Being a consultant is a whole lot like being a detective I imagine. We spend a whole lot of time looking at situations that have gone wrong too. 

Both business and of course personal issues are common to us all and often amplified by the rigors of the modern private healthcare practice. 

There is of course absolutely no shame in this because the reality is the more we fail, the more successful we can ultimately become. So, some failure indeed is a great teacher if we pay attention.

On another scale, though massive failures can still happen, they are very costly and very often preventable. 

But how? One of the key skills DPC docs ultimately acquire is full CEO functionality. But it is a different journey for everyone. With less business experience is possible to wait too long to make critical decisions. 

I know I have done this and surely paid the price!

The good news is that it does NOT have to be this way! I learned to always have a consultant plus more experienced colleagues to go to when tough decisions must be made.

The best CEOs in any business will tell you that continually looking at business trends, tracking and knowing key numbers combined with sensing unease and acting accordingly are three things more responsible for massive successes than any other traits. 

Med school and residencies have with rare exception provided us with the business skills and management training that today’s private practice requires. 

But there is a key strategy that both veterans and new graduates alike can all benefit from.

That is regularly rereading and updating our own written game plan. When we do this, it is extremely important not to be timid, and push ourselves. 

This is why you went into private practice right? 

To be happy and successful your practice design MUST be based around the lifestyle you really want for yourself and those you love! One of the worst things we can ever do in life is try and live someone else’s.

Because of the natural stress of caring for sick and suffering humanity, unless we build in lots of fun and a superior financial reward you will never have the life and practice of your dreams. 

And you know what? 

It really can be this simple to build a compelling future or turn things around if you are just not headed where you know you could be! 

So do like all the great CEO’s do and have dedicated time at least once a month to really reflect on where you at, where you are going and ask for help when you need it.

In reality, this is the essence of Living and Practicing by Design™.