Think about it. Look at all the new things around us that we take for granted. Fax technology became feasible in the 1970's. In the 1980's fax machines were very popular and a business necessity. Today they are becoming obsolete to scanning and e-mailing. What future technology will replace e-mail?

Strategy has been around for a long time. Forty years ago the U.S. auto manufacturers used similar techniques called long range planning, only these plans were not flexible.

You use your SWOT and other analytics and relevant information to create a few action plans that capitalize on your overall most important "critical success factors".

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Often thinking about tasks the size of strategy can feel overwhelming. The tasks you identify in the strategy process also can appear too large to conquer. Action plans help break these large projects into smaller tasks that can be delegated and assigned deadlines.

While this may seem like a long and complicated process, it really doesn't have to be. If you dedicate two full days in a row, you can accomplish much of the basics. Once you have a foundation, it is a matter of continuing the process to calibrate your plans, since the construction world around us is ever changing.