You are driving along one day, not really paying attention to what is around you. All of a sudden, you see a brick wall in your path. You slam on the brakes and try to avoid hitting it. No matter the outcome, the cause of this situation is the fact that you were not paying attention.

If you are going to avoid hitting the proverbial brick wall when it comes to your business, you need to pay attention.

It starts with learning how to create a business plan. A business plan describes your business and its future. It gives you a way to measure progress and a way to focus your business activities. It is a living document that you need to update regularly to keep it relevant.

• Your company description outlines what you do, why you do it, and how you stand out from the competition. It also defines the market that your products and services serve.

• The market analysis delves into the market you are serving. The analysis should include market size, competition, industry, etc. This analysis helps you understand where your company stands within the industry and against the competition. It also identifies your ideal customer.

• The organization and management section outlines how you handle the day-to-day operations. How is your business organized? What is your business model? How do you manage your business? Who is on your management team?

• The product and service section tells about what you are selling and how it benefits your customer base. This section can outline your current offering and also anything you plan on adding in the future. Outlining your product cycle in this section is an added bonus.

• Your marketing and sales section outlines how you plan on connecting with customers and demonstrating why they should buy your product or service. This section should outline your plans and strategies.

• The financial projections section offers you a place to document how you expect your company to grow in the future. It is the place to document expectations and potential challenges that can affect the ultimate outcomes.

• Add appendices to your business plan as necessary. This is where you document the things that do not fit into the other sections.

Once you learn how to create a business plan, you are on the road to avoiding the proverbial brick wall. It will keep your attention where it needs to be.