Mission Statements are Hammer Pants

I was at a business conference not long ago when someone asked about Mission Statements. The facilitator said something about them being so 1990’s. Almost everyone in the room laughed a little and nodded. “Oops”, I thought. I’m less business-y in a lot of ways than these folks and thought they were a staple. Timeless like a nice white button down. Apparently, Mission Statements are Hammer Pants.

The New Mission Statements

So what can we use to guide us in business? The facilitators next words we…

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Work When You Want

Work When You Want

As a full time worker with a part time practice I was used to the 8-5 then 5:30-7:30 plus a half-day Saturday work week. God, I read that now and feel totally overwhelmed by the idea of it, but at the time I just chugged along… for 5 years. 5 years, guys. That’s a long ass time to work that many clinical hours.

I entered full time practice with the belief that clients NEED evening appointments. It didn’t even occur to me that I could end at 5 and head home. So I built that fir…

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10 Myths to Bust About Using an Online Business Manager

Our common friend Jo Muirhead suggested Frances and I meet. On Skype, across the country, I was floored by her experience and what Frances is up to.  If you’re one of those clinicians that really struggles to get your business shit together, Frances is your woman. She’s was the director for a big counseling practice, managing the business side for the company. As the owner of My Solution Services, she is passionate about making our jobs, and thus our lives, easier so we can do what we do best. I…

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Tell Me What To Do

The Mastermind Group I’m in is comprised of 4 entrepreneurial women. We’ve all started two or more businesses. We’re fairly strong personalities. We would all identify as feminist and tend to have a healthy amount of confidence. I say this so the following sentiment is kept in context.

We want to be told what to do. Keep your mind out of the Fifty Shades gutter… not like that. There are parts of each of our businesses that we genuinely just want some expert to tell us what to do because we reall…

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Saying No In Your Private Practice

There are a million ways we can talk about boundaries in your practice, and I’m sure I’ll hit most of them at some point, but today I want to talk to what happens when we fall into scheduling and fear-based victimhood. Oh yeah, I used the V-word. Let’s own it.

Time

Here’s what happens: someone calls and seems like a really great fit. You have space available since you’re still building. You want to see this client. They insist that they can’t make the times you offer, so you stretch a little and …

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The Private Practice Roller Coaster Ride

There are two ways to ride roller coasters: holding on or arms in the air. The same can be said for the private practice roller coaster ride you are all on.

I know, you’re supposed to keep contained within your little car of metal and foam padding, but man the exhilaration sometimes causes even a rule follower like me to throw my hands in the air with a hearty fun-filled scream.

And there’s also the fact that they’re terrifying sometimes, and not in the fun way. Did you guys see that report of th…

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Private Practice & Your Life

Let’s talk about your private practice within the context of your life. Not how to fit your life around this entrepreneurial venture. Not what you have to give up in order to succeed. I hate that shit, as you know.

I want to make a few assumptions about you. You are a person with beautiful, amazing, interesting things going on. You have interests beyond counseling. You have reasons you want a more flexible schedule and more money. They don’t have to be grand, but how you want to spend your time …

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Creating Physical & Digital Space

Have you noticed what happens to your space as your life gets more hectic? Your house gets messier, your car starts to look a bit trashed, your desk gets covered with piles? Then it feels overwhelming when you come home to the clutter, drive to work in the clutter, open your office door to clutter. Life feels more chaotic. While I believe your office needs to be clean enough that it isn’t distracting to your clients, I’m going to make a case for your home and car to be cleanish as well. I swear …

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How and When To Be Professional in Private Practice

Part of the allure of having your own practice is creating your own rules: starting and ending your work days when you want, going on vacations without asking permission, getting away from dress codes and bureaucracy.  There are ways in which being overly professional hinders your practice, like with website copy. Sometimes people go a little overboard with their freedom and it can impact their relationships with their clients and their reputation in the community. Here are some guidelines to ke…

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When You Screw Up

It’s going to happen. You’re going to screw up somehow. You’re going to be well-intentioned but distracted or think you’re making the right choice and realize later that you were way off base. Whether it’s an expensive marketing blunder or double booking clients, you may have a momentary, strong desire to retreat back to an agency. Your inner critic may say something like, “See, I told you you’re not up to this!” Slow your roll. Let’s talk about it.

Simplify your organizational systems. I had 3 …

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