Brandon Twp.- Success in business, and in life, starts with a vision. Ann Lofgren will expound on this theory during the presentation ‘Creating a Vision of Greatness,? at 2 p.m., Jan. 17, at the Brandon Township Library, 304 South St.
Lofgren is a consultant with ZingTrain, a company specializing in training, service, merchandising, specialty foods and staff management. ZingTrain is part of the Zingerman Community of Businesses based in Ann Arbor.
‘For us at Zingerman’s, everything we do starts with a vision,? Lofgren said. ‘For the whole organization, we have a vision that is a written document that tells us what success looks like for the business, so we know where we are all headed and that we’re all going in the same direction.?
During her presentation, Lofgren will take business owners through the process of writing a vision, which can be used for launching a new product or telling where the business will be as a whole in a year or even just a day. A vision tells what success looks like and begins with an idea of where a business wants to go. It has four aspects, she said? it needs to be inspiring, strategically sound, documented and shared. ‘Chances are slim that it will happen if you don’t write it down and share it with people,? Lofgren said.
‘So often, especially if you’re an owner of a small business, you get so bogged down in the day-to-day details, you don’t look ahead. If you’re keeping your eye on where you want to go, you’re more successful in getting there.?
‘Creating a Vision of Greatness? is the first of three small business workshops the library is hosting. The next two are planned for Feb. 20. With ‘Business Plan: Ticket to Enter the Business World,? taking place from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., followed by ‘Marketing: Competing for the Hearts and Minds of Your Customers and Non-Customers? from 1-5 p.m. Both of the latter seminars will be led by Bill Schroer, a 30-year veteran of the marketing and research industry. Details: 248-627-1460 or www.brandonlibrary.org.