Columbus Ga is rebranding itself. After 15-years of a successful brand strategy, it's time. The market is changing. There's the Great Recession. There's been the War on Terror. And so many other factors that make it almost impossible to ignore the fact that today is very different from when our community launched its branding... Read More

As National Tourism Week winds down, I felt it was important talk about what makes mine and your hometown special. What makes us unique? Is it home to the longest urban whitewater course in the world? Is it our museums? Think about it. Columbus has two “national” museums – the National Infantry Museum, the... Read More

Ok. You've had your retreat, outlined the  mission, vision, values, goals, strategies, and metrics... now what? You write the plan. You take all of the information collected and you create the strategic plan or operating plan; what you're going to do. Ours is a "dynamic" document meaning it's constantly being update and revised as... Read More

Measure everything! Part of a successful strategic plan is determining the level of success and accomplishment. The plan should include deadlines, and key performance measures. In other words, precise aspects of the plan. These can be identified after the planning ends, but always, always need to be a part of the plan.

Does your game plan include a strategy? These are the programs and projects for achieving goals; those things that help accomplish the mission. Strategies should be realistic, yet innovative, in setting ways to advance the goals.

In setting up your strategic plan, goals only make sense. It's part of the measurement for success. Goals are statements that represent where resources will be focused to achieve the mission. Ideally, the plan should have 3 to 7 realistic, well stated goals. Too few and you're not trying hard enough. Too many and you'll... Read More

Every organization stands for something. Those fundamental core beliefs or values are the guiding principles embraced by leadership and staff. Examples might be integrity, transparency, and diversity. What does your organization stand for?

The simplest way to describe an organizational vision statement is to ask "what do want to be?" The Vision Statement is a vivid description and aspiration that describes how the organization desires to be perceived. In essence, it's a goal that is never actually achieved, but the drive that pushes the organization.

How many times have you been in a meeting to determine a mission statement, perhaps revisit your own, only to get bogged down in mission versus vision statements. Here's the simplest way to define it. MISSION - the reason for the organization's existence; its purse statement. It should be crisp and short; easy to articulate and... Read More

Strategies - the programs and projects for achieving the goals. Strategies should be realistic, yet innovative, in settings ways to advance the goals.