What Belongs In Your Business Journal?

So, you’ve listened to your advisors and decided to start writing a business journal but don’t know where or how to start.  So to quote Maria von Trapp, “Let’s start at the very beginning…”

Day 1 – Page 1 – What should you write?

1. Today’s date
2. The name of your business and when you started
3. A description of what you do or what your are planning to do
4. An overview of who your ideal customers are
5. Write about the hopes you have for your business
6. A bullet point list of achievements you’re happy about
7. A bullet point list of challenges and problems
8. Goal ideas for the future
9. HUGE Dreams and wishes for the future

Sometimes you may have trouble writing on the first page of the journal. That’s okay, just leave it blank until you feel ready to fill it in.  Just skip the page and move on.  One day you’ll be ready to fill it in and when that day comes, you’ll need to add extra pages.

So that begs the question, what do you write on the rest of the pages?  Every day has at least 4 things in it.  Always the same 4 things, but you can always add more.  These 4 things are:

1. Positives of the day – what went right.

2. Negatives of the day – what went wrong.

3. Issues and challenges that could be heading your way.

4. Worries and hopes – real and/or imaginary clouding your mind.

Again, that doesn’t limit you if other things apply.  Perhaps you had a great meeting of the minds with your team.  Absolutely write about it.  It could lead to continued communication breakthroughs.

If you are struggling with a project, write about it.  If your child is struggling with a problem at school and you are frustrated that you cannot do more to help, write about it.  Getting your inner conflicts, desires, hopes, dreams, nightmares, out of your head where you can look at them mmore objectively can often provide a new perspective.

Last but not least, don’t forget to write your solutions down.  You may not have the correct solution right this minute, but you will have ideas and possible starting points.  And journaling always provides you an opportunity to review your thoughts.

Keep it up, and keep journaling.  Remember, it’s a JOURNEY…