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About the Author
Erica Olsen
| Can a person actually have the fortitude to save the strategic planning process from itself? The answer is Yes! As the author of Strategic Planning For Dummies, released in November 2006, consider how Erica Olsen has transformed the difficult, confusing, and time consuming process of devising a workable strategic plan into a practical, easily referenced living, breathing document. |  |
As one of developers of MyStrategicPlan, Erica has stripped strategic planning of its fate as a static document. With her online strategic planning system, any organization, regardless of size and budget, can build a plan in a matter of weeks (or even days). Once completed, the online system plan is actually executed, not just another sheaf of papers that get 3-hole-punched, clasped in a binder and shelved.
Most importantly, a MyStrategicPlan-based plan enjoys unusually strong buy in from the company's management and staff because it is built on common sense and boasts tangible, realistic goals that all can see being achieved. I should know. Our company, Ding Communications, was one of the first to give Erica's approach a go. To this day our plan is easily referenced, simply adjusted to accommodate business' changing landscape, and quickly acted upon. The results continue impact delightfully.
MyStrategicPlan is just one of several online strategic planning systems developed by Erica's company M3 Planning. Through M3 Planning's online client base and onsite strategic planning facilitation work, Erica has developed and reviewed hundreds of strategic plans for organizations across the country.
Erica holds a BA in Communications and an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird. She's frequently tapped to lecture at the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Phoenix in Reno on management and planning topics. She hosts workshops and has spoken at conferences nationwide.
In addition, to Strategic Planning for Dummies, she has co-authored Strategic Planning Made Easy: A Practical Guide to Growth and Profitability, and contributes regular columns to local, regional and national business publications.
When Erica is not lecturing, writing or planning, she's alternately kayaking, backcountry skiing, rock climbing, biking, running or bagging peaks around the Western Hemisphere with husband Gregor.
Note to readers: Erica always enjoy hearing from her readers. If you have questions about your strategic planning or if you have a success story to share, please use the contact her through any of the methods below:
Coordinates:
Email: erica@m3planning.com
Site: www.m3planning.com
Blog: Strategically Speaking, www.mystrategicplan.com/blog
Articles for public use: http://www.mystrategicplan.com/strategic-planning-tools
About M3 Planning
M3 Planning's keystone product, MyStrategicPlan.com, is a nationwide leader in on-demand strategic planning services. More companies trust their confidential plans to MyStrategicPlan.com than any other business development company in the nation.
Why? Perhaps it's because we deliver integrated, industry-specific planning services for organizations of all sizes. Or maybe it's because MyStrategicPlan takes the mystery out of strategic planning. You can have your plan ready to roll-out in weeks or days-not the months or years required by traditional strategic planning. Or it could be because our services focus as much on the strategy as on the implementation. Or maybe it's because of our 100% dedication to the success of our customers and their growth.
In fact, MyStrategicPlan clients gain more focus, buy-in from their teams, a better use of resources, more time (for work and play), increased employee enthusiasm, and a 12% increase in their bottom line. After all, isn't that what being strategic is all about? We are proud to be contributing to the success of companies of all sizes, in all industries, around the globe.
MyStrategicPlan.com was founded in 2000
by the Olsen family who believed that strategic planning was
not just relegated to the Fortune 100s of the world. Every organization,
no matter the size or resources, wants to be more strategic.
MyStrategicPlan.com is constantly building on that legacy by
improving and expanding our award-winning suite of strategic
planning services.
Strategic Planning System
M3 Planning powers web-based strategic planning systems that help organizations develop and manage their strategic plans. The system is patent pending.
All of our strategic planning software is:
- Self-directed. Users are guided through 12 practical steps, resulting in a complete strategic plan.
- Web-based. No need to download software.
- Dynamic. The system allows users to easily build, monitor and revise their plans.
- Integrated. The system produces a comprehensive strategic plan.
- Interactive. The strategic plan is easily updatable.
- Purpose-driven. It provides meaning to organizational activities.
- Industry relevant. Examples are provided specific to the type of organization.
- Report heavy. Seven reports are available to help implement the strategic plan.
- Market-driven. It requires users to develop a comprehensive understanding of their marketplace.
MyStrategicPlan
MyStrategicPlan is strategic planning software for entrepreneurs.
Specifically designed for companies with less than 150 employees,
MyStrategicPlan is a cost-effective, do-it-yourself solution
for owners and executives who want to create and organize their
business strategy.
URL: www.mystrategicplan.com
Seminars/Workshops
Erica presents the following workshops at a variety of regional and national conferences.
Make Strategy a Reality: From Organizational
Purpose to Daily Activities
Build a purpose-driven organization by getting focused on what
matters most to you and your team by developing a strategic
plan to make it reality. Participants will learn a 12-step,
1-day strategic planning process that will guide you in developing
a workable plan for your organization. The result is to get
everyone in your organization pulling in the same strategic
direction.
Be the Best: Discover Your Competitive
Advantage
This session helps you answer the question: What business am
I in? This process starts by identifying your strengths and
weaknesses relative to your competitors. Grasping these foundational
insights is key to moving your company to greatness because
it is your competitive advantage. Participants will learn what
their competitive advantages are and why developing a strategy
around these advantages is critical to long-term success.
Powerful Strategy Starts With Knowing
Your Market
This session is designed to demonstrate how to strategically
grow and prosper in your business by knowing your customers.
Focusing first on market research as the foundation for strategic
market development, participants will learn practical marketing
tools and techniques to develop a customer-driven strategy.
Additionally, they will learn how they can use market informatics
to cultivate an environment that fosters customer loyalty.
The Pathway to Effectiveness: Developing
Your Organization's Plan
This one-day workshop includes information and instruction on
the key benefits of planning, how to develop an integrated strategy,
detailed instruction on the components of a strategic plan and
critical components to implementation. The workshop includes
both lecture and hands-on plan development with participants
taking away the beginnings of a strategic plan for their organization.
Appearances
- Confab - International Management Consultants Regional Conference (NV)
- WeAct - Women Executive's Accelerating Change Today (NV)
- eWomenNetwork (NV)
- AMA - American Marketing Association (NV)
- ASTD - American Society of Training and Development (NV)
- AHRA - Association of Healthcare Radiology Administrators (TX) (AZ)
- SBDC - Small Business Development Center, Entrepreneur CEO Program (NV)
- M3 Planning Public Workshops (Various locations)
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NV)
- Universidad Americana (Asuncion, Paraguay)
- Universidad Torcuato di Tella (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Media
M3 Planning is quickly becoming known as the number one resource in strategic planning for entreprenuers.
- Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Regular Columnist
- Bi-monthly 2003
- Bi-monthly 2004
- Bi-monthly 2005
- Bi-monthly 2006
- Small Business Update - June 2005
- Women's Biz News - June 2005
- Entrepreneur Newz - June 2005
- About.com, Entrepreneur Section March 2005, May 2005, April 2006
- WomenBiz.Us - April/May 2005
- ZeroMillion - May 2005
- Entrepreneur Magazine (Miller Heiman) - September 2004
- Industrial Marketing Management - March 2005
- Latin America Business Review - November 2004
- Variance Analysis of Sales Performance, 19th Annual National Conference in Sales Management - April 2004.
- Minds Wide Open: Continuous Improvement in Marketing Education, 2004 Marketing Educators' Association Conference Proceedings
- Academy of Business Administration, 2004 International Conference
- Journal of Business and Economic Research - December 2003
Radio & TV
- KUNR Business Report - April 2005
- KTVN, Channel 2 - April 2004
- KTVN, Channel 2 - March 2004
- KUNR Business Report - October 2002
Community Involvement
- Girl Scouts of America - Northern Nevada - Board of Directors
- Northern Nevada Business Weekly - Regular Columnist
- Speak Shop - Board of Advisors
- Western Industrial Nevada - Board of Directors
- Organizational Effectiveness Committee, Washoe County - Member
- University of Nevada - Lecturer
- University of Phoenix - Lecturer
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