After 25 years of working with business owners—from family-run shops to private-equity-backed manufacturers—I can tell you one thing for sure:
the thicker the plan, the less likely anyone’s following it.

Most 40-page business plans are filled with buzzwords, forecasts, and wishful thinking. They look impressive but do nothing to drive action.

I don’t want your team reading a binder; I want them executing a plan. That’s why I help my clients build the 1-Page Strategic Plan—a living document that connects strategy to execution in one simple view.

Here’s what fits on that single page:

1. SWOT Analysis. A brutally honest look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

2. Core Values & Purpose. The beliefs and behaviors that guide how you operate.

3. BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). The long-range, inspiring target that drives innovation.

4. Targets → Goals → Quarterly Rocks. A clear bridge from strategy to execution.

5. KPIs. The scoreboard that keeps everyone accountable week after week.

6. Brand Promise & Elevator Pitch. Why customers choose you—and how you explain it in 10 seconds or less.

This plan isn’t a binder. It’s a tool—a one-page rhythm that keeps leadership aligned and teams focused. When reviewed quarterly, it becomes the heartbeat of the company.

If your plan takes more than five minutes to explain, it’s too complicated to execute. Simplify it. Put it on one page. Then, teach your team how to live it every day.

👉 Want to know how strategic your business really is?
Take five minutes and score your company—plus 20 other critical business competencies—free at optaprofit.com/score-card.

See where you stand, what’s missing, and what to fix next.

👤 About Don Vanpool

Don Vanpool is a seasoned business-transformation leader, private-equity operating partner, and certified coach. He helps manufacturing and mid-market companies align their teams, drive profitability, and prepare for high-value exits using proven systems like the Strategic Plan.