If you are limping along, living from one new referral to the next, you might be missing the point of being in Private Practice. Remember… this is supposed to help decrease the level of stress you had on the job.
Sometimes we lose sight of what brings in those referrals — the foundation we lay, the business we create. If you’ve gotten away from (or have never had) the basics of what it takes to build a solid “business”, your practice is going to feel like a “job”.
Here’s a reminder of some of the building blocks of a healthy business:
- Establish business practices (policies & procedures) that are: in writing, easy to replicate, and are utilized
- Send a consistent message to the world about who you are, what you stand for, and the services you provide
- Create a simple, step-by-step marketing plan that is worked even (especially) when your book is full
- Make good decisions about how your are going to spend your time and how you are going to spend your money; it makes sense to outsource tasks that take up your time, when that time can make you more money doing what you do best
- Don’t be afraid to spend money on things that have a great return on investment (ROI). Coaching, a practice management system or vendor, and a larger office with space to rent are investments that will pay off now and forever. Don’t be penny-wise and dollar-foolish
Seth Godin says that setting up an itinerary of gigs is a job. For the entrepreneur, the gig is building the gig.
Are you looking to build a job… or are you looking to build a business?
