8 Deliberate Steps To Grow Your Medical Practice with Stacey Whitcomb LAc.
In today’s episode I am going to give you 8 intentional and deliberate practices to grow a soul fulfilling and successful Acupuncture practice.
Using Deliberate Practice To Grow An Acupuncture Clinic
In today’s episode I am going to give you 8 intentional and deliberate practices to grow a soul fulfilling and successful Acupuncture practice.
Having a vision for your future, your career and your personal life will help you stay aligned with your calling, contentment and goals. And it’s okay if it changes along the way, or ends because then you can gather the information and feelings for this new situation and create another path forward with another focused intention. If you live with intention you will be less likely to wake up to a practice ten years from now that you dread. Treating patients you don’t enjoy. Not making the money you would like or traveling the world like you always wanted.
Here is the magical pathway:
Ask yourself what you want.
Create a vision.
Set goals.
Create phases.
Outline action steps.
Be consistent.
Keep your head in the game. Spend time visualizing yourself doing it and what it looks like when you ARE there.
Celebrate.
Repeat.
In order to create a practice that you love and are in alignment with try this, but be flexible. Because things will change. Stay in tune and set quarterly appointments with yourself to touch base and make sure you still want what you are working towards. If an amazing opportunity comes along and it is in alignment with your vision but not part of the plan, grab it! Because when you get in alignment with your inner drive and self so does the universe. Accept the gifts. And when nothing is going your way and everything is an uphill battle. Re-evaluate. Is what you want in your highest good?
Be flexible.
Be consistent
Be curious
Enjoy the process.
Be kind to yourself
Be yourself.
Let me know how it goes!
If you enjoyed this episode be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!
resources
Mindset Monday: The Wounded Healer: In Medical Practice
You can be a great medical care provider, wounded healer, AND still help your patients. In this episode I identify 3 ways practitioners struggle and how to overcome these challenges.
Can you practice medicine as a wounded healer archetype?
As children we may have had to read the room before we walked thru it because we were physically or sexually abused by family. We might have learned to know how someone feels by how they moved thru the room or even opened a door.
We might recognize a parent or sibling on the edge of some sort of meltdown and found that if we do or say something special we could not only get “love”, but also change the potential outcome of that mood.
We develop “extra-sensory awareness” to survive our situation which later is VERY useful when working as a healer.
We develop “extra-sensory awareness” to survive our situation which later is VERY useful when working as a healer. I often just “know” what points to use. Especially if I palpate and touch someone. I often know when someone feels worse or better than they are letting on because i can feel it in my body. I can feel the second someone shifts when the needles are in because I can feel it in my body. This doesn’t just happen for me in clinic. This happens everywhere. But I use it in clinic. Because it is a gift. If I can keep my panic monster at bay and the imposter syndrome monster quiet, treating patients just flows for me.
But it is a double edged sword. We have to look for ways to allow those wounds, use our powers to help others heal, all while honoring our own ongoing process of not being perfect yet being perfectly lovable because of it.
Honor your own ongoing process of not being perfect, yet being perfectly lovable because of it.
We also need to understand that many humans who were also wounded do not become healers. They become people who wound. Because they were disempowered they crave control and power and often gain that by wounding others. As healers we need to understand that WE are uniquely gifted in helping those wounded wounders similarly heal their traumas and thereby potentially healing others instead of hurting them.
WE are uniquely gifted in helping those wounded wounders similarly heal their traumas and thereby potentially healing others instead of hurting them.
In my experience of working with other practitioners, and being a wounded healer myself i have identified :
Three ways Wounded healers go wrong in practice.
Overcompensation
New practitioners are especially vulnerable to this pattern because they often have a high level of imposter syndrome which is completely normal but our reaction because of our past trauma is not commensurate with the challenge. We tend to over give and try too hard. Or we become frozen and don’t perform the things we know will bring more patients and create more success.
2. Feelings of Low Self Worth
Why would anyone come see me?
I can’t charge that much!
I don’t put them on a treatment plan because I want to earn their trust first.(Letting them decide you are good enough.) I didn’t ask them if they wanted to reschedule.
I didn’t ask them for a google review even though they were SO happy about getting better.
I didn’t ask them if they had friends who might like my services.
I can’t start a practice, I don’t know enough.
You tend to get Stuck in perfection. It Feels like you are failing a patient even tho they are getting better.
AND….. I need to learn more before I can……
3.Have a great desire to help but have poor boundaries.
You give too much.
Share too much.
Care more than the patient does.
Burns out early on.
Thinks about the patient on personal time.
Studies for hours about one case.
Runs over appointment time to do one more thing.
Doesn’t collect no show fees.
Doesn’t have cancellation policy.
If any of this resonates with you I just want you to know that the majority of healers whom I have met have this archetype. It is very common so lean into it. You can learn how to do this.
I also want you to know that you can do both. You can help people heal while having wounds that you are still healing and some that you have healed.
You can help people heal while having wounds that you are still healing and some that you have healed.
Having this archetype, being this person means you likely are a kind, compassionate, empathetic, sensitive, person and have a special talent when you quiet your mind and all of your anxieties to know exactly what the patient needs. So, Know that this is going to be a process. Just like being in school for forever. Welcome to life school, again. I know it might be surprising and really catch you off guard, so listen in for some suggestions to becoming more resilient and developing the skills to do both at once.
Listen in for some suggestions to becoming more resilient and developing the skills to do both at once.
resources
Mindset Monday - How To Fill Your Practice By Defining Your Dream Patient
Are you trying to figure out how to “get yourself out there”? define your dream patient and you will know where to go.
mindset monday - are you trying to figure out how to “get yourself out there”? define your dream patient and you will know where to go.
Are you afraid that if you have a niche or choose a target market that you will, “miss out” on opportunities to treat patients? Does it feel counterintuitive to get super specific about the cases and people you love to treat? What about all of those other people who might need you or that you actually could treat? What about the missed opportunities to make money??! Especially when that is one of your number one goals right now. Make money = survive.
I get you! I made that same mistake. TWICE! Both as a Massage Therapist and again as an Acupuncturist. Know what happened? As soon as I got clear on what type of massage and what type of acupuncture I love to do and who my favorite patients are, everything clicked and I was making the money I needed.
Choosing your style and defining your dream patient IS the way to attract more patients to you.
In this episode I am going to cover three ways to shake out who you want to treat and then I am going to explain why this may be one of the most important decisions you make in the beginning.
YOU’LL LEARN
IN THIS MINDSET MONDAY EPISODE I SHOW YOU THREE WAYS TO IDENTIFY YOUR DREAM PATIENT AND THREE REASONS THIS IS GOING TO STREAMLINE YOUR SUCCESS.
DEFINE WHO YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE.
What character traits repel you?
Who drains your life force?
What types of cases do you dislike treating?
What are you not good at?
WHO WOULD MAKE YOU THINK, “OH MY GOSH! I CAN’T BELIEVE I GET TO WORK WITH THIS PATIENT!”
What characteristics do they have?
What are you treating?
What do you love about them?
CREATE A FILTER SYSTEM
Can you list the top five qualities your dream patient has to have in order for you to work with them?
Give a free 20 minute consultation to make sure that you and your potential patient are a good fit.
They must have at least 3 of the 5 qualities.
HOW THIS CAN PUSH YOUR BUSINESS ALONG…
If you have a target market you know where to find potential patients who are looking for what you have to offer. You know where they hang out, what organizations they belong to, what social media they may or may not use, what types of gatherings they may attend, what publications they may subscribe to and who they hang out with.
You can identify how they communicate with each other. Then you can teach them how to talk about their treatment. You can position your branding accordingly, you can randomly do yoga or hike with them, you can teach a class for their group, etc
You will become the go-to expert on this population and these people will trust you and want to come see you. They will notice that you have shown up in a way that speaks directly to them. They will feel understood. They will trust you. They will tell other thems!
CALL TO ACTION
The best referral source is word of mouth. If you enjoy the podcast, please tell your acu friends!
Mindset Monday - How To Set Business Goals
This podcast isn’t anything new or special. It is a simple prompt, a nudge and a reminder that in order to achieve great things you have to have a plan.
mindset monday
What if you could have exactly what you want in life? How will you get there? You can’t get from point A to point B without a map. Same with your life. This podcast isn’t anything new or special. It is a simple prompt, a nudge and a reminder that in order to achieve great things you have to have a plan. I encourage you to listen and then take action and begin planning. Have some crazy dreams and then have some boring rudimentary goals. This life of yours is your canvas. You get to choose. Set your intentions and then get into action. Then, fall in love with the process. Someday I want you to come back to me and say how your badass goals at the end of 2020 launched your dream!
you’ll learn:
In this episode of Mindset Monday I discuss:
How important it is to evaluate the past before you launch new goals for your future.
I do a deep dive on S M A R T goals. An acronym to help you process your goals and help you move forward.
The questions to ask yourself when you feel like quitting.
Should you share your goals?
Do you need a plan “B”?
Where you should start.
call to action
Schedule a couple hours to set your goals for the upcoming quarter or year.
Head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a review!
Mindset Monday -The Importance of A Vision Statement to Your Acupuncture Practice
In business, our VISION is our INTENTION. It is the seeing before the doing. It is about getting clear on where we want to go, how we affect our community, how we want to do things, who we want to attract and how we want to behave. It’s the voice that guides the internal workings of your company, whether that is just you, or your staff of 20 employees. It is the quiet OM of your business which unites all parts into a cohesive entity.
mindset monday
We talk about intention so often in Chinese Medical School. Prior to treating that patient you need to have a clear intention, and you get there by doing a full evaluation, diagnosing and then formulating a plan.
In business, our VISION is our INTENTION. It is the seeing before the doing. It is about getting clear on where we want to go, how we affect our community, how we want to do things, who we want to attract and how we want to behave. It’s the voice that guides the internal workings of your company, whether that is just you, or your staff of 20 employees. It is the quiet OM of your business which unites all parts into a cohesive entity.
you’ll learn
In this episode of Mindset Monday I discuss:
A quick review of Values, Mission Statement and redirection in case you want to start at the beginning.
What is a vision statement?
The top reasons you need a vision statement.
How to define your company vision.
Ben and Jerry’s provides an amazing example!
I break down my AcuSprout vision.
call to action:
How To Attract Your Dream Patient With Your Mission Statement
In this episode I help you create a mission statement that will draw your dream patient to your practice.
mindset monday
Are you having trouble making all of the decisions? There are SO many choices to make as a new practitioner? How do you stay focused and pick a path? How do you get patients in your door??!!
In this episode we continue to build the foundation of your future with a quick check in on the list of values you culled out Episode 006. Your values will help you make decisions and save your Spleen and time, in moving forward. Then we dive into your mission statement and why it is THE most important message on your website.
you’ll learn
How to use your values to create a mission statement.
The recipe to a great mission statement.
How it is going to draw your dream patients to you.
The four key elements to ensure it stands the test of time.
call to action
Send me your mission statement at hello@acusprout.com
How Values Create Efficiency
In this episode we talk about how to reassess and get clear on what is important in your life and why that is important in creating your dream career.
why values are like your gps…
mindset monday
In this episode Stacey queues up an exercise for you to explore your best life moment in order to find what you cherish. Those are the things that should guide your life. Those are the things you value. Those ARE your values. Get those dialed in and we will continue to line you up for your dream career.
you’ll learn
How to reassess and get clear on what is important in your life.
Why that is important in creating your dream career.
How it will help you make solid and efficient decisions.
Why this is such an important foundational tool in your life.
call to action
Go connect with AcuSprout on Instagram