Click the link for the  full-sized PDF version infographic: Launch a private practice infographic

When I can’t sleep this is what I do…

The other night I had a hard time falling asleep. I was excited about what had been happening with this blog, I was thinking about potential for growth, I’m looking at doing some sponsorship, and I keep getting great emails from people that are loving the podcast, articles, and resources. What is really exciting, is that as things grow financially, it means that I can spend more time making free things that improve the usefulness of this site.

As you will see in a few days, my monthly income went up again. As a result, I feel less pressure to create things that can sustain the site, like Google Ads, products, or ways to build some income, instead I am now focusing on content. Although great content has always been at the core, sustained growth over several months takes a lot of the pressure off!

The excitement of this growth has been keeping me awake lately. So what happened the other night?

Well, I had this idea of an infographic that visually takes you through the first year of creating a private practice. Here’s a picture of what I drew out when I couldn’t sleep.

What I wish I had

When I launched my counseling private practice in 2009 in Traverse City, MI (Mental Wellness Counseling) there was so much that I wish that I had known. I had been a 1099 at a place in Kalamazoo, that to me is still the gold standard. I learned so much there about counseling and creating an environment that keeps clients coming back.

With that said, I wasn’t on the business side. In 2009 I had moved to Traverse City without a job lined up, it’s amazing how the fear of homelessness, not providing for your family, and little to no food will get you out in the world making something happen.

For me, everything was on the line, I had to succeed!

I remember waking up and showering everyday and approaching the launch of my private practice as if it were my job. My wife was doing her internship in Occupational Therapy and we were living in my in-laws basement. I filed IRS paperwork, learned how to build a website, got business cards, and made A LOT OF MISTAKES along the way.

For example, my website looked like everyone else’s.

I used a gmail account and didn’t index my site so it never showed up in Google.

I didn’t know the value of a meal with a referral source.

My business cards had a gmail email rather than [email protected]

I wasn’t involved in local groups like young professionals or the Licensed Professional Counselors of northern Michigan.

I did a lot wrong and could probably be way farther ahead if I had a guide or coach through the process.

What that means now

As we together move forward, I am continuing to evaluate the best uses of my time (which you should do too!). Over and over I hear people talk about launching and improving a private practice. That is why I am focusing even more on the topics of:

How to start a private practice?

How to grow a private practice?

Tools to help a private practice.

Here are a few things I have been working on that will help you grow your private practice:

Podcast: The podcasts about how to launch and grow a private practice

LinkedIn Group: My new LinkedIn group Everything You Should Have Learned in Grad School: Marketing | Branding | Growing a private practice

Member’s newsletter:This newsletter is a weekly e-mail coaching you step-by-step through launching, running, growing, and thriving in private practice. CLICK HERE to sign up.

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