It’s a staggering paradox: research shows that 70% of businesses that survive beyond five years attribute their success to having a strategic plan, yet 65% of SMEs admit they don’t have one. This glaring disconnect raises an important question: why do so many businesses avoid writing business plans, even when the evidence overwhelmingly supports their value? For many, running a business without a plan is like diving into the unknown without a map or compass. While the initial leap may feel exciting, the lack of direction quickly turns into uncertainty, wasted effort, and missed opportunities. THE MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PLANNING For many, the reluctance stems from common myths about the planning process: “It’s Too Time-Consuming” Entrepreneurs often see business planning as an overwhelming task that will consume precious time. With so many pressing priorities, creating a formal plan is perceived as a luxury rather than a necessity. “It’s All in My Head” SME owners frequently claim their goals and strategies are clear in their minds. However, without formalising these ideas, they risk overlooking blind spots and missing opportunities. A written plan provides clarity and structure, turning abstract ambitions into actionable strategies. “Planning Is Only for Startups Seeking Investment” While business plans are commonly associated with funding pitches, they serve a far broader purpose. A strategic plan acts as a roadmap, helping businesses align teams, prioritise goals, and maintain focus during periods of growth, change, or challenge. “Planning Can’t Predict the Future” While it’s true that no plan can anticipate every scenario, planning is about preparation, not prediction. By identifying risks and opportunities in advance, businesses can navigate uncertainty with confidence. THE COST OF NOT PLANNING Businesses with a written plan are 30% more likely to achieve growth than those without one. So why take the risk of operating without a clear strategy? The lack of a strategic plan can lead to a myriad of challenges including: Leadership burnout Wasted time and resources Missed opportunities as teams operate without clear direction Difficulty adapting to changes or measuring progress Misalignment across teams, causing inefficiency and frustration Poorer profitability Erosion of the founding company culture PERSPECTIVE ANALYSIS - BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS For those overwhelmed or underwhelmed by traditional planning methods, Perspective Analysis from Equipt offers a fresh approach. Tailored specifically for SMEs, it’s designed to overcome the obstacles that prevent many businesses from planning effectively. Tailored Simplicity Rather than burdening you with complex frameworks, Perspective Analysis focuses on what matters most: your goals, resources, and vision for the future. By breaking the process into manageable steps, it makes planning approachable, actionable and agile. Engaging and Actionable This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Perspective Analysis delivers strategies uniquely tailored to your business. Through workshops and collaborative sessions, the process ensures every step is focused on achieving clarity and driving action. Empowering Insights By encouraging deep reflection, Perspective Analysis uncovers hidden opportunities and risks. This allows businesses to move beyond surface-level plans and develop strategies that deliver meaningful results. A Collaborative Roadmap The process fosters team alignment and shared ownership. By involving key stakeholders, Perspective Analysis ensures everyone is working toward the same objectives, strengthening buy-in and accountability. The Competitive Advantage In a world where only half of businesses survive beyond five years, having a strategic plan can be the difference between thriving and failing. With Perspective Analysis, you can bridge the planning gap, creating a dynamic roadmap that evolves with your business. More than just a plan, Perspective Analysis embeds strategic thinking into your organisation, equipping you to tackle challenges, seize opportunities, and outpace competitors. GET STARTED TODAY If you'd like to join us for a one day Business Plan Bootcamp designed for businesses ready to accelerate their growth - get in touch. The real question isn’t whether you can afford to plan - it’s whether you can afford not to.

I’ve been watching a lot of Christmas films lately. Not unusual for this time of year. There’s something about them that just works, no matter how many times you’ve seen them. You know the endings, you know the characters, yet somehow they still hit the mark. The thing is, they all follow similar story arcs. Whether it’s the Grinch up in his cave, Kevin defending his home, or someone trying to save Christmas, the pattern is there. And for some reason, we love it. It’s got me thinking about why these stories work so well and what happens to us when we hear them. We already know the ending (it’s a Christmas film, after all), but we’re hooked by the journey. Part of that is down to narrative bias. Our brains naturally prefer stories with a clear start, middle, and satisfying end. Even if life is rarely that tidy, stories give us that structure and we can’t help but feel good about it.

If there’s one thing I wish I’d known earlier, both when I was starting out in advertising and later, managing others, it’s that the human brain isn’t fully developed until around age 25. Now that I’m running a mental health charity alongside consulting and training, this knowledge has completely reframed how I think about supporting young talent. Knowing that young professionals are still developing crucial skills, like decision-making, emotional regulation, and impulse control, has helped me make sense of the challenges I faced myself and the struggles I’ve seen others go through. Marketing and advertising are famously tough on young people. We throw them into high-stakes situations and expect them to handle it like seasoned pros, often with minimal support. But by understanding where they’re at developmentally, we can rethink how we work with them. Here’s how we can create a better experience for young talent in our industry. Guided Mentorship and Structure They Can Actually Use Advertising is messy and fast-paced, and I used to assume people would just “figure it out” because that’s what I had to do. But young professionals need structured guidance, clear project outlines, regular check-ins, and support for managing pressure. They’re still building up their decision-making abilities, and the right kind of mentorship makes a huge difference in how they adapt and grow in this environment. Letting Them Dip a Toe In First Marketing roles often give young people big responsibilities from day one, but we’d get so much more out of them if we let them try different things first. Letting them rotate through various tasks, social media, analytics, brainstorming, gives them a chance to see where they really thrive and build a bit of confidence before taking on heavier responsibilities. This approach not only helps them develop more rounded skills but also gives them a better sense of what they actually enjoy. Creating a Culture Where Mistakes Aren’t the End of the World I’ve seen young people take mistakes really hard, thinking a slip-up means they’ve failed spectacularly – snot, ugly crying, the works. Understanding that they’re still learning has made me realise how important it is to create a culture where mistakes are part of the process, not career-ending disasters. When a setback becomes a learning opportunity rather than a crisis, it lowers anxiety, builds resilience, and encourages smart risk-taking, all of which are essential in a creative industry.