Holidays can be great fun but when you leave your garden alone for a couple of weeks things can get out of control. Most of the chaos can be recovered quite quickly (mow the lawn, pick the vegetables and so on) although some years ago I returned to find a fallen tree.
Most business owners aspire to being able to have days off or even retire knowing that their business is not dependent on them. Having the right person in place to maintain a watchful eye is crucial and having well documented plans and processes can help everyone.

When you are away a ‘caretaker’ can be a good idea. Whether it’s a neighbour, a deputy or some other third party don’t let things get out of control when you aren’t around.

Plants can suffer from a variety of diseases some of which can be treated (organically or otherwise) and some can’t. They can wreak havoc if, for example, they destroy an entire crop that a community is dependent on and they are rarely predictable.

The great thing about swine flu (and indeed many other potential havoc wreakers) is that they can be envisaged and contingency plans developed. The impact of losing staff, for whatever reason, can be mitigated if processes are documented. Having processes can also increase efficiency – and save costs.

Don’t let disease wreak havoc – consider challenges you could face, have plans in place to deal with them and then you can get on with business as usual

Occasionally I am asked why I use gardening analogies when describing the work that I do. Recently I came up with the acronym below which clearly outlines a process that can relate to both gardens and businesses and therefore, hopefully explains all.

Plan
Look after
Assess progress
New actions
Take benefits

Growing a healthy business is a little like tending a garden – most of us learn by trial and experience. But expert help on a flexible basis can make a world of difference.

A business needs plans if it is to have a clear direction of where it is heading. Putting together both the detailed financial plans and the overall business plans is the perfect opportunity to think through the realities of delivering the dream. How will you deliver twice as much product? Who will process the extra orders? Do you need more associates? And, of course, what is the impact on profit.

I tried growing vegetables in my garden for the first time this year – some worked and some didn’t. This experience has lead me to decide to grow more courgettes and carrots, and less beans – which is all very well as long as I remember to plant them at the right time of the year – planning again!

Defining your objective helps you recognise success when you achieve it, but planning the steps to that achievement is essential if it isn’t to remain a pipedream.