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Do you feel fulfilled in your current job? Can you take the leap and experiment with new ventures? Will you finally make the switch from your full-time job to investing in yourself and starting in your practice?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok speaks with Christine Willing about how to change from being an employee to a group practice boss.
Podcast Sponsor: Slow Down School
Meet Christine Willing, M.Ed.
Christine Willing, M.Ed., Licensed School Psychologist is the Founder and CEO of Think Happy Live Healthy. In 2018 she left her job working in the schools and began her own business with the mission to empower her clients towards change utilizing psychological therapy, movement, and creating a healthy food lifestyle. Today, Christine leads a team of 20 therapists on a mission to help others lead happier and healthier lives.
Visit Think Happy Live Healthy and connect on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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In This Podcast
- Realizing that something has to change
- Finding your first 10 clients
- Overcoming the new challenges of hiring
- Christine’s advice to new group practice bosses
- Christine’s advice to private practitioners
Realizing that something has to change
I loved being a school psychologist … I enjoyed the work [of] getting to help people every day, but it quickly got to a point where it was easy to feel burnt out. I was working crazy hours all day with no breaks. (Christine Willing)
Christine struggled to get to the root of the issues with the kids that she worked with, as the system was designed for a quick 20-minute recovery and back to class, instead of healing the deeper problems.
I wasn’t getting to do the psychological work that I loved [which is] involved [with] empowering clients and changing clients. (Christine Willing)
So, Christine started thinking and experimenting with many different ventures and new ideas before she realized that she wanted to stay in psychology but work on her own terms.
Finding your first 10 clients
Run the numbers, because you probably do not need as many clients as you think you do to make a good starting salary in your new practice.
- Use your network: make waves within your existing network, and reach out to people to let them know what you are now doing.
- Get involved in the community: go to community events to meet people, find connections, and get your name out.
- Build a website: get your SEO up and running as soon as you decide you want to start a practice.
Overcoming the new challenges of hiring
I never wanted to be one of those practices where you grow too quickly or you lose sight of your mission, so it seems like it’s been a lot in five years, but it has been a slow process. (Christine Willing)
- Have your systems set up
- Put processes in place
- Hire the right types of people that align with your values
You can smooth over the process of hiring and transitioning from a smaller practice to a larger one by focusing on hiring the right people.
The bigger you grow, if you do it in the right way, you’re still following your mission and purpose but you’re able to help people in so many more ways. (Christine Willing)
Christine’s advice to new group practice bosses
1 – Research leadership: learn things about how to lead and be a great team leader, because it is a skill you can develop.
2 – Learn about your leadership style: how can you connect with your team and help them connect with you?
3 – Understand your hiring process: practice authenticity to retain the company’s values and to help you to hire people that resonate the most with you.
4 – Try new things: do not be afraid to try new things and to put yourself out there.
Christine’s advice to private practitioners
It is easy to get bogged down with the day-to-day work, so remember the reason why you are doing this work.
Do an audit of how you are spending your time once a week or month, and then create the time to do the things that you want to do.
Useful Links mentioned in this episode:
- Slow Down School – Sign up today! Schedule a call with Joe to discuss if this is for you.
- Visit Think Happy Live Healthy and connect on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
- Find out more about Group Practice Launch and Group Practice Boss
Check out these additional resources:
- How Multitasking Scares The Money Away with Connie S. Falls | PoP 714
- Apply to work together
- Sign up for Next Level Practice — Cohort Open!
- Events – click on the event’s dropdown
- Sign up to join the free webinars and events here
- Podcast Launch School
- Practice of the Practice Podcast Network
- Free resources to help you start, grow, and scale
- Apply to work with us — a decision-making matrix for your next steps
Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners that are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
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