One thing about starting a business I’m finding is that it’s damn hard. (who would of guessed? How many first year business fail?)

There are high points when you are able to touch more lives and help more people. Then there are low points when it’s quiet and all you hear is crickets. This is widely known with therapists and other mental health professionals as summer tends to be a lull, some summers more than others. In fact, speaking to another professional in the health industry that works with athletes, they said their schedule was very quiet the last month or so, I’m not alone.

The low points of starting a business makes your stomach churn. You have sleepless nights, experience self-doubt, imposter syndrome, you have thoughts of giving up and moving on. So much like what happens when an athlete plateaus or has a set-back. They ask, ‘what’s wrong with me?’

Nothing is linear. Improvement happens in short bursts, sometimes declines or plateaus, but never, ever, straight up.

This is where it helps for anyone to go back to the “Why.” Go back to your personal values. What resonates for you?

The ones that resonate for me are self-reliance, compassion, adventure and challenge. Keep going back to your vision and mission.

It’s okay to edit it. Be flexible.

Why don’t you go back to corporate?

Someone asked me today if I’d even consider going to a part-time job in corporate. It goes back to the value of self-reliance. Some would say that’s stubburn. Maybe it is. Maybe it’s foolish. But if I don’t stick to it how will I ever know?

Now self-reliance and independence doesn’t mean I’m strickly on my own, I know better. Connecting with other therapists, supervision, and community are KEY. That’s separate from working for someone else who may dictate all the rules and quite honestly limit the care I’m able to provide in the way I’m comfortable doing. It limits my freedom.

Vulnerability

There are always two sides of the coin. One side is the juicy goal. The values, mission and vision you have. The otherside is the vulnerability and discomfort you’re going to experience ‘going for it and digging in.’ The more you lean into it the scarier it gets, but BOY the rewards are endless, right? The people I’ve met in the last ten months, the clients and athletes I’ve worked with. Seeing people grown and change. Then there’s my community that I built outside of a corporate world, people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. People I’ve reunited with. It’s beyond joyful. Those are long term rewards. Quitting would be a short term reward but long term consequence. I’d postpone or never find out what the end game is in this practice. Then, easily, another twenty years could go by.

How willing are you to experience vulnerability and discomfort?

Giving Up

Through the years I’ve seen so many people give up on their goal. Giving up on their vision because it’s really uncomfortable. They experience failure as bad. The risk is too terrifying to stomach. Truthly, I should probably be more afraid this risk is really high. But, I hesitated for too many years, just keeping my foot in a corporate world and never fully jumping in until a layoff at Anthem BCBS forced my card. I could have stayed in another position. I could have applied for a position higher up.

But that’s not what was calling me.

That’s not what or who I want to stand for.

Opportunity to Learn and Grow

Digging in and staying the course in Leadville.

Therapists are trained as therapists. Not in marketing or business. That’s not an excuse, that’s just a knowledge deficit. With that defecit comes opportunity to learn. To grow. I’m not of the opinion that our mindset is fixed. Just because I didn’t learn this in school doesn’t mean I can’t learn it now. I don’t aim to become a marketing professional or get an MBA, but I’m going to do my best to build my own knowledge base to move foreward. That may include asking for help when I need it! That’s also taking risks. Leaning into the discomfort of putting my face on social media or writing a blog no one will ever read.

Stay the Course but Be Flexible

I know the path isn’t easy. It could potentially get worse before it gets better. It’s never clear what’s around the next corner. Being flexible and seeing other options in the scope of ‘self-reliance’ is helpful and in everyones interest. On August 17th 2024 I’ll be in-network for Aetna, and if the need arrises I’m open to joining other networks if our values align. If I need to be more flexible I will, only in the interest of other personal values. But I know in my heart of hearts that staying the course and keep moving forward, acting on my personal values is what’s going to get me to wherever I’m going.

It’s in the execution and action where the good stuff lies. Like an ultramarathon I don’t know what the outcome will eventually be, but I plan to keep digging in and staying the course.

If you like what you’ve read please share it, if you’d like help ‘digging in’ and going the distance please reach out to me here.

Keep Digging In