Prepare Yourself for The Best 2017 Your Practice Has Ever Seen

It’s about twenty minutes after eating this amaaaazing vegan burger at one of my faaavorite SF diner’s-

And I am MISERABLE.

My stomach is distended. I can barely hold my eyelids open. I’m on the verge of passing out. Somewhere, far in the distance, I hear someone asking me a question, but all I can do is mumble incoherently, wondering silently, “Why, Tiffany-of-45-minutes-ago …why have you done this to me again?”

Because the truth is – it wasn’t the first time I was experiencing a carb overload from eating that very same delicious vegan burger. I’ll admit, it wasn’t the second time either. Okay, okay! In fact, it wasn’t even the 15th time.

And yet, there I was, finding myself in the exact same misery I had experienced so many times before.

It wasn’t until I took some time to reflect on this state of utter despair post-delicious-burger that I was able to resist the temptation. The desire to scarf that burger down (and fries. Did I mention there were delicious fries?), was detached from the actual consequences of that behavior. It took a linking of thought/emotion (“I want that delicious burger.”) with the reality of the consequences (“I wish I was dead.”) before I was finally able to happily cease and desist from partaking in that particular vice. The consequences weren’t worth the pleasure.

As therapists, we know that examining the past isn’t about blaming our parents, or selfishly indulging in our own fascinating lives. It’s about taking a close look at what worked and what didn’t, so that we can move forward in ways that allow us to use these lessons to excel.

Yet, when it comes to our businesses, we therapists often avoid strategically reviewing the year behind us and using this information to help us level up in the coming year.

Why?!

As a therapist who accompanies clients on this journey, you know that reflecting on our history can bring guilt, disappointment, anxiety and shame. These feelings are often overwhelming and without the support of a therapist, many people simply find themselves stumbling into old, painful patterns over and over again.

So, while we’re skilled at taking stock of our personal histories via therapy, it’s no wonder that we avoid taking a close look at our private practices. It can feel staggering to look back over 2016 and see the ways you didn’t plan for growth or didn’t stick to the plan you created.

• Maybe you accrued some debt, because it felt easier than raising your fees.
• Perhaps you said “yes” to someone else’s vision – like volunteering with a local organization – rather than saying “yes” to investing time in creating your vision.
• Maybe you didn’t follow through with setting aside weekly time to focus on marketing your practice so you could reach the clients you are really passionate about serving.

A lot of us therapists are the first in their family to attempt to create businesses in an emotionally integrated way. And many of us would like to leave the past waaaay behind us. When it comes to our businesses, shame about our actions or lack thereof, fear of what we might discover about ourselves and frustration about our ‘failures,’ keep us from taking a hard look at our private practices.

But we also know that our histories, our past “mess-ups,” are gifts. They have so much to teach us and will ultimately allow us to completely and utterly kick ass.

But only if we open them up and take a good hard look.

Over the next four weeks, I’m going to walk with you through 2016 and help you discover what your behavior, thoughts and feelings have to teach you so that you can set your business up for a super radical 2017.

When you feel like you’re going through this alone, the fear can be overwhelming. This kind of work takes a community. I encourage you to find a colleague buddy to join you. This week, I’ll also be kicking off a month-long series for my subscribers with lessons, worksheets and videos that will help you create a plan for the first 90-days of 2017. If you want to join us, click here.

This week, we start with your income for 2016.

Grab a notepad. Grab a pen. Let’s see what the reality of this year was, so we can understand where and how you can do things differently in 2017.

1. What was your total income from private practice in 2016?
2. What is the annual income you need to bring in in order to thrive in your daily life? (Not sure, download this worksheet!)
3. What is the difference between your actual earnings for 2016 and the revenue you want based on the worksheet above?
4. Was your full fee in 2016 in line with what you needed in order to reach your annual revenue goal?
5. Did you charge your full fee for all incoming clients?
   1. If not, what feelings, beliefs, thoughts kept you from doing so?
6. Did you see the number of clients you needed to see in order to reach your annual revenue goal?
   1. If not, what kept you from doing so?
   2. What programs, individuals or communities could you strategically invest in to increase your referral base? (Hint: While our therapist communities are awesome – they are not usually where our clients hang out. Invest time in those places where your client spends her time.)
7. How do you feel as you write down your answers?
8. What are three – just three – actions you could take next year that would bring you closer to your goal.

Now the good part! Share these answers with a trusted friend. Find someone who is open and eager to provide critical feedback in a kind way.

Got a question – let me know in the comment section below! And, if you want to join me on, not only the reflection part, but also the goal setting part, sign up here to join me and over 600 other therapists for the December Challenge!

 

Photo Credit: bowie15, Ion Chiosea, chiru

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