Feature Article:

Back to Basics for Success in 2009

By Shelley Simon, RN, DC, MPH, EdD
Founder, Beyond Practice Management

Most years, the turn of the calendar brings with it renewed energy for making resolutions, generating plans, and setting ambitious goals. It’s a time when we are usually hopeful, optimistic, and excited about the idea of a fresh start. I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that this year is notably different. With the downturn in the economy and so many having lost so much of their net worth due to the decline in the stock market and real estate values last year, the new year seems to be weighed down with uncertainty, worry, and a feeling of being “behind” even before 2009 is fully underway. Still, the annual transition offers an opportunity to reflect, review, and consider what is most important for the year ahead.

In part because of the uncertainty and challenges that this year is likely to present (dicey economic outlook, new administration in Washington, healthcare reform that may or may not happen), I’m encouraging my clients to get back to basics in 2009 by selecting a small number of important goals and giving those few goals their full attention. Now, perhaps more than ever before, it is critically important to step into the new year feeling grounded and holding a vision that is connected to personal values. Being clear on what you can and cannot control (and working on what you can) is a useful strategy for coping with the anxiety associated with navigating the unknown. Setting a small number of important goals and working toward them in the coming weeks and months is one way to stay focused and weather any storms that may come your way this year. If this sounds appealing, here’s a simple plan to get you started.

Prioritize. If you are like most busy professionals, you have a lot to juggle at work and at home. Start the goal setting process by making a list of the main areas of interest in your life and then prioritize the list according to what you most want to focus on during 2009. Your list may include some (but probably not all) of the following:

• Primary relationship
• Children
• Extended family and friends
• Career, practice, business
• Personal finances
• Personal health and fitness
• Leisure time, hobbies, recreation
• Community service
• Religious/spiritual activities
• Home and personal environment
• Lifelong learning

Set one primary goal for your top three or four interest areas. It’s tempting to make a long list of goals for each interest area, but in the name of simplicity and success, resist that urge. Instead, choose a small number of goals that, when achieved, will be make a big difference. As you stay focused on your most important goals, you will likely notice and enjoy some positive “side effects.” As you make your plan for this year, ask yourself: What goal, when achieved, is most likely to have positive side effects and thereby have the greatest impact on my life? Here are two examples that show how to phrase powerful goals (i.e., they should be specific, measureable, and have a due date) and demonstrate how working on important goals can have positive, spinoff benefits — sometimes even before the goal is fully realized.

Example One

Example Two

Map out your first few steps and take action. Keeping the end in mind, but without fretting over every single action necessary to reach that end, map out the first few steps you need to take toward success. For example, if your goal is to increase your cash-based services, your first few steps might be scheduling lunch with a colleague who recently did what you are planning to do, prioritizing a list of insurance companies to notify that you will be going off their provider list, and contacting your graphic artist about mocking up a new ad or brochure. If your goal is to take a ski holiday with friends, your first steps might be inviting them over for dinner to talk about where to go, researching resorts online, and letting your office staff know which week next December you will be away. The idea behind taking the first few simple steps is to avoid feeling overwhelmed and, at the same time, to get into action.

Build in accountability. Don’t let January come and go without discussing your goals with someone — your spouse or significant other, office manager, a close colleague, or your coach. The simple act of sharing your plans will make you more likely to follow through. Alan Deutschman, author of Change or Die, was quoted in a New York Times article recently saying that one of the mistakes people make when they are attempting to change some aspect of their life is to try to do it on their own. If you have trouble staying on task, prioritizing, managing your time, or tend to procrastinate, then seriously consider engaging a coach for at least the first few months of the year. One way or another, build in some method to stay accountable to yourself and at least one other person as you work toward your most important goals this year.

Indeed, 2009 is likely be a challenging year in many ways for many people. But uncertainty often comes with its own positive side effect: the opportunity to reassess, learn, and grow. Do your best to keep your personal situation in perspective. Avoid unproductive worry by focusing on what you can control. When problems arise, address and solve them as quickly as possible without becoming emotionally overwrought in the process. And work diligently — step by step — toward a few very important goals as a way to maintain your sense of optimism and hope for the future. Good luck and happy New Year.

Special Offer:

Jump Start Your 2009 Goals

Are you ready to get back to basics and achieve your most important goals in 2009? One-on-one coaching can help. And to make it easier for you to get started, I have three special offers for new clients who sign up for coaching program before January 31. Which offer works best for you?

(1) 10% off the usual fee for a three-month private coaching package, which includes initial intake and assessment, weekly hour-long coaching sessions, and e-mail contact between sessions to help keep you on track. This offer also includes one private coaching session for your practice manager or other designated staff member.

(2) 15% off the usual fee for a six-month coaching package, which includes initial intake and assessment, weekly hour-long coaching sessions, and e-mail contact between sessions to help keep you on track. This offer also includes two private coaching sessions for your practice manager or other designated staff member.

(3) 10% off an on-site staff/practice evaluation or custom workshop for your staff when you sign up for a six-month coaching program.

The first step in deciding whether coaching can help you achieve your goals is to request a complimentary, introductory consultation. When you schedule this session online you’ll be asked to answer several through provoking questions as a way for you to: (a) become clear on what your most pressing issues are; (b) think about what you would like to get out of our conversation; and, (c) convey to me how I can best help you. To request your consultation, please click here.

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Read Dr. Simon’s Latest Column in Dynamic Chiropractic

For more ideas about how to have a successful 2009, read Dr. Simon’s most recent columns from Dynamic Chiropractic.

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