Years ago, I was on Twitter ( I still say "Twitter" and refuse to call it that letter) and saw a Tweet by a friend about the Right Brain Business Plan. What the hecky was that?!? So I looked it up. And it changed my life. 

It's a business plan for creative pros. Actually, it's a book by Jennifer Lee, in which she teaches creative pros how to create a business plan so that they can run a vibrant and thriving business. A lot of creative people cringe at the sound of "business plan." Personally, that term makes me wanna toss my cookies. 

But a business plan is necessary if you want to run a business that grows. You have to understand the market place, your competitors, money, marketing and more. And you need a system to pull this all together and make it work. If someone tells you they never had a plan and went from being broke to running a multi-seven figure business, don't believe them. Especially if they tell you they did this without any help like childcare or spousal or parental support. Stay away from the snake oilers, please! 

I share a video of my latest plan every year. And I'd like to tell you something about this: it has helped me grow my business by 30% year on year a few times, and even 50% a few times. Yay for me. I consult my plan on a monthly and/or quarterly basis, and if I'm ahead of my goals, great. I adjust the plan. If I'm behind, I adjust the plan. But because of this plan, I know how much I need to make, what I need to do to get there, and I even can plan for savings such as IRA contributions and my daughter's education. And vacations, too. Oh, and Proenza Schouler and Agnes b. dresses. This girl's got her priorities, yo. 

Don't let the term "business plan" intimidate you. When you see what I've done, I know you'll know you can do it, too. 

FYI: Jennifer Lee's book is called "The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success" and she has a follow-up book called "Building Your Business the Right-Brain Way: Sustainable Success for the Creative Entrepreneur."  You can also find out more at her website, The Right Brain Business Plan.