How to make a massive action plan (MAP)

Do you know the results you want to achieve in your business? Many business owners and managers understand where they want to go, but they don’t have the roadmap to get there. Of course, knowing where you want to end up and having a concrete path are very different things. A business action plan is an effective tool to take you from point A, where you are now, to point B, your version of success – but Tony suggests something even better. Instead of taking action, you need to take massive action.

How a business action plan elevates your company

As a leader, it can be easy to get caught up in the details and day-to-day operations of your company. Before you know it, years have passed and you haven’t found a way to make your business talkably different or turn your customers into raving fans. Though strategic planning may not be your strong suit, it’s something you must do as a leader. By focusing on where you want your company to be in one, five or 10 years and what milestones must be achieved along the way, you create a path that is clear for you and your team to follow. You can then identify when you get off-track or when tweaks need to be made if you’re not achieving your goals. Creating an action plan leads to increased buy-in from your team and a renewed sense of energy for you.

The power of a MAP

Once you understand the importance of creating an action plan and where you want it to take you, the next step is to create the MAP (Massive Action Plan) to get yourself there. Using a MAP goes beyond goal setting; it changes the emotional meaning behind all of your activities and forms a stronger link back to the outcome, making it more likely you’ll achieve it. One of the core qualities of a great leader is the ability to influence others. But you can’t influence others to take action if you don’t know what that action looks like.

Recognizing you need a MAP and creating an action plan are two different things. Fortunately, there are some simple questions you can ask yourself to develop a business action plan that works for you. While not all MAPs will be the same due to your unique goals, your working style and the structure of your company, they do all have some similarities.

Creating your MAP

When you’re creating your MAP, ask yourself, “How much?”, “By when?” and “For what purpose?” Then write it down. Make it a permanent, tangible expression of your mental target and then get ready to take massive action. The “For what purpose?” question is the key to make it all work because, as any good life coach will tell you, it connects your values and emotions to your goals. If you are not able to visualize, verbalize and write down why you are pursuing a goal, it’s likely you have not formed the connection needed to make it a reality.

When you’re ready to put your business action plan into place, it’s time to take the next step. This exercise will help you solidify your purpose, focus on your desired result and mentally prepare for action.

Exercise: Are you committed to take massive action? Complete your own Massive Action Plan in the graphic below to help you stay on track.

1. Write down the results you want to achieve.
2. Write down your purpose (compelling reasons why you want to accomplish your goals).
3. Develop a sequence of priority actions.

When creating an action plan, make sure your results are quantifiable and achievable as well as spark your passion. Don’t write down “increase sales” as one of the results you want to achieve. Instead, write “Double sales of at least 10 products by the end of the quarter.” Once you have this down, identify why you need to double sales and how this will improve your business. Just listing it as a way to make more profit isn’t enough. You must have a vision for how this result will transform your company.

MAPs as part of the RPM

Your Massive Action Plan is the third part of Tony’s Rapid Planning Method (RPM). The RPM is based on asking yourself the right questions. Specifically, it’s asking yourself the following three questions in this exact sequence:

1. What do I really want?
2. What’s my purpose?
3. What do I need to do?

These questions lead you to the information you need to create your Massive Action Plan. Planning with the RPM maximizes results and increases your sense of fulfillment. Not only will you be able to achieve big things, but you’ll know that the goals you are achieving are the ones that really matter.

MAPS for growth

A business action plan can be used to generate growth for your company as long as that growth is connected to your value system and you understand why you’re doing it. When developing a Massive Action Plan for growth, be as specific as possible when writing down the results you want to achieve. Again, “increase sales” is not a specific enough result. Your results must be quantifiable and concrete so you’ll know when you’ve achieved them.

Take a look at your entire organization and how it will be affected if your goal is achieved. For example, if you want to increase sales by $1.2 million in the next 12 months, how many new team members will you need to hire? What type of person will be the ideal fit for your team? Will you need a new building? How will that increase costs? All of these should be included when you’re writing down your Massive Action Plan.

MAPS for change

How will your business handle change and how can creating an action plan help you through the transition? Though some changes, such as new competitors, are not readily foreseeable, others are. There will always be shifts in culture and evolution of technology and you must be prepared to take massive action and alter parts of your business to adapt. The key to handling change is flexibility, and knowing how to make a business action plan will allow you to be flexible when the circumstances call for it. Your team members will be more secure in times of change if they have a roadmap to follow and you will know the exact steps to take to prevent becoming a disrupted business.

MAPS for crisis

A MAP can also be used to guide your company through a crisis. This business action plan will need to address issues like being a resource for your employees, having compassion and developing a process that can be replicated should another crisis occur. Remember to keep your team top of mind when creating this type of Massive Action Plan. Write down possible consequences of layoffs, eroding company culture and other negatives that can be part of a crisis. How will you address each one if it occurs? How can you mitigate the impact on your employees? And how can you reward your employees if they stick with you through the crisis and help you bounce back? With the right crisis business action plan, you can actually increase loyalty and turn previously disengaged employees into raving fans of your business.

Are you ready to take massive action? Take your business action plan to the next level by attending Business Mastery, where over the course of five days you’ll be surrounded by some of the best minds in business that can help you tap into your drive for success.