President’s Message

By Michael Deo, CLVLT, COLD

What’s your plan?

You might have plans for retirement, vacation or next weekend. We often plan a route before setting out on a road trip, or sometimes, plan to “wing it.” Plans can change. It is said that failing to plan is a plan to fail. It seems I’m always planning something. Big plans! Small plans, detailed plans or simply a daily plan, I’m the master of the list. Sometimes I’ll joke, “I LOVE when a plan comes together!” Sometimes, my plans fall apart. What’s your plan?

There was a time when NatureScape Lighting got a revised business plan every winter. It included financial goals and a marketing plan, among other things. I need to get back to that because the value is in the exercise; taking the time to think things through, acting on important items first, aligning efforts toward the end goal. Do you have a goal? What’s your plan?

Recently, on the home front, we’ve spent the last few years planning college journeys with our two children. Planning for the kids we love is one of life’s more challenging exercises. Thankfully they’re smarter than me! The plan guided them through their high school years and on into college. Don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t without some pain! But, we had a plan. What’s your plan?

I’ve realized with age and maturity (ok – probably just age) that I don’t have all the good ideas. Usually, trying to reinvent the wheel is a waste of time. There are lots of good ideas for developing your plan for anything. Talk with other parents, other business owners or hire the professional of your choosing. Absorb whatever you can, educate yourself and get to planning!

While working on the Board of AOLP for the past five or so years, I’ve developed quite an appreciation for the effort and planning that goes into this organization. Starting with our annual “Planning Meeting,” developing our “work plan” and of course the perennial “budget plan,” we are always… well, planning.

Some things require more advance planning than others. For example, if you always wanted to participate in the AOLP Awards program, but just didn’t get to it in time, this is your opportunity to plan in advance. Autumn is a perfect time to get out there and photograph that stellar project you installed earlier this year or last. Really, it doesn’t matter when you installed it—take the photos now! The enrollment process gets easier every year, and I think you’ll find the online registration quite simple. Plan to do it!

Same goes for COLD and especially, CLVLT. A bit of prior planning goes a long way to setting you up for success. Plan to get certified.

By the time this note is read, we will be closer to the next conference than the last. And, the Conference (Planning) Committee has a great line-up for Illuminate ‘19 coming your way. Sessions we are planning include Marketing and Public Relations, Lighting Design, Nighttime Photography, Direct Mail Advertising and more.

I sincerely hope you PLAN to be there!

Best wishes for a successful fall season,

Michael

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