Here's what I hear from my participants when they first come to my programs:
"I want to create a business beyond private practice, but I'm already stretched. My life as it is takes up a lot of time and energy and I'm trying to fit in this new business around the edges."
Cramming more into a full life doesn't work. We don't have access to our most creative selves when we're burned out. Our best ideas don't usually emerge at the end of an eight or ten hour work day. Our best ideas come when we're rested and focused.
Folks in Rebel Therapist programs get intentional and creative about carving out time, money and energy for their new businesses because they take their goals seriously.
I'm gonna share some of the ways they make the next thing possible.
I want you to imagine tons of brilliant therapists and healers giving you this advice. Not everything here will work for you, but there's something here for you to try or recommit to.
Turn off all notifications from social media. Only go to social media platforms on purpose and do not scroll.
Put a lock on your door and do not accept interruptions from your household for particular time blocks.
Set up a work retreat, either by going away or by creating space and time at home.
Block out time on your calendar every day or at least every week for the expansion project and take that appointment as seriously as you would a session.
Go on more walks.
Identify the one most important next step to expanding your business, and DO that. Hint: It's not coming up with your brand images or a clever name for your business.
Commit to not refilling a spot in your private practice when someone leaves.
Guard your attention. Do not use it up on anything that doesn't matter.
Respond to email only once or twice per day.
Turn on do not disturb on your computer at all times.
Create an email autoresponder telling folks when they'll hear from you or why they may not.
Delegate or stop doing a time consuming household task.
Write down why you're expanding your business. Share your reasons with someone who will take your expansion seriously.
Raise your rates in your private practice. (This might create thousands of dollars this year without working more.)
Follow/enforce your cancellation policies. (This also might create thousands of dollars this year without working more).
Tell everyone close to you that you're focusing on an important project.
Tell everyone close to you about your income goal.
Completely unplug from all of your work for at least 2 days per week.
Sleep more.
Attend co-working sessions with accountability partners. Check in briefly and then work.
Create an end of work-day ritual so you can completely let it go and rest.
Meditate.
Create a focus playlist to play while you work on your expansion.
Use the Pomodoro Technique.
Only work four hours a day so that you only do the most important work.
Get more childcare.
Create a spiritual ritual and devote yourself to it every day.
Create a joyful and pleasurable exercise practice and devote yourself to it as often as works for your body.
Decide what your private practice schedule will be going forward and actually stick with that, even when it doesn't work for one of your clients. Really.
Regularly talk to someone who believes in your vision and in you. Borrow their confidence in you when you're feeling shaky.
Quit a committee.
Quit something else you don't want to be doing.
Don't sign up for any courses or programs until you've finished the ones you're in.
Please tell me what you're going to try or recommit to from this list. Tell me what else is working for you to carve out time, money and energy. I'll LOVE knowing what's working for you.