What Feels Like Life and Death

I get tunnel vision. I get set on something and drive forward as if it’s the most important thing in the world. It feels vital. It feels important. It feels like if I don’t get this business thing out there on time or up to par everything will fall apart.

Y’all there’s so little in our lives that’s life or death except literal life and death. And so much, especially in the stressful business moments, feels like it.

As I write this, our friends in Texas are facing what feels like insurmountable repairs. Some of my practice-building members communities are devastated. Others are missing our scheduled groups to board up houses and move family members inland on the east coast. Myself, Dori Gatter, and Michael Formica and Donna Devaney request that you send money. We started a GoFundMe that will send money to the charities locals have identified as helpful. You can donate here. No amount is too small. If you’ve got $5 you don’t need, it’s $5 more than some of these families have.

As I write this, Hurricane Irma is barreling towards Florida. Four adults, a 2 year old and 2 cats from Miami may live with us temporarily and it makes me feel like I have some control somehow. Friends in West Palm are headed to our hometown in Georgia. My friends Kate and Katie from The Private Practice Startup have shuttered their windows. Friends on the coast of the Carolinas are lamenting their lack of flood insurance for their offices and wondering what’s to come. By the time this posts on Monday morning we’ll know how bad it is.

As I sit here hitting refresh on my CNN app, like the projection from 5 minutes ago is going to change, I’m clear that the pressure I put on myself in my business is wholly unnecessary. We get bound up as we invest energy, time, and money into our practices. It shouldn’t be your whole world, though.

I’m going to model imperfect action. I’m going to leave this less finished than usual because I need to focus on what’s more important: getting my daughter the tap shoes I promised, stocking the fridge for our guests, finding a mattress to borrow, loving on my family, checking in on my friends.

Don’t mistake what feels like life or death for the real thing. Do what you can. Know that whether you get client calls this week or not, it’s a part of a bigger picture.

P.S. I just realized this is posting on 9/11. Feels appropriate. Love your people, guys.

Allison Puryear is an LCSW with a nearly diagnosable obsession with business development. She has started practices in three different states and wants you to know that building a private practice is shockingly doable when you have a plan and support. After retiring her individual consultation services, she opened the Abundance Party, where you can get practice-building help for the cost of a copay. You can download a free private practice checklist to make sure you have your ducks in a row, get weekly private practice tips, listen to the podcast, hop into the free Facebook Group, and get help from Allison and a small group of new, close friends in Abundance Practice-Building Group. Allison is all about helping you gain the confidence and tools you need to succeed.