Do You Want 2017 To Be Your Best Year Ever?
The biggest question every therapist has to answer when facing a new year isn’t “How?”
You’d assume it is, but I don’t believe it is!
The real question, the deeper question that’s underneath the what and the how, is “Why?”
Any therapist can explain what they do, some even can explain how they do it. But very few can clearly explain why they do what they do.
Maybe you desire to have more direction and control over your career and life in 2017, but why?
You might just want to step off the patient treadmill, not be shackled to physician referrals and insurance companies. Maybe you want to focus on your expertise, spend more time with patients in order to have a greater impact in their lives.
You might want greater flexibility in your schedule without having to deal with a boss who doesn’t appreciate you. Or struggle against an organization that values profitability above quality care and professional growth.
Perhaps you desire the deep satisfaction that comes from creating something from scratch, something with your stamp on it: something you can be proud of. Creating service or new program that helps improve people’s lives. And as a result, people value what you do and pay you for it.
For me, having my own business was the best opportunity for me to answer my why. I can summarize the main motivation in running my own private practice in one word:
Having my own business gave me the freedom to express my core values while doing the work I loved. Private practice offered me the freedom and control of my work, finances and personal life. Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy but I gave it my best shot at living out my personal mission statement.
Looking back on doing it for over 35 years I wouldn’t want it any other way. I know that many of you in private practice share the same feelings. It was never really about the money. The hassles and sacrifices of business ownership are worth it because of the why.
Being in business for yourself isn’t for everybody. Matter of fact most therapists won’t own their own business nor should they.
However, I believe every therapist should take ownership of their practice regardless of who gives them their paycheck.
Start 2017 By Answering Your Why
A new year is about a month away and you might be thinking about a change in your career. You might be dreaming about starting your own private practice. Or you’re considering a side hustle where you use your therapy degree to earn an easy $500 to $1000 while you work your day job.
Part of your DNA might be calling you to pull out all the stops to start your own practice next year. Whether that means you launch a part-time gig or start a private practice the choice is up to you. Whether it’s improving people’s lives, practicing your craft with excellence, or simply wanting to have personal freedom (or all of the above), you’ll need to come to grips with your big why.
It doesn’t matter if your goals for next year are within easy reach or you’re shooting for the moon. All you have to do is be honest with yourself and answer the question, “Why do I want to do this?”
Author Simon Sinek, an unabashed optimist, writes “your big why provides you with clarity, meaning and direction. It is a filter through which you can make decisions, every day, to bring your cause to life.” Sinek’s TED talk is one of the top five TED Talks of all time. Take a moment to listen to it right now, it will inspire you.
If you want to start off the new year in the right direction I suggest that you follow Sinek’s advice and discover your own why. On his website, Start With Why, he has several resources to guide you through the step-by-step process of learning your why. You might want to read his book, Start With Why during the holiday break to prep yourself for a fresh start to the new year.
I cannot think of anything more important than to create space in your calendar to learn why you are on this planet and grasp the unique contribution you’re to make in the world.
How Do You Rate Your Life?
You’ve no doubt heard about the importance of using outcome measurements with patients. Therapists are encouraged to measure patients functional status before our interventions. I’m sure you’ve heard: You can’t improve what you don’t measure. It’s certainly true in rehab, sports, and science but what about life?
How do you measure progress in life?
With patients, it might be a little easier because we can just use an Oswestry or Quick DASH assessment tool. But measuring progress in the health of your own relationships, or intellectual growth can be more difficult.
New York Times best-selling author Michael Hyatt has developed a tool that makes this whole process super easy–and it’s free. It’s called the LifeScore Assessment. Like many assessments, this one is self-administered. you read a series of statements that describe specific situations and pick the one that most closely aligns with where you perceive yourself to be.
The tool then calculates your score in each life area, adds them together and gives you an overall LifeScore. The whole process takes less than ten minutes. Once you discover your LifeScore, you can quickly see opportunities for growth and what is working for you.
Best of all, the LifeScore Assessment is FREE–but only for a limited time. So go take the assessment today!
Make 2017 Your Best Year Ever
For the past three years I’ve participated in Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever Coaching Program. He is releasing his all new 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever Coaching Program on 12/6/16 with some fantastic bonuses. Over 15,000 people have been through the program with some incredible transformation stories to tell.
If you yearn to make 2017 a breakout year for you I encourage you to go through his program. If you do I’d love for you to share with me your experience at heypaul@paulpotterpt.com.
It’s only open for a short period of time so if you want to check out his introductory videos then click the icon below:
Is Private Practice In Your Future?
You don’t have to spend another year frustrated that you haven’t achieved all you know your’re capable of. Instead, you can enter the new year with clarity, courage and commitment you need to reach your full potential. For some of you to make 2017 your best year ever might be going into business for yourself either full time or part time.
If you’re considering starting your own practice next year but don’t know if you’re ready I’ve created a business self-assessment tool for you, CLICK THIS LINK, to take the Biz Quiz. The quiz takes less than 5 minutes and will tell you everything you need to know about your readiness to start a cash practice.
The self-assessment covers seven key areas of business that are essential for a successful practice. I use a minimialist approach to helping therapists get started in business with the least amount of money and risk. It’s easy to take and I think you’ll find it very interesting.
To take the Cash Practice Biz Quiz, you will simply rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 in seven Business Success Predictors. Once you’ve taken the quiz, you’ll receive your quiz results. You’ll see your strengths and areas where you need to beef up your knowledge to take the next step towards business ownership.
If you have any questions or feedback about the Cash Practice Biz Quiz or with your results you can email me at heypaul@paulpotterpt.com.
Begin The New Year With Clarity On Your Why
I believe that your goals in 2017 shouldn’t be to do more stuff even if that stuff is on your bucket list. It’s not about fixing things that aren’t working right now in your life either. Our focus should be on doing more of what means the most to us and the people we care about. We should do more activities of significance not merely ones that have an appearance of outward success.
However, if you are starting the year by asking the wrong questions, if you don’t truly understand what’s important, then even the right answers won’t get you to the destination you’re shooting for.
If you want to be able to look back on 2017 and call it a success, I don’t know of any question that is more important than answering the question, Why?
So What’s Your Why?
Share your why is the comment section or on social media.
Paul Potter is a physical therapist and mentor who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife, who is also a therapist. They have four daughters. For more than 35 years he successfully managed his own private practice. He now shares his knowledge and experience through teaching and mentoring therapists who want to have their own practice.
He has authored On Fire: Ignite Your Passion with a Cash Therapy Practice and the Cash Practice From Scratch Course. His website PaulPotterpt.com and his podcast Functional Freedom are dedicated to helping therapists achieve professional and financial freedom. Connect with Paul on his website or on LinkedIn paulpotterpt. You can also get more free resources at CashPracticeFromScratch.com
Paul Potter is a physical therapist and mentor who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife, who is also a therapist. They have four daughters. For more than 35 years he successfully managed his own private practice. He now shares his knowledge and experience through teaching and mentoring therapists who want to have their own practice.
He has authored On Fire: Ignite Your Passion with a Cash Therapy Practice and the Cash Practice From Scratch Course. His website PaulPotterpt.com and his podcast Functional Freedom are dedicated to helping therapists achieve professional and financial freedom. Connect with Paul on his website or on LinkedIn paulpotterpt. You can also get more free resources at CashPracticeFromScratch.com
