Whether you are an employee or an independent contractor/freelancer, you are a one-person business that provides a service. To be sure that your business will prosper you need a business plan.

Business plans are not only for companies like ILM or Disney. A business plan can help you to reach your goals. It can provide a strategy to guide your career.

A business plan is a map to help you get where you want to go. It helps you plan your future. It gives you focus, motivation and objectivity and will keep you on track. It's a personal and objective plan of attack detailing the steps you will take to launch or re-launch and then maintain your career. Your business plan will help you stay focused on your long-term goals.

To create a business plan, first think about who you are and where you want to be. Establish primary, achievable goals for yourself that you are capable of reaching on your own. Set five to ten realistic goals. What do you want to accomplish? Write goals down, then plan the tasks and activities you will do each week to achieve them.

A business plan is a week by week breakdown of what you intend to accomplish. Schedule your classes, lunches, etc. Be specific. Write down your assignments, tasks and commitments to yourself.

A sample business plan might look like this:

Goals:

1. New demo reel.
2. Review and revise resume.
3. Research info for target companies.
4. Draft cover letter for marketing materials.
5. Become consistent at reading trades, related sources and Websites.

Tasks:
Week One

1. Look at friends' demo reels.
2. Call editors who edited demo reels I like and find out their fees and what they include. Schedule a session.
3. Write a first draft of resume. Look at friends' resumes and resumes in books and on Websites to get formatting ideas. Reformat resume to make it easy to read.
4. Make sure answering machine is working and outgoing message is professional and clear.

Week Two

1. Assemble a mailing list of appropriate companies to send new marketing materials to. Include phone numbers on target list.
2. Compose cover letter to be sent with new marketing materials.
3. Review portfolio. Remove any old pieces and assess whether new pieces need to be added.
4. Edit demo reel.
5. Create demo reel breakdown.
6. Attend local SIGGRAPH meeting.