Times have changed. What was necessary yesteryear is in some cases, irrelevant now. In some cases, what was relevant in years pass will remain relevant forever.
These days, new businesses are popping up all over the place. We’re constantly seeing people take the initiative to spread their wings and run their own businesses. Sometimes these organizations are created so that folks can make an independent living; sometimes they’re established to meet the needs of a very specific community. Sometimes they’re developed to sell a good; sometimes they’re put together to buy goods.
Some startups are small and local, and plan to stay that way. There is a tiny hamburger stand in a neighboring town that only operates Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The burgers are humungous and delicious. Meal deals start at $4.99 for a single-patty burger, which is enough to fill the average person’s belly up. They have a $5.99 meal deal, though, that is meant for guys who are coming off long shifts from International Paper, the oil fields, or one who’s been washing cars all day — you know, those who folks haven’t eaten all day and are starving.
Does that small burger stand need a business plan? Nah. The kind of effort that does require a business plan, though, is one that I personally plan to develop in the very near future.
As a survivor of domestic violence, I realized on July 21, 2009 (the day I suffered an aneurysm due to the abuse), that my mission in this life is not only to help others escape that hell of domestic abuse, but to assist them in moving into better lives after the escape.
Recently, I established membership at my cousin’s church and he approached me about spearheading a ministry to assist victims of domestic violence. I have served on speaker panels to assist doctors and nurses in recognizing domestic abuse victims; I have given talks on what I survived as an upper middle-class victim. I plan to reestablish a blog discussing my journey. This undertaking, though, will go beyond talking.
My mission is to do. There is often a need for (re)education after abuse. I will use my Master of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing to help victims gain their GEDs or HESETs. There are other areas that need attention. I will need a licensed counselor to see victims. I will need a facility to house this thing. I need a lot of things to make my mission a success.
THAT STUFF REQUIRES funding. Yes, a well-developed business is needed and I will provide it. I will begin work on it this week and plan to add business plan development to my list of services in the very near future.