Practice Pointer

Treat Your Practice Like Your First Child


I was privileged to hear Rick Markson’s presentation during our recent Power Hour teleconference in August 2011. On that call, Rick provided a model that will certainly help others to see their practices differently.

Many of us have experienced being handed our first child, and regardless of how prepared we think we are, it can certainly be a challenging experience. Yet the rewards for caring properly for our child are immense. Rick suggests that we look at our practice as if it is our own child.

When a child doesn’t get what it needs it will cry. Similarly, our practice will falter when it does not receive what it needs. Like our child, it needs one of three things:

1) Food: What do you need to “feed” your practice? If you don’t have it or can’t afford it, what do you have to do to make it happen? For our child, we would do whatever it takes. We need to do the same for our practice…just make it happen.

2) Love: We don’t necessarily love every moment of being a parent but we would never lose sight of our unconditional love for our child. Be there physically for your practice and clients when they need to be loved and nurtured.

3) To be changed: What are we tolerating in our practice, and what do we need to change to freshen up the feeling in the office to move forward? Look for the possibilities of what needs to be updated or upgraded.

Caring for and providing your practice with its basic needs will allow your practice to grow and develop into its full potential.