5# FACE THE BLANK PAGE: FREE TOOLS

To avoid going off in all directions and facing the blank page, I started looking for free tools to facilitate my research.

Each project leader has his own method!

For my part, at this time I need a tool to structure my business plan. I see that there are many tools. I try several of them and finally I choose the CCI Business Builder.

The advantage with these tools is that they accompany you when you are faced with a blank page. Like a coach, they ask you questions and structure your answers.

I particularly appreciated the CCI business builder tool because it gave me some ideas to start writing each part of the business plan. This is what encouraged me to continue.

From that moment on, I know where I stand and I can no longer hide behind my laziness.

I write, constantly, I see my progress and I share it with my circle of family and friends.

At the time, I contacted Mathilde, a friend of mine who had started her own brand of children’s furniture, La Charolière, to get her advice.

I remember that she encouraged me not to spend too much time on writing my business plan. She told me: “Honestly Marine, don’t waste too much time with the business plan, time is really an important resource when you are an entrepreneur…”

I had listened carefully to her advice, I had redoubled my efforts to finish faster. Two years later, I realize that she was totally right.

A little note to myself for too late: the most important thing in a business plan is that it is concrete, documented and quantitative. Don’t spend too much time on explanations; they are bound to change and evolve with time.

Besides, they will never really be read!

So that’s it, the business plan is a mandatory (or highly recommended) step that I have completed.

However, I see that the road is still long and that I don’t feel any further ahead. So I clearly need help to continue.

To be continued…