As you create objectives, make sure they support the vision and mission statements of your business. Challenge yourself to make sure you're only focusing on activities that will get everyone to the same endpoint.

After the objectives of the business are established, create and set goals for each objective.

The goals you create should be very specific and should always have a quantifiable number attached to them.

Before setting goals, the components of your plan were conceptual and philosophical thoughts on where and how the business would be run. In actually setting goals, it is important to be specific — create concrete numbers to measure business success.

Assigning responsibility to a specific person along with target dates for completion of goals is essential. Identifying a specific person to manage the goal helps foster and create ownership in the result.

The group should review each objective and goal and monitor the progress toward completion. If this periodic review is completed, potential roadblocks may be uncovered early so action plans can be established quickly to overcome these obstacles.

Goals included can be short term and long term. Financial goals are an example of this. The business may determine that in the short term they want to grow X%, but long term they desire greater growth.

Setting challenging goals is desirable, but make sure there is a reasonable chance of accomplishing them. Consistently setting unattainable goals will damage morale and eventually you'll lose support of the team.

For bigger, more challenging goals, consider setting smaller, mini goals that when combined will achieve the greater goal that is ultimately desired. Many times mountain climbers break a climb into several small climbs so as they accomplish each climb, they can see results and be motivated to continue.

Tactics are specific actions taken to accomplish the objectives and goals and ultimately fulfill the vision and mission statements.

A specific set of tactics should be established for each objective and goal that is set.

As with the goals, assigning names and dates to tactics for completion is important so everyone in the organization knows their roles.

Periodic review of the tactics and progress toward completion will ensure the end result is on pace to be completed.