Last week, I wrote extensively on really taking command of the direction of your practice and your life as a powerful economic stimulus. In reality, it's all you have in private practice. There are some really simple ways to do this. But before we talk about that, here's an "Economic Summit" reality check-up.
If I told you, right now, there are doctors like you doing seven figures cash per year, would you believe me? If not, why?
Likely, it's due to a very limited worldview on what you can really accomplish with all the correct systems and tools. And far too often, this is so defeating, especially if it takes place early in one's career.
If I also told you Concierge MDs are collecting 10-15k per patient per year, cash, and these same patients gladly pay and, in fact, request that type of healthcare while also paying health insurance premiums, what does that say about how you value and price your services?
A better alternative is to use an Excel spreadsheet since it will allow you to graph it easily and tweak it in all sorts of ways. Some absolutely brilliant ways to look at life and practice in this brave new world. Yes, even in a tanked economy.
Well, here is another huge economic management tip.
Regular benchmarking of your results against your goals helps put you at the head of the class.
There exist a real easy technique to get this done. This tip alone might put another 10K in the income column this month.
The first thing to do is take your list of basic daily, weekly and monthly targets. Higher performing CEOs/CFOs do this daily. Use your white legal pad. But a better alternative for this one is to use an Excel spreadsheet, because you can graph it easily and tweak it in all sorts of ways.
My basic daily targets are: body weight, miles run or cycled, hours skied, services and income dollars saved. Yours might be completely different, as it is with everyone. You can actually do some fascinating things with these figures, but resist the urge to do so in the beginning.
Put your goals or targets, in bold letters, on one axis and simply enter your results on another. Save room for notes, photos, and maybe even video clips.
Then post this in an area where you are able to view it anytime during the day. In the office, maybe it's in your portfolio, which you pull out during the day, or simply hidden on your desktop or handheld. Just be sure to look at it, at least, once daily.
Here's why this is so powerful: Because it's a glimpse of right now.
A number of people who have trouble in setting goals find it easy using this technique. It keeps you in the moment, as well. For type A individuals, it presents a better way of dealing with "futurizing," which, some will argue, is an unhealthy psychological trait.
But to make sure you're not deluding yourself, if you use daily targets, they must be the correct fraction of the weekly/monthly/yearly whole.
Just by doing this daily exercise, some great things start to happen. Many times, I have found that breaking so many things in life down into daily pieces really simplifies accomplishment and helps move me forward instead of stalling or going into overwhelm.
Now, you are forcing yourself to look at your goals. In fact, now, you have actually set goals!
Next, you are inspecting what you expect, automatically!
And, finally, you are really taking advantage of a tremendously powerful principle.
That which can be measured, like your results, can be improved!
And herein lies the most powerful tip of all.
Constanntly improving your results and changing your goals to achieve your desires in any endeavor is the pinnacle of human accomplishment.
This single hallmark of a powerful life is shaping and molding that which we can control. It is creative energy harnessed. It is fulfillment versus frustration. Happiness versus resentment and regret.
When combined with all the other key components of Living and Practicing by Design™, it adds a totally new dimension to who and what you can become.
I wish you the best along your journeys!
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Dr. John Hayes, Jr. is an Evvy Award Nominee and author of
Living and Practicing by Design. To learn more about his unique approaches to private practice success, visit
http://perfectpracticeweb.com/ and register for a FREE CD and Info Pack.
