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The Rural Voice, 2001-02, Page 32Tractor & Combine Parts We're your New, Used i Raman Parts Specialists same day shipping Call us for all your Engine Overhaul naafis ph. 1-800-372-7149 fax 1-800-372-7150 FAWCETT Tractor Supply Ltd. www.fawcett.cc sales(a fawcett.cc 2126 Road 120. St. Marys. Ont. (519) 284-2379 • fax 284-4062 Winte'ttime mat flieat� 1999 FOR F150 FLARE SIDE 4 X 4 6 cyl., 4.2 engine, auto. 0.0., P.S., P.B., CD, air, clock, lighting group, block heater, intermittent wiper, manufacturer's warranty available, matching cap, 50.700 km. $22,900. unnin Boards 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SR5 4 DR. 6 cyl., 3.4 engine, auto, 0.D., P.S., P.B., P.W., P.L., P.A., AM/FM LOw stereo, cassette, CD, air. tinted Km. glass, cruise, tilt, clock, lighting group, block heater, intermittent wiper, bal. of factory warranty 5 yr. or 100,000 km good 'til Apr. 7/03, black, moulded boards, fog lights, one owner serviced by Toyota since new. 60.233 km. $27,900. 111 DODGE : • 8 cyl., 5.2 engine, auto, 0.D., P.S., P.B., AM/FM stereo, cassette, air, Rear Sliding tinted glass, clock, lighting group, block heater, intermittent wiper, balance of Chrysiei 9 year, 60,000 warranty and roadside assistance, one owner, niud flaps, box liner, box rails, maroon, 34,889 km. $21,900. 1998 FORD F150 SUPERCAB 2 WHL. XL ,11 6 cyl., 4.2 engine, auto, 0.0. r.. P.S., P.B., AM/FM stereo, cassette, air, block heater, intermittent wiper, box liner, bug deflector, side steps, chrome wheels, white, 99,600 km. 517,900. • Many others to choose from • Low financing available O.A.C. ARTHUR CHRYSLER SALES LEASING Hwy. #6 North, MOUNT FOREST (519) 323-1981 28 THE RURAL VOICE required? What will they do if things don't go exactly as planned'? I'm sure you can come up with many more questions before you would invest. The fact is no one has more to gain (or save) from knowing the answers to these questions than does the owner of that business — and the answers to them can be found in a good business plan. Some entrepreneurs will say they made it without such a plan. I'll argue that they probably did have a plan — in their head, and simply chose not to write it down. But by writing it down things may go a lot smoother. Case in point, my first draft of this article sounded fine to me at the time — while never perfect, even by next morning I found some holes to fill. Reading what you've written, even for yourself, does help. you may also hear, "why prepare a forecast, things are going to change so it's only, a guess!" It certainly is not an exact science, and things will change. But a well -laid plan doesn't get wasted; it gets updated. The business plan is not a one-time document, but rather a A business plan sets measurable goals that you can update working tool that's constantly updated. The accuracy of your forecasts will depend on the quality of your assumptions — and you'll find your assumptions and information will improve a lot faster than your ability to guess. A plan also sets measurable goals. And what you can measure you can monitor, and manage. Try to imagine the difficulty in managing your bank balance if you didn't update your passbook or receive your statement in the mail. From a practical standpoint, living the dream of "business -for -self" may have more to do with objectives than it does dreams.0 Larry Drew provides management services to business owners from his home. He is also a freelance writer. He can be reached at 519-823-9724.