"Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir your blood... MAKE BIG PLANS. Aim high in hope and work." So wrote Daniel H. Burnham in the last century. The big plans are important. They capture your vision. The next step is to break them down into "do-able" chunks, chunks that can be done in even one day. That is what gives you a definite sense of accomplishment, isn't it? The big plans are necessary, the baby steps, imperative!
An associate shared a marketing tip with me the other day. She said, "Go big, or go home". I thought about this quite a bit as it seemed so brash and arrogant. Great slogan, but what about the little guy? Then, it all made sense. Each person has the opportunity to define 'big' for herself. If we are to live our dreams and visions about how we want our lives to be, how we want to be remembered, what our contribution to our daily world could be, it IS true. Go big or go home!
Have a vision. Have a master plan for your whole life as you presently see it. What would you like to be doing, experiencing, being or having in your life, sometime in your life? What are the things that are most important, significant and valuable to you? That's big!
After you have created the "big picture" then you can decide what you would like to create immediately and pay attention to that. Timing is only one difference between short and long term goals. Another important difference is that short term goals lead directly to long term goals which fit perfectly into the master plan. And the good news is....you are in charge! You can change your master plan, and your approach to it, as your interests and priorities shift and grow. You are not locked in. A master plan is a plan for joy and passion, not a plan for duty and obligation.
It is useful to break your goals down into three categories: current, near future and far future. Once you have put your future goals into your subconscious mind, they are begun. It is not only action that is required. Keeping your goals in the forefront of your mind is key. Thoughtfully craft your current goals. Know how you will measure your success and plan for it. Think big! Think limitlessly. Think "out of the box". People are often limited by their minds unwillingness to stretch. Remember what Napoleon Hill said: "...if you can conceive it, and believe it, you can achieve it!"
If you find yourself surrounded by people who are 'thinking little' it might be difficult to find support and acceptance for your big plans. You may have to include some new associates who want to play 'big', too! You have probably heard that, if you want to run with the big dogs, you have to get off the porch! Jump off that porch and get running!
Reflect on the biggest view of your life--your master plan. Is it big enough for you? Does it cause you to stretch to get your arms around it? If not, think a little bigger and see where it takes you. If it does, be sure you have planned the route that will get you there. Then, follow it. As you embark on each task today, ask yourself, "Am I on the road to my vision by doing this?" If not, make a correction.
Go big or go home! That one little phrase keeps me on my toes.
To measure how strong your brand is copy and paste: (http://brandidentityguru.com/bightml/brandmasterpiece.html). Then click "Take the brand strength test". This is a short survey that measures the strength of any company's brand. It's a great tool to see where you are today.
Scott White is President of Brand Identity Guru (), a leading brand consulting and market research firm located in Easton, Massachusetts, USA, near Boston.
Brand Identity Guru specializes in creating corporate and product brands that increase sales, market share, customer loyalty, and brand valuation. Over the course of his 15-year branding career, Scott White has worked in a wide variety of industries: high-tech, manufacturing, computer hardware and software, telecommunications, banking, restaurants, fashion, healthcare, Internet, retail, and service businesses, as well as numerous non-profit organizations.
Brand Identity Guru clients include: Sun Life Financial, Coca Cola, HP, Sun, Nordstrom, American Federal Mortgage, Simon (America's largest shopping mall manager) and many others, including numerous emerging growth companies.
Scott White is a very enthusiastic speaker and has the gift of being able to explain the principles of branding in a compelling and entertaining manner so that people at all levels can understand.






Developing brand value is critical to every organization and when... Read More
A list of customers who have previously bought from you... Read More
How do automotive detailing companies start? What makes them work... Read More
"Just do it." "We try harder." "The Ultimate Driving Machine."... Read More
Many businesses of today are often driven to compete... Read More
I heard an advertisement on the radio the other day... Read More
A successfully positioned business sometimes doesn't win a new client.... Read More
Measuring brand equity allows a company to establish a baseline... Read More
Branding: it's a term that carries great weight in the... Read More
You wouldn't skip letterhead when sending out a sales letter... Read More
Yes, yes, we've heard it all before... loads of life... Read More
Branding TodayHave you ever had a good brand experience? How... Read More
McDonald's buys its potatoes from corporate farmers in Idaho not... Read More
One of the most important things in a business is... Read More
Last issue, I talked about increasing your Brand Love-- meaning... Read More
To stand out in a cluttered world, become a recognized... Read More
After more than a decade since the last attempt to... Read More
Branding is one hot topic, although it is wildly misunderstood.... Read More
New designer uniforms could be the gold charm McDonald's needs... Read More
When building a business as a brand it's important to... Read More
Naming a business is like laying the cornerstone of a... Read More
My first year as a Cyberpreneur was a steeplearning-curve. I... Read More
Branding your comapny should be the first thing a company... Read More
What size is your Hummer? Hummers Come in All Sizes;... Read More
A rough guide to corporate identityThe tabloids report the millions... Read More
I submit to you that Brand Name Identity in the... Read More
It is important to distinguish between corporate identity, brand identity,... Read More
Your corporate identity is a graphic expression of who you... Read More
Developing brand value is critical to every organization and when... Read More
The public buys far more than just your products, services... Read More
There's been a lot of buzz lately about branding. But... Read More
We should all recognize the marketing efforts of John Deere... Read More
Many CEOs and marketing directors find their time wasted evaluating... Read More
How many times have you been at a networking function... Read More
"Can you hear me now?"You'd be hard pressed to find... Read More
A successfully positioned business sometimes doesn't win a new client.... Read More
Pick up almost any book or report on Mailorder Selling... Read More
If you've been online long, you're sure to have seen... Read More
Feel that? The crisp tingle in the air? It's fall.... Read More
Most people who own a small business have a huge... Read More
McDonald's buys its potatoes from corporate farmers in Idaho not... Read More
Branding: it's a term that carries great weight in the... Read More
Measuring brand equity allows a company to establish a baseline... Read More
...my senses. I know, you were thinking 'Texas'. Well, if... Read More
I've been reminded recently, rather forcefully, that not all reality... Read More
Naming a business is like laying the cornerstone of a... Read More
Every Christmas Eve, a burglar named Santa busts into homes... Read More
7 Qualities Of A Strong Brand:1. Commands premium pricing while... Read More
"Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir... Read More
Let me tell you a story about Pete and a... Read More
Branding |