Here's Wishing You a Courageous New Year
Seven Resolutions to Break Inertia and Get Your Practice Moving
Courage is a personal thing...and we salute the doctor who called us about this time last year with his highly personal introspection. Then, as now, it was the season to reflect on the year past, and for individual and professional evaluation. This brief story-and we thank you for permission to share it-is worth retelling.
"It was a definite eye-opener," he said. "I just realized that I've not been in practice twelve years...I've been in practice one year, twelve times.
"Professionally, I've grown in training and experience. The economy is up and the stock market did well this past year. Home values appreciated.
"But as a business, my practice is financially flat again this year. I'm working more hours just to stay even. Costs are up, reimbursements are down. I'm determined to do something to make the new year better for my practice."
We salute this courageous practitioner with a hundred points for the self-diagnosis-but he also wins a million points for the courage to take action and do something productive. (Actually, his real reward was the pay-back of a financially growing practice.)
With a dash of seasonal philosophy, it's easy to understand that doing nothing produces nothing. It's really easy to stay put. It takes courage to start-and that's what can make for a different and better next year.
So if you've resolved to muster the courage to begin in earnest, here are seven easy things to help you begin. Simple stuff. Easy to do. And all tangible action items that you can do today. Right now.
Marketing Resolutions to Break Inertia and Get Moving Today
1. Start an account just for marketing. Write a check today, and use this account to diligently manage your marketing investment. It's going to take more than the minimum deposit to get things done right, but simply getting started is the dividend.
2. Take 4 minutes to seriously assess your practice. This will probably take less than 4 minutes and you'll consider 50 things about the business end of your practice that you have probably not thought about lately (or enough). There's an online marketing assessment - click here.
3. Start a plan. A really good plan will have goals, strategies and tactics-complete with item, action, budget and schedule. The blank page will forever remain blank until you begin. Start today with a list of your goals. (Goals alone are not a plan, but without a destination, you have no need for a map.)
4. Track the source of new patients from the first phone call. Without tracking, you can't calculate your Return on Investment (ROI). (No new patients calling? Revisit your previous resolutions above.)
5. Learn something new each month about marketing. This e-newsletter delivers something new every week. Pick one idea that's suitable to your practice, learn it and use it. Ask your staff to remind you and to help put the idea to work.
6. Repeat after me: "Marketing is an investment." Now say it again. If you're spending money on marketing and it isn't producing an ROI, stop now. Marketing is an investment that generates revenue-like a blue chip bond and the investment is your practice.
7. Call someone. Sort of a "marketing buddy system;" you'll get further with sound advice and accountability. Call a coach, start a mastermind group. Call us or call someone else if you prefer-but don't go it alone. (This number is toll-free: 888-679-0050. Email is free also info@healthcaresuccess.com).
In marketing, doing nothing at all is the Number Two biggest mistake. (The biggest mistake is doing too little, but that's the subject of another article.)
So if you're comfortable with your comfort zone, these resolutions are not for you. But if you'd like the New Year to be a better year, please begin today with any item.
You only need a serious willingness to succeed...and the courage to start.
Have a prosperous new year.
|
