“Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”
-Sylvia Plath
Clinicians should think like artists, not practitioners.
Too often, we speak in the same way, do the same things, and have the same message.
Wouldn't it be better to express your unique perspective?
But figuring out how you navigate as yourself, not as every other khaki-and-polo-wearing provider, first requires us to talk about money.
Straight cash, homie.
How much money do you actually need to have a life and career fit to you?
Personally,
I want to be able to pay my bills.
I want my kids to play the sports and activities they enjoy.
I want to take one vacation a year and buy coffee whenever I want.
I want to make enough during the year that I don't work the week of Christmas or the first Thursday of March Madness.
I need to make a certain amount of money to live the life my family and I want.
When I was at my last job, I realized I needed to treat 15 patients on my own to earn my current salary.
What a no brainer to go out on your own, right?
Once you figure out your number, you can build a schedule to achieve it.
What schedule works best for you and your life?
I've learned how I work best by burning myself out.
I wouldn't recommend that approach.
When I started my business, I worked seven days a week from dawn till dusk.
That's what you must do! (you think)
You book every inquiry and scatter together a schedule based on others' needs, justifying the need to "grind" to build your career.
And that works till fill out a caseload, but does little to build a fulfilling life if you aren't careful (I wasn't).
The only times I've seen true professional growth have been when I've had space in my schedule for movement, thought, and space. And if I know the number I'm shooting for, I can figure out how to make time and space in my schedule.
If you spent a few hours a week going for a run or ride at a beautiful location, would your professional life implode?
What seems like a luxury is an absolute necessity to figure out what you are here to make, to do, and to say.
You can't just lounge at the beach all day and expect good things to happen, but the intoxicating entrepreneurial drive is the same restless energy that causes runners to hobble into your clinic.
If I want to write this newsletter, produce a podcast, and develop resources and courses, I need space for nothing.
If I want to be a good husband, dad, son, and community member, I need space.
When are you at your best?
Every day, I write four words at the top of my planner.
- Train
- Thought
- Craft
- Family
I aim to move, have space for thought, work on my craft, and spend time with my family. Life and schedules dictate that some days I fill more of less of each bucket, but I aim to hit all four.
Here's when I'm at my worst.
When I'm constantly on my phone.
When I'm debating things with people on social media.
When I justify saying "yes" to everything.
If I want to put out my best work, I need a schedule that lets me be my best.
What do you want to put into the world?
Figure out how much you need to make.
Figure out what you want your life to look like.
Then figure out how YOU would do it.
You don't have to write a newsletter, record short-form content, or run in-person workshops. You could treat patients to the best of your ability.
Do it however you want.
Treat 60 hours a week.
Coach 20 athletes.
Drive Uber 5 hours a week.
Volunteer at a pet shelter for a half day a week.
How would you do it?
Sell treatment packages.
Only treat virtually.
Take off the full month of July.
How would you do it?
Treat in a full track suit with 80s music blaring.
Paint your clinic walls with graffiti.
Spend 2 hours a week at your favorite coffee shop.
How would you do it?
Nothing worthwhile is easy to build.
But if you know what you need and how you work best, you show up how you want.
If you know what you need and do it your way, you'll be able to live a life you love while providing a wonderful service to your community. If you speak to the things you care about, I guarantee you'll see professional growth.
Each of us has a unique story to tell.
So, how would you do it?
