OK, first, what the heck is a strategic plan? A strategic plan documents your purpose for being, who you are, where you want to go and how you intend to get there over the long term. The plan maps out short and long-range goals of the company and what actions of management will have to take place to reach those goals. It states what is important to you and how you will leverage those values to be successful. It articulates the key philosophies, concepts, ideas and directions which, when put into effect, profoundly shape the nature of your business. For this reason, your strategic plan should be carefully thought through.