Every once in a while, you meet a talented, young entrepreneur who shares your values for supporting small business entreprenuers in the realization of their business goals and objectives. Tiffiney Cornish of TC Creatives is one of those passionate — and compassionate — individuals.

During our chat, I was particularly intrigued with her expertise on branding. Here is what she has to say in Branding: What It Is and Why It Is Important, which was originally found at www.tc-creatives.com.

Tell me it's not just me. It's not just me who experiences crushing levels of overwhelm on a daily basis. When the mind is racing with strategies to implement, tactics to deploy, and problems to solve, it leaves little time (and mental space) for relaxation, creativity, and innovation.

Some time ago, Fast Company ran an article on the supposed demise of strategic planning in favor of strategic execution – stating that the 3–5 year strategic plans are too cumbersome and outdated.

Undoubtedly, many solopreneurs and small business owners leapt for joy as they read of its hypothetical passing.

Have you considered the power of your environment on your success?

Think about it.

As an avid gardener, I know certain kinds of vegetables grow best in specific types of soil and under particular weather conditions. I don't stop to consider if the seed planted is “talented enough” to grow. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the environment plays a strong role in whether or not that seed is going to sprout and produce an abundance of produce.

Now that you have a solid framework for your advisory board, there are a few other points to take into consideration to stack the deck in your favor and cinch the success of your board.

Running a small business can be a bewildering experience. Besides Siri, the halls of a small business can be a lonely place. To whom do you turn for advice? Share ideas? Hear yourself think? Provide a dose of reality? If you're not working with a strategic business coach, an advisory board may be desireable.

Ask any entrepreneur about annual business planning for their business and you'll immediately be met with eye rolls. If we're honest, it's one of the few pieces of business ownership most entrepreneurs would rather avoid. Yet, it's likely one of the most important pieces of business development as you head into a new year.

We all believe we're pretty good at strategic thinking. Yet, only 3 out of 10 small business owners know how to think, plan, and excecute strategically. Eek!

Spontaneity and the ability to “fly by the seat of your pants” or “fake it until you make it” can be excellent qualities to have, but to survive the test of time in business you need a plan. If you’re serious about success, a clear business strategy must underlie all the day-to-day tasks you do.

Your business strategy is a primary differentiator that is easily visible to your marketplace. Although a client may not readily be able to identify a point of difference between you and your competitor as a business strategy, it is one of the few mechanisms by which buying assessments are made. Given that, it's important to get your strategy right.