Stick figures and chicken scratch work just fine! The plan doesn’t need to be an artistic masterpiece. Instead focus on creating something that is meaningful to you.
When I do my planning I look holistically at everything my business needs as well as the stuff I need to do to feed my creative soul. So my mind maps include things like: Set aside time for playing with paints. Go ice skating. Spend time with my High Priestess.What are some of the things that you include in your planning that someone might not necessarily think to include in their plan?
Love the ones you listed. Mine are:
- Practice self-care Fridays.
- Participate in my bi-weekly Nurture Huddle calls.
- Make time for yoga and art.
- Enjoy time in nature.
- Hang out with my husband and our dog.
Some of those things I just mentioned that feed my creative juice are the hardest ones to do—to actually take the time to do them—because it feels like there’s so much that needs to get done in my business. Any tips for that?
Yes, it can be challenging to juggle it all. One of the best things to do is to publicly state your commitments. It helps those around you know how to support you and it helps give you accountability.
A lot of people are aware of my self-care Fridays because I talk and blog about it. They know that I don’t do scheduled meetings on Fridays and they respect that.
Having an accountability buddy is also a great idea. When my friend Kate Prentiss (who illustrated my book) used to live near me, we would go to yoga class together pretty regularly. It’s harder for me to go on my own now.
Having something regularly scheduled in your calendar is also helpful. So, I know every other Wednesday at 7pm I’m going to be on a call with my Nurture Huddle.
What are some of your favorite planning tools you like to use, you know like markers, stickies, etc?
Definitely colorful stickies and the shapes are great, too, I like the flowers. When I’m doing detailed planning and mind-maps, I like to use Staedtler triplus fineliners (the set in the portable carrying case/stand rocks). I love Levenger’s Oasis Concept Pad for mind-mapping in the center with either markers or on stickies that I can move around. I also like using my label maker (when I’m feeling anal) to organize tabs in my notebook and folders.
What are three essential things you can’t live without in your office?
My MacBook, my giant wall calendar with sticky notes, my Levenger Circa notebooks.
Do you use visual touchstones? What’s your current touchstone?
Yes, I have many visual touchstones. I have my current Right-Brain Business Plan hanging on a bulletin board in my office, I have an easel with my collaged values cards on my desk, and I have my Unfolding Your Life Vision book to remind me of my personal goals.
My latest touchstone is my free downloadable Right-Brain Badge of Honor poster that hangs above my computer and reminds me that me and my creative work matter.
Sharpies or Mr. Sketch?
Mr. Sketch – they just smell so yummy! Well, Sharpies smell good, too, but they get me a little too high ;).