The Strategic Planning Easy Button

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Strategic planning sounds more complicated than it is. 

In fact, I know many contractors hesitate to build a strategic plan because the concept is too obscure. So, instead, they keep doing what they know: putting out the hottest fire. Which always feels really fulfilling and good at the time, but on a year over year basis, they are usually pretty frustrated with the money they are taking home. 

“Why do we work so hard to make so little?” 

I get it. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Because building a strategic plan can be simple—you can build a 1-year plan with less than 4 hours of effort. And I’m going to teach you how. 

If you aspire to be one of the great contractors out there, then you’re going to want to read this one. 

Stop over complicating 

Before introducing the planning concept, I want to share a quick, relevant story.  

This week, I talked to this awesome 40+ construction executive. We got to talking about some of his experiences, and he told me about a problem project he was involved with years ago. 

$100M+ job, but the GC and owner could barely talk to each other because the GC was so far behind schedule. Tons of conflict and the job was suffering because of it. He was hired to bust through the conflict and get the job back on track. The first thing he did was ask why there wasn’t a schedule hanging in the trailer. 

“We have it online, so there’s no need to have it in the trailer.” 

He didn’t like that answer, so he drew a schedule on the back of a set of plans. It was nothing complicated, but it showed all the major project milestones—Dry-in, key rough ins, U&O, and move in. People laughed when he hung it up because it was so simple. 

But you know what ended up being everyone’s favorite reference tool? That simple schedule hanging on the wall! The subs all understood and followed it, and it was common for the GC and sub to stand around it and review what needed to get done to hit their milestones. And believe it or not, the client ended up moving in on time (crisis averted!). 

While I’m sure there was more to this project’s miraculous turnaround than this simple schedule, I’m also certain it was a foundational piece in the success story. And it reminded me of a powerful principle: the simpler your plan, the easier it is to follow.  

So, when it comes to writing your first strategic plan, you will go crazy if you over complicate it. Perfect is the enemy of good, and for your first go round, you don’t need a perfect plan. You need clear direction and a referenceable document. 

Things are going to change. You are going to want to mark it up. Your best ideas are going to fail and you’re going to adjust. This is all normal. 

The important part is that you are getting your plan down on paper for the first time. That’s the beauty of the simple strategic plan. 

5 Strategic Planning Strategies Contractors Can Use

There are five components to the simple, 1-year strategic plan (by the way, we help companies all the time with tactical planning and strategic planning): 

1. Vision: 2-3 paragraphs describing where you’d like to be a year from now. You may consider financial results as well as people and training goals. The key question to ask yourself is, “Imagine we were 1 year into the future. What would we need to have accomplished over the last year to feel amazing about it?” The answer to this question is your 1-year vision. It should be incredibly motivating. Here’s an example: 

In 2025, our vision is simple: to get back to the basics and do them well. This year we’re focused on getting our gross profit where it needs to be by delivering consistent results on every project. Instead of chasing growth, we’re prioritizing stability, profitability, and building a strong foundation for the future of our business.  

Additionally, we are committed to strengthening our team, boosting morale, and making sure every employee feels supported and valued. By doing things right, we’ll not only hit our financial goals but also create a workplace where people are proud to work. 

2. Financial targets: Now that you know where you’re heading, you can determine what kind of money you want to make. Look back at your last 3 years of financials, your current backlog, and reflect on what you’d like to bring home at the end of the year. Then, fill out the highlighted sections below: 

Your targets should be realistic because financial targets that are unachievable are incredibly draining—when financial goals are meant to be inspiring. Have some fun with it. 

3. Org Chart: A simple sketch showing the reporting structure inside your company. Below is an example (yours doesn’t need to be so pretty—sketch something on a piece of white printer paper for all I care. The important thing is you get it down on paper for the first time): 

4. Staffing Plan: This is the hires you plan to make in the year ahead. Do you know you’ll need more PMs? Supers? Is this the year for a business developer? Make a simple list, including when you expect to hire them. 

• Project Manager, Q2 

• Superintendent, Q2 

• BD Manager, Q4 

5. Quarterly Priorities: Finally, the last thing you will do is determine the top 3-5 priorities in your business over the next quarter, which should be largely influenced by your vision (considering your vision is your future desired state, your priorities drive the accomplishment of your vision). Stick to 3-5 because any more and you’ll get overwhelmed. Each priority should have an assigned “champion”—someone who will drive its completion. This is where the plan becomes actionable. 

Q1 2025 Priorities  

1. Build an extensive set of SOPs  - Steve 

1. Drive $10M in new sales – Sam 

1. Formalize changes to the Org Chart - Sam 

1. Launch a quality control program in the field – Sarah 

Put 4 hours into getting this information together, and you’ve got your first strategic plan! Now, sit down every month for at least 60 minutes and review the plan—especially your priorities. Each champion should update you on their progress of accomplishing the priorities and you should hold them accountable to getting the word done. Then, at the end of each quarter, set your next quarter’s priorities, always keeping your vision in mind. 

I can’t stress enough how good it will feel—and how much you will learn—building your first strategic plan. Once you have the first one out of the way, you’ll be off to the races. 

So, remember: It doesn’t have to be complicated. But it does have to guide you. 

If you want to talk more about it, reach out any time. Happy planning. 

Spark Notes:

1. You can build a one-year strategic plan in under 4 hours by focusing on just five components—Vision, Financial Targets, Org Chart, Staffing Plan, and Quarterly Priorities.

2. Start with a 2–3 paragraph Vision that answers “What would make this year feel amazing?” to set a motivating North Star for every decision.

3. Translate that vision into realistic Financial Targets and a hand-drawn Org Chart to give your goals structure—no fancy software required.

4. Break your year into 3–5 Quarterly Priorities, assign each a “champion,” and spend one hour a month reviewing progress to keep the plan alive, flexible, and driving real results.