In two paragraphs I need a substantive comment on this post:

According to the textbook planning tools and techniques are forecasting, contingency planning, scenario planning, benchmarking and staff planning. Planning has the most benefits when the foundations are strong and you now how to use each of these techniques. A technique that I use a lot when ruining my own business is benchmarking. Benchmarking is when you use external and internal comparisons to plan for future improvements. As a small business I learn new things monthly from what works, and what doesn't work. It is important to take step back and figure out what I can change to meet my goals. Most well-run operations use this method to encourage members and work units to learn and improve my sharing their best practices as well as external benchmarking to compare what is working for their competitors and how they can implement those practices to their business. The ways that I do this myself is look at my sales for the month and see if they are up or down compared to last month. I also analyze my emails that I send out to see what emails had the most conversions to see what brings my customers back to my website. Benchmarking is a great tool that can be used for all aspects of business' and is something that should always be implemented. If you are not benchmarking you run the risk of getting to comfortable and getting stuck in your ways. Everything you do has room for improvement and as an individual I always strive to improve daily on everything that I do.