Changes
Posted on June 19, 2008 - Filed Under Uncategorized |
I find that this year is a year of changes for me. As I go through these changes, I’ve talked to a number of people which has provoked some interesting thoughts.
One thing I discovered is that although my first 10 months of my first year in business was pretty spectacular (one week I had 14 patients on the books, although I had several cancellations), other parts of my life came into play and my practice slowed. Additionally my office mates had things happen and our office energy became rather stagnant.
As my practice slowed, I turned to myself to see what I was putting out there. I realized I wasn’t very happy in my current office. At my previous office, if I had a break between patients I had other people around. This allowed me to bounce questions about diagnosis off the other acupuncturist or even take a break and talk to our receptionist about her baby. Longer breaks meant I could go into my office and input my bookkeeping information or balance the checkbook. I could even write up new marketing materials if things were really slow.
Considering what I really wanted in my acupuncture practice, I realized the best way to achieve my goals was to downsize. I’ve managed to find another person who needs an acupuncturist one day a week in her office and I will work as an associate. I will be able to bring existing patients and then see her overflow. I don’t have to do any billing. I don’t have rent which means what I make I take home (well except for taxes). Still this feels really good.
I’m also focused on building a “vacation relief” acupuncture business. I’ve put that out there and gotten some really good feedback. I haven’t even started advertising but I’ve gotten a new client from word of mouth. It’s not a big “contract” but considering I don’t even have contract paperwork yet, I think it’s a move in the right direction for me.
Why did I decide to do vacation coverage? As I sat bemoaning the failure of my business I started looking at what I liked and didn’t like about being in business for myself. I really really hate marketing and trying to find a niche. In fact, I don’t really want a niche but am not sure how to make myself stand out. Vacation relief work allows me to focus on a very small group of people that I can market to–other acupuncturists in my area. Additionally, I love to be of service. I’m a helper rather than a leader and this allows me to help other acupuncturists. I can help them lead by allowing them some stress free time off.
Finally, this allows me to practice acupuncture without the hassles of taking insurance. While I like hiking in the summer I LOVE skiing in the winter. I figure most people take their vacations in the summer so that will leave me far more time to do exactly what I love. I also have more flexibility on my hours as I don’t have to be married to my business in the way I feel tied to it now. Hopefully by being available to local practitioners they can feel some of the same relief because they can count on me if they need to take time off.
I’m becoming comfortable with this level of service. I’ve noticed that when we discuss our businesses, those of us who have smaller practices tend to think of ourselves as “less successful”. I know it was hard for me to give up the idea that a successful practice meant I was busy three or four days a week and booked solid from patients I, myself, had generated.
I see practitioners who are jealous of the success of other practitioners because they are busier. Rather than looking at themselves and what they are willing to do (or not do) to build a practice, they get bitter and feel like a failure. I think we each need to explore our relationship with our business. There will always be people for whom any business is just that perfect fit, allowing “everything” to fall into place and seem effortless. This is true of acupuncturists as well. The rest of us need to find our fit within our chosen area.
I don’t think anyone need be jealous of the success of another. While I’d love to be as well known and have as busy of a practice as Lisa Rohleder, I also know I have too many other interests that would have to be given up for me to work at that level. When would I ski? When would I blog? When could I sit down and write the stuff that I love writing for my other websites? When would I take photos? When would I design cards and websites? When would I just get to sit and read a good book that I really wanted to finish? As I look at those other things that are important in my life, I realize I don’t need or want to be as busy as Lisa. It may mean that I need to find other ways of bringing in some income but it frees me from that need to “compete”.
As a disclaimer, I don’t know Lisa Rohleder! I know she’s very busy and I’m familiar with her Working Class Acpuncture. I know her as an online presence. I’m using her not because I believe she has a one sided life that’s all about acupuncture, but because I’ve read her book that talks about her path to Working Class Acupuncture. I think she has a wide variety of interests and her life reflects that. Her practice and writing reflects who she is and what her strengths are.
Offering a small practice that is as much of a service to another practitioner and also offering a service to practitioners who need time off is a reflection of who I am and what my strengths are.
Next time you are tempted to be jealous of the success of another practitioner, really sit down and see if having what they have suits you. What would you have to give up to have that? Are you willing to do it? If so, go for it and see what wonderful things happen. If not, then consider those other things just as important and make your peace with not being ‘that’ busy.
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