What defines “Success”?
We all strive to have a successful practice. But what does a “successful practice” mean? At this time there are more practice management courses and coaches available in our field than ever. This is a good thing! We need this. Because most people in our field:
1️⃣Have never run a business.
2️⃣Have never previously had to charge for their work.
3️⃣Have no sales experience.
4️⃣Have an uncomfortable relationship with money (this one isn’t limited to our profession).
Previous to this uptick of Chinese medicine-focused courses, we pretty much had to rely on education geared toward chiropractors. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it did set a foundation for defining a successful clinic.
From what I’m seeing at this juncture in the profession, practice management courses and coaching are focused on going BIG. And seeing A LOT of patients. And having A LOT of treatment rooms. With the mindset of helping A LOT of patients. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. We actually need big practices like this because they provide employment, they can serve a lot of patients, and their large marketing efforts get the word out about Chinese medicine to the public which benefits all of us. I’m actually in awe of people who have the fortitude to do this, and at one point I wanted to be one of them. Unlike other health professions where the clinician needs to be one-on-one with the patient for the entire treatment time, we have the capability of being able to see multiple patients at a time without sacrificing quality of care. So the POTENTIAL to have high patient visit numbers, scale big, and generate a ton of revenue is very much there for the taking. But even still, running a big clinic doesn’t resonate with everyone. And unfortunately, some course programs take things to an extreme pretty much telling you that you ain’t shit unless you go big. That small-scale clinics are hobbies. Or that you’re selling yourself short and leaving money on the table if you’re not maxing your clinic to the industry’s fullest financial potential. This sets clinicians that may be low on confidence or high on ignorance up for feeling pressured to build and operate their clinics a certain way. A way that doesn’t vibe with authenticity for them. And when their hesitation or discomfort is vocalized they are told that it’s just their scarcity mindset that they need to correct and push through. Now I’m not saying that some of these programs are entirely without value. Many people in our field absolutely need a swift kick in the pants, need to charge their worth, and take authority in their own clinics. But the natural progression from this is not necessarily to go big or go home. Success is mutually exclusive to the size of your clinic.
I’m here to assure you that a small-scale practice is a VALID practice. It IS a good business model. Success is not defined by a specific revenue, the number of patient visits, how many treatment rooms you have, or how many employees you have. Or whether or not you even have employees. There are MANY ways to be an entrepreneur. If you just felt a big weight lifted off your shoulders after reading that… great! That’s what I was hoping for. After 13 years in this field I have a sense that people are actually seeking permission to have a kick-ass practice that is big enough. So for what it’s worth, I’m giving you that permission. If your vision is to do what you love that generates enough to meet your needs, then rock that shit!
To be clear, I’m not talking about keeping your practice small when it is rooted from a place of scarcity or fear.
If you’re staying small because you hate money, you hate capitalism, you hate charging people, etc. then you are operating from a place of scarcity and fear (and a lot of hate). It’s an unsustainable way of going through life that will only generate bitterness, cause you more suffering, and it will be reflected in your practice. If you’re staying small as a way to avoid discomfort or challenge, then you’re just hiding. Discomfort and pain are required for personal, spiritual, and professional growth. Can you honestly say that you’re fulfilling your true purpose if you yourself are struggling to meet your own needs? When we talk about operating with intention and purpose, that is not meant to be at your own expense. You can help your patients without being a martyr. Even charitable organizations and non-profits know when and how they have to scale in order to continue their purpose.
“Success” is subjective and it’s entirely rooted from what YOUR personal goals are. So what’s your idea of success?