Business planning? I should co-co....

I went to a cool little workshop on business planning this afternoon, run by Jay Tompt, for Transition Town Totnes. 2 hours of planning a business plan- how to make a idea into a developable project. I don't think I impressed with the "sell it to me! You have 20 seconds in a lift with Richard Branson, whats your angle? whats your product?!" exercise- I arrived with too a loose concept (and a tricky subject to boot) and was unable to be able to answer that question succinctly- but I did leave with a good idea of what i need to do take my proposal to the next stage...

The Transition movement is looking to create a business incubator in Totnes to encourage and support the development of 'green' and social enterprise businesses- 'Social, sustainable, regenerative, resilient – new companies that create meaningful livelihoods and contribute to the community in positive ways'. 

Focusing on local resources, local talent, green investment and a long view makes business a part of balanced community. I think recognising national or local social needs (or social lacks) and developing businesses which (experiment with solutions?) seek to address these issues is in there too- sprouts and bicycles are totally awesome, but not essential.

My idea is ...   ha! well, that would be telling! but i can say the intelligent, mature (in attitude if not all in years), professional, sassy women I ran the idea past squealed with delight and saw the point instantly.... My mother didn't like it tho- which is also often a sign I'm on to a winner....

Jay said there would be a future follow-up session to get feedback on our plans- and supplied us with PDF's of pertinant and useful further reading. The business ideas we presented were diverse, but the advice given was applicable and useful to each one. Its good to feel a part of a business network- taking these innitial steps under some supervision really helps focus one's creative energies.

Richard Branson? I'll write that business plan, but it'll likely make sense to a more imaginative investor ;-)