Okay, the reality is that each one of us has a looking forward time-frame that makes sense just to us.  Sure we can all stretch a bit here and there at different times.  For instance – some of us can envision our Hawaii vacation happening in October right now.  Others would say Hawaii vacation, October?  I can’t even think about tomorrow – I just barely made it through today. You have to acknowledge where you fit on that spectrum when it comes to business and your marketing planning because everything about it is in the future. And unless you are I Dream Of Jeannie or Bewitched you can’t just blink or twitch your nose and poof, there it is.  That, and I hate to break the spell for you after all of these years – it was just TV magic.  Sorry.  So, back to horizon – ask yourself this question and be honest:

- How far out can I see out or am I comfortable thinking about?

Is it a day?  Is it a week?  Is it a month, six weeks, two months a quarter?  Whatever it is start there and listen to your body and mind in response.  Say, “I am comfortable looking ahead a day.”  If your heart doesn’t start racing try, “I am comfortable looking ahead a week at a time.”  And again, and again.  Go until you get just beyond your comfort zone, until you feel a bit oogy .  For me,  it is a three months.  I have always thought in business terms like quarter, fiscal year, semi-annual, eighteen months, three year plan, five year plan and have the done work and found it valuable to do that kind of long term thinking, planning and stretching.  But what I can do and have done may not work for you.  The key is to find your own as a place to start getting real.

Do you have your horizon in mind?  Good.  Next step, a tip to help you stay on track.

Also posted on BizDev Consulting Blog here:  http://www.bizdevbiz.com/?p=472