What Should Your Executable Strategic Plan Cost in Terms of Money, Time and Results?

Sustainable business success originates from an executable strategic plan. However, creating a strategic plan does have a price tag. The underlying business strategy is to realize a positive return on investment (ROI) by quickly achieving specific and aligned organizational goals.

Business owners to executives have a plethora of resources from which to select the type of strategic plan along with the numerous business coaches, business consultants or national training organizations who can help them to create strategic plans. Yet, most of the outside resources fail to deliver a quick positive return on investment.

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The creation of a strategic plan has 3 costs: money, time and results. When analyzing the cost of a strategic plan, each of these costs should be reviewed and compared.

Money A recent review of a national seminar offering strategic planning 3 day to 2-day workshops indicated a cost ranging between ,000 and ,500. These dollar costs do not include travel, lodging along with salaries. When compared to business coaches or consultants offering strategic planning on site or off site with fees ranging from ,000 to ,000 and up, the national seminars appear to be the best deal, but are they? Research suggests that a one time exposure to a learning event. If there are not additional opportunities for performance that being the application of learning, then the money spent whether ,500 to ,000 is moot. This is why most traditional training offered through a 2 or 3 day event fails to deliver a positive return on investment. Time How much time does it take to create an executable strategic plan? From my experience has a business coach, this ranges from 20 to 30 hours to create the plan and then another 10 to 20 hours to monitor the plan so that the business goals are achieved. Two day to three day traditional training seminars or retreats fall short of the basic time necessary to develop a solid strategic plan. Also, these off site locations do not allow the participants time to do complete the necessary research or answer specific questions necessary to operationalize the strategic plan. Results What results are you getting from the traditional approach to strategic planning? First, the origins of the word strategy mean as a general to deceive the enemy. In today's world, that means to out think and simultaneously out perform the competition. From the initial meeting, a good strategic planning process will begin to deliver immediate results. Additionally every strategic plan should contain a strategic action plan that is everyone works from on a daily basis. In this way the results are almost continuous. When a strategic plan is created off site in a few days, the likelihood of immediate results has been greatly diminished because of this learning structure. By crunching some numbers, we can immediately see the advantage for a longer planning cycle A 3 days event probably means 6 hours per day planning or a total of 18 hours at an investment of ,000. Adding in 3 nights of lodging, meals and miscellaneous experiences results in at least another 0. The hourly rate for this seminar per participant is at least 5.00. And what results or deliverables do you have from such an investment? Comparing a 10-week (3 hours per week) on site with 6 monthly follow-ups suggests at least 39 hours. Since there are no travel costs, the hourly rate based upon a ,000 fee is 8.45. And the results are a tangible, active, dynamic and interactive strategic plan that is being executed every week ensuring measurable outcomes.

Given that most national seminars require payment up front and do not offer a money back guarantee, this becomes a win win for them and a potential lose lose for your firm. If you charge the costs, then your hourly rate has just increased not to mention the charges for any other costs. However, if you can locate a strategic business coach who provides a money back guarantee in some format and will work with you by offering non-traditional forms of payment, then what makes more sense?

If you are deciding to seek some help in the creation of you strategic plan, congratulations. Just make sure that you have analyzed ALL the costs and have a better idea of your potential ROI.

What Should Your Executable Strategic Plan Cost in Terms of Money, Time and Results?

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Fill Out an Application For Walgreens Online - Or Should You?

Are you looking for information on how to fill out an application for Walgreens online? There is a lot of information posted on the web on how to do this, but I have not found many sources that give you information about the company you are researching. This information will help you in the interview process, if you do decide to pursue a career with them. As you know, the more that you know about a company that you are interviewing with, the better your chances of landing that job will be.

History Lesson:

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This story begins with a man named Charles R. Walgreen, Sr. He was a young man who was born near a town named Galesburg, Illinois. At the young age of 16, he had his first experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry, working for Horton's Drugstore, and making a week. It was a job that he took after he accidentally cut off a part of his middle finger, leaving him unable to participate in sports. In 1893, Charles and his family moved to Chicago, where 1,500 established drug stores already competed for business. Determined to not depend on his family, he worked for many of Chicago's leading pharmacists, and became increasingly knowledgeable, at the same time as increasingly frustrated. All he could see were the old-fashioned methods of running a drugstore and servicing customers. At this point, Charles knew that he had to open his own pharmacy, and did this very thing in 1901.

A key to Walgreen's tremendous success laid in his new innovative store design, unparalleled by his competition. He installed brighter lights, which gave his store a more appealing look and feel. He widened aisles, which gave everything a more welcoming feeling. He improved the selection of merchandise and products, all at the same time of keeping products affordable. He was famous for his "Two Minute Drill." Every time a customer would call in for a non-prescription item, Charles would repeat the order out loud and slowly. This would give his assistant ample time to prepare the order, and while Charles was on the phone with the customer, discussing the weather and current events, his assistant would be at the door with the customer's order by the time that he got off of the phone.

For many years, Chicago's south side would remain the location for Walgreens' growth, and by 1919, there were 20 locations, and they continued to grow at a rapid pace. In fact by 1929, there were 525 locations, including locations in New York City, Florida, and other major markets.

Due to the companies insistence on innovation and commitment to their customers, growth and prosperity would continue to be an ally for Walgreens, and they opened their 1,000th store in 1984. Today, they have 425 new locations opening every year and have more than 7,000 stores in total.

Employment Opportunity:

The career opportunity at Walgreens is vast, and I can understand why you are looking for information on how to fill out an application for Walgreens online. Whether you are looking for a position in one of their neighborhood locations, distribution centers, or pharmacy, there is a position for nearly everyone. Their Corporate location offers many career options as well, ranging from supply chain, marketing, IT, finance, merchandising, and human resources.

Benefits:

Their list of benefits are very appealing. I will touch on only a few highlights, because the list goes on and on. They offer comprehensive medical and dental coverage, company paid life insurance, paid disability leave, holiday pay, and how can you work for a pharmacy without having prescription coverage? They offer that as well.

As you can see, Walgreens is a great company with a long history of success and stability. They offer many reasons why you should pursue filling out an application online or in person.

As always, I wish you success in your search for your dream job.

Fill Out an Application For Walgreens Online - Or Should You?

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