Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1282: The Lost Art of the Business Plan... How to Tell a Story That Gets Your Business Funded w/ Claire Pickens
Tired of thinking of your business plan as just another piece of bureaucratic paperwork? In this episode, 30-year business veteran and planning expert Claire Pickens flips the script, revealing how your business plan is actually a living, breathing document that holds the key to your success and funding. She breaks down why the passion, story, and "secret sauce" you bring to the table are far more valuable than any AI-generated template.
This episode is a must-listen for any wantrepreneur or entrepreneur who feels stuck in the planning phase or is preparing to seek funding. Claire demystifies the entire process, explaining what banks really look for in a plan and how to transform their feedback into a powerful partnership. You'll walk away with a completely new, practical, and human-centered approach to turning your vision into a bank-ready reality.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 🤖 Why AI-Generated Plans Are a Red Flag: Understand why banks can easily spot AI-written plans and what they truly want to see instead—your genuine story and passion.
- 📖 Story First, Numbers Last: Learn the counterintuitive but highly effective method of building your business plan by focusing on your vision, culture, and operations before ever touching the financials.
- 🤝 How to Partner With Your Bank: Discover how to reframe loan application feedback as a constructive partnership, not a rejection, to build a stronger, more fundable business.
- 🚀 The Truth About Financial Projections: Say goodbye to unrealistic "hockey stick" growth charts. Claire explains why a realistic, ramp-up projection for your first year builds more credibility with lenders.
- 🕵️ Competitive Analysis Reimagined: Go beyond the numbers and learn why understanding your industry's local reputation is just as critical as analyzing market share.
- ✨ Your "Secret Sauce" is Your Superpower: Learn how to inject your unique personality and boutique touches into your plan and marketing to create a business that customers and lenders will love.
📝 About Claire Pickens
Claire Pickens brings three decades of hands-on business experience to her business plan writing services. As an entrepreneur herself, she built a successful business from the ground up—designing, building, and eventually selling it—all before earning her formal business degrees. This "backwards" journey gives her a uniquely empathetic and practical perspective, allowing her to cut through academic jargon and focus on what truly works in the real world. Claire is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs get their dreams out of their heads and onto paper with bank-ready plans that turn vision into reality.
🎯 Claire’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"If you're thinking about it, start. Go grab a journal and write down whatever you can... Get those dreams on paper and let it be a fun journey."
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “If you allow an AI character to build your plan, that AI character is not going to be there every day to run your business. It is your passion that's going to run your business.” – Claire Pickens
- “When you borrow money from a bank, you are partnering on an investment journey together. They are investing in you. You're part of their overall business plan and now they are part of your business plan.” – Claire Pickens
🔗 Links & Resources