As an avid cross-country skier, I head up north and hit the trails whenever possible.  I took up the sport as a kid, but time and location made it more and more difficult to get out.  For those not familiar with cross-country skiing, you are basically skiing, or gliding, on top of the snow.  In most places there are groomed trails, making it much better.  While it can be a lot of work, in the end, the feeling of accomplishment is wonderful.

So how does this corollate to strategic planning?  First, to describe a productive day of skiing, you need to start with identifying your ability. Have you skied before or are you out for the first time?  Next, you need equipment. If you go to certain places to ski, they will outfit you with equipment that fits your level of ability.  Then there is the trail map; this is the most important part of any cross-country ski trip.  If you don’t understand the map, you can get lost or end up on a very difficult trail. To me the map is the strategic plan.  The map outlines each of the trails based on level of difficulty and distance.  So someone who has never cross-country skied before, probably would not go on a five-mile trail with a lot of hills, but ski on a shorter and more level trail.

Without a map, you will get lost, both on the trail and in business. A good example, my wife and I were visiting one of our favorite cross-country ski locations. However, this time because we were trying a different trail I made sure we had a map. While on the trail we came upon a woman and a boy (turned out to be a grandma and grandson) who were lost. They didn’t have a map and ended up on a trail far above their ability. I explained they were not far from the main trail and gave them my map. They made it safely back.

You can start pursuing a project but if you have not planned appropriately, you may find yourself lost on the trail.  Having the right plan, for the right circumstance, will make things easier.    Remember, know your ability, have the right equipment and build your plan, it is your map to success.

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