Pivot Your Practice To Flourish in The Future — Give Up on the Get Rich Schemes…Build a Sturdy Foundation For Your Practice Instead
I don’t know about you but I have certainly seen coach guru’s claiming earnings of many thousands, and they make it look and sound like it is very easy to do that. I have also seen some of the big names in personal development and self help displaying a lifestyle of ease and comfort, also claiming that it is within everyone’s reach. They claim it is doable by following their system, using their techniques and that it won’t take that long to be at the same place as they are.
Do you believe them? We’ve heard all the stories that just sound too good to be true. There is even a subtle invitation to feel bad and incompetent if you don’t achieve their level of success. You are too lazy, or not clever enough or have no determination and ‘stickability’ to really make it work. I am here to tell you they are wrong. They found something that worked for them and their personality — but that doesn’t mean it will work for you.
Not only that, whilst meaning no disrespect to the very genuine experts out there who managed to leverage their ‘genius’ into hard cash and a steady income there are also dozens of sketchy, “black hat” shortcuts being promised by others who merely want you to part with hard earned cash and bring profit to them. They only deliver heart ache and frustration — as do the gurus, although I do believe their intentions are very different.
My first advice: Skip all those promises that just seem too good to be true. Set up some kind of internal filter that just screens them out and doesn’t get caught by the enticing sales copy and the apparent answer to all your problems being held in front of you. Rather take your journal and make notes about the people and companies you admire and take note of how long they’ve been in business. Are they successful? What did they do to bring that about? Make no mistake it takes a great deal of determination to make a success of providing a service that also brings you steady, reliable income.
Of course, we also hear stories of businesses closing their doors; some after just a few years and others after much longer runs. But if you spend your time NOW mapping out your ideas and ways to pivot and so start to put a firm foundation in place so that no matter what happens in future, you’ll set yourself up for success and flourishing instead of failure, it will be time very well spent. Let’s explore just a few questions to get you thinking in the right direction.
1. Do you have an idea of what your options are? Basically, have you done your market research to determine if there’s a need for your particular coaching or therapy services? I have no doubt that a great many people can, and do, benefit from coaching and therapy services — but do you need to be available in a different way now to make yourself accessible? Do you need to target certain issues and problems people are having and come up with a valuable solution to help clients.
2. Do you have start-up money or need investors? Opening a service-based business is rather simple and doesn’t require much upfront investment but you also need to think about the “big picture” or your long term goals. Will you need to upgrade your equipment? Will you need state-of-the-art equipment or a simple computer upgrade? Do you plan to employ locals if you grow the practice — or will you outsource tasks to independent contractors? Do you have all your business paperwork filed correctly? Do you know what that paperwork should be?
3. Do you have a professional online presence? What does your website look like? If you haven’t started it yet, hooray! There are many ways you can get a good looking website up and published without spending much money these days. I used someone on Fiverr who was pretty good and very responsive and had a decent website up within 10 days.
Also look at all your social media profiles. Do they look similar, with current headshot photo and brand colours? It helps if you have a uniform look to all your profiles so that you are recognisable to people as they scroll through. Do your posts talk about your business and field of expertise or are you chatting with your college buddies? Look objectively at your social media and do an overhaul so your posts and images convey a professional, expert image. You may want to keep certain social media just for you and your buddies and other ones for business. There is no real ‘right way’. There is ‘your way’ and working out what you want and how it will reflect you is more time well spent. For instance, I like to keep my friends and family profile on Facebook as just about social me, but I have a group on Facebook and a business page there that are just about my practice and professional specialisms. My main business profile is on LinkedIn and the other social media platforms are not places I pay much attention to. You don’t have to be everywhere, now. You can build that up over time or just stick with the platforms you like and know and enjoy having the extra time!
4. Do you have a marketing plan? Yes, planning is a vital part of running a successful coaching and therapy practice. You shouldn’t look at your computer screen and wonder what to do next. You shouldn’t have to depend on the kindness of your friends and family to keep sending you business. YOU need a plan for finding those prospects and knowing what will attract them to you. The good thing is there is plenty of help out there but it can be hard to tell the nonsense from the commonsense in a very noisy market place. Ask around, get recommendations. Make a habit of giving yourself a few days to decide if you really want and need the help that you are being offered. This has to work for you — and it has to be from people who understand the world of coaching and therapy, not from generalists because this world of selling such a personal service as coaching or psychological help is not the same as setting up any old service business.
If you have the desire to succeed, you can certainly make it happen. Don’t be in a hurry, don’t be distracted by shiny objects and the latest fad, do start with what you have and pivot it rather than starting over with something completely new — unless that is what you want. Think carefully, find someone who can mentor and advise you, go cautiously but with determination and you will get there. Focus on creating a stable foundation for your business and continuously tweak your marketing plan to attract prospects.
Not a fan of planning? My quick and easy, adaptable planner is just what you need…
If you keep thinking about starting your own business but don’t know where to start, my latest planner is just the tool you need. “Create Your Additional Income in a Weekend” is designed to help you sort out what you want to do, what you can do to pivot and discover if it’s realistic. All within one weekend. I’ll walk you through how to plan prices, how to discover your Dream Client, and how to set up a marketing/social media plan you can use every day. Get started on the right foot with some research and soul-searching exercises until you have that solid plan in place ready to implement.
This is a series for coaches and therapists who are passionate about their work and their clients but struggling to find a way to make things work post-Covid as clients melt away and money becomes an issue for most people.
This is a time when most of us are scared. Nothing is known or predictable and many of us are dithering about what to do. In fact, this indecision is something we are all experiencing. Trouble is, it can turn into paralysis and that can become become a habit. And it’s a habit that will derail your business success with your practice. Therapists and coaches who are successful are people who have learned to do two things. One is be flexible enough to pivot their business to what will work now — and the other is to break through enough of the fear barriers to get productive again.
Need More Happiness, Freedom and Success? Join My Free Webinars… and my ‘In a Weekend’ Planning Sessions.
If you want quick and easy steps to setting yourself up for a safe and happy future doing the work you love, join me for the free webinars as a starting point. I usually give at least 5 tips for moving forward and implementing in ways that will move you forward. Each is about a certain angle on the issue. They, on their own will have an immediate effect on your mood and your outlook on life and your daily actions with your business. Get off the hamster wheel and take some time for yourself with my webinars, learn and act, learn and act — that’s the way to start flourishing. Join my list and be the first to know when I’m live online. https://forms.aweber.com/form/76/1704509576.htm
“Just imagine if the next 5 years is like the last 5 years? How are you keeping yourself financially secure, happy and living your life of purpose by helping other people people succeed?”
Elizabeth specializes in helping you Get Your Coaching or Therapy Practice Back On Track. Sign up for her highly-acclaimed free challenges and webinars to find out how to Pivot that Practice to FutureProof Yourself.
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