"How can I enjoy this more?" That's one of the best questions small business owners can ask themselves about every non-negotiable part of their work life. For me, I've found a way to turn my weekly strategic planning into the hour I most enjoy all week long. How did I do it? About a year ago, I began taking myself to a teahouse near my home office every Friday at 4:00 pm. There amidst green plants and beautiful hand-carved, hand-painted surroundings (this teahouse was a gift to us from our sister-city in Tajikistan) I order some great tea and dinner and do my strategic planning for the coming week.



What makes this such a great choice and why has it become the most effective planning time I spend all week? There are several reasons:

One, I am usually tired by the end of the week. It has traditionally been hard for me to set aside time at the end of the week to get my strategic planning done. By getting out of my home office, by going to a beautiful place, by making this hour a treat I look forward to all week - I am making something special out of a task that is vital for me to do for my business.

Two, over time I have developed a process that insures I keep track of everything that needs to get done. I have a strategic planning pendaflex in the front of my desk filing drawer that holds all the materials I need to do my strategic planning. I bring with me my monthly planner, my yearly goals and any information I need to continue working on long term projects. In addition I add things that I use every day which live on my desk: like my weekly calendar, and the bright red clip board that holds my weekly and daily to do lists. These drop neatly into a business-sized carrier and off I go!

Three, the process is pretty much the same every week: I start a new to do list for the coming week. I check the upcoming week's calendar and note down any prep work I need to get done by when. I look at the previous week's to do list. I see what I accomplished and what is incomplete and needs to get transferred over for the coming week. I look at my monthly goals and see how they are coming along - moving specific to-do items onto my next week's list. I also look at my long range goals for my business and see what I can do next week to make sure they will keep coming along.

Four, I make sure the time I spend at the teahouse isn't all business. I often invite one of my friends to join me 60 to 90 minutes in to my time there for conversation in a great location! Or I may bring a book I am currently reading and enjoy reading quietly while drinking the last of my tea. Or sometimes I do some creative writing. I'm currently working on a short story... just for fun. There are other places in Boulder I could go every week, but the teahouse is my favorite. I love the tea and the food there is excellent. The bottom line is that, I have turned this last hour of my work week into something that nurtures me and which I look forward to all week long.

Five, I am considerate of the teahouse staff. I order things to pay for my time in their restaurant. On average I budget $15 to $25 a week for my time at the teahouse. I make sure I leave a good tip and I keep an eye on the restaurant around me, leaving if the tables all start to get filled. I sometimes spend upwards of two hours at the teahouse. Most of the time, it doesn't make any difference if I linger and they are happy to have me sit there as long as I want. Sometimes, like last week, a special event is filling up their reservation list and they appreciate my being willing to move on when the restaurant gets full. The staff has come to know me and they always take great care of me while I am there!

I can't tell you how much better I feel at the end of my tea-house strategic planning time. I feel rested and refreshed. I feel organized and ready for the coming week. I've enjoyed myself thoroughly. And my strategic planning is done! Above everything else, I have turned a crucial and essential part of my work life into something I look forward to every week.