2010: STRATEGIC PLANNING For Dummies

Dear Colleagues,

I believe it was my wife who commented that my world-view has become increasingly shallow and self-serving with the passing years.

Nonetheless...

It’s my observation that the decade of 2010 is dawning on a world grown increasingly complex and chaotic. This, in turn, introduces ever greater perplexity into the ranks of those brave souls among us who, compelled by their inner demons, attempt to build predictive models of a future economic utopia.

No, silly, I’m not discussing Maoists on Ivy League faculties. This is about SIMPLIFYING STRATEGIC PLANNING!

You see - I have made an epic breakthrough.

How many times in our business careers have we spent days, weeks, or even months collaborating with strategic consultants to craft plans to construct the ideal business strategy for the next 3, 5 or even 10 years, with even an "EXIT" strategy to boot? (The strategy of the consultant, by the way, is to exit with the all money you need to implement your new plan.)

Now, in the interests of full transparency (NOT a popular subject these days), I must confess that my past personal planning has left a lot to be desired.

I didn’t have a strategic plan at the beginning of the 1980’s. Probably a good thing - because when IBM brought out the first PC, I thought their market was probably a doctor's wife who wanted to store cooking recipes. Who else would pay $16,000 for the stupid thing?

I also didn’t have a strategic plan in the late-1990s. Probably just as well again. I got involved with the Internet only because my daughter, who was teaching a graduate level class entitled "Performing Research On The Internet," had begun to sneer at me.

My personal exit strategy has long drawn on the wisdom of the economist John Maynard Keynes, who observed, "In the long run, we are all dead." - very perspicacious fellow that John Maynard.

My 10-year plan is to breath deeply one sunny, summer morning a decade hence, while reflecting on the beauty of the fairway grass … thankful I am on the right side of it. I consider it a sign of growing wisdom and maturity that I don’t expect my golf game will improve.

My 3-year plan is to remember that 3 years is an entire generation in the world of technology, and who the hell knows what the next generation is going to be like? I mean, just look at your kids and your grandkids! How’s THAT for planning?

And it’s simply too painful to discuss how many shares of Apple or Google stock I planned to purchase at their IPO’s.

But, back to my epic breakthrough!

For all of us who cringe at creating 3-year, 5-year and 10-year plans – FORGET ABOUT IT. Don’t waste your time and money. It’s simply a non-issue. BECAUSE... are you ready... you simply switch from our currently accepted Gregorian calendar (the one on your wall) to... oh, this is good... THE MAYAN CALENDAR!

And, BINGO... THE WORLD ENDS IN 2012!

That’s the good, no great news! You only need a 2-year plan. Any dummy, even you and I, can do that! Those Mayans could really simplify things. They got right to the heart of the subject.

And, so will e-Quantum in 2010, beginning with our greatest International Client Conference ever this May, featuring a revolutionary new program you can’t afford to miss.

The Conference will introduce innovative Marketing Services and Focused Management programs that help you acquire major accounts and increase sales, profits and efficiency– making sure you score in the red zone – even in trying economic times.

We'll demonstrate state of the art, cost-saving e-communications with vendors.

And, feature our all-new Peer-To-Peer Forums, Expanded Vendor Expo and Technology Track sessions.

In short, we’ll show you how to create plans for strategic success... within two years.

After that... well, can everyone yell "Mayan Day!"

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,



Ross Barker