Here's how a small practice is an ASSET

People sometimes think it's a problem if they have less than full-time hours to work on their business and deliver their services.

Especially when your kids (or other lifestyle factors like a health condition) need your daily care and attention.

I know I used to!

In fact, this belief used to drive me to squeeze what felt like 12 hours of work in a 5 hour work day.

That's when I realized I was going about it all wrong.

A small boutique practice is only an asset when you do small, the right way and think bigger then your perceived limitations.

Let me explain...

One way of thinking about how much time, energy you have for your business (marketing, client care, all of it) has you feeling like a victim and at the effect of your life.

I don't have as much time!

I can't/don't want to travel as much!

I don't have as much energy as I used to!

I can't stay up late anymore!

My kids kept me up for 3 days straight! (This literally happened last week! Not good.)

And if you pause long enough to recognize how these thoughts are influencing how you feel, it can dampen your resolve to thrive in business.

Even if you don't have a family life, or your kids are grown, you can also feel reluctant to give up that precious work-life balance that you envisioned would come with a coaching business.

But I've come to see this quite differently and it's become an integral part of the Happy Little Practice Method.

The #1 way a small, but mighty practice is an asset for your focus and business (and family life!) is this:

You develop little toleration for B.S.

Your own B.S.

And in the B.S. of your potential clients.

Here are examples of your own B.S. that you rise above when you go small, and think big...

If I only have 25 hours to make it all happen, then...

You create some wicked good boundaries to make sure you know exactly how to use your time, because you don't have the wiggle room to goof off on Facebook or endless hours to recover from bouts of on and off again marketing sprints that require lots recovery time...

You make sure your marketing is simple for you to see through because you don't have the patience (or time!) for a bunch of half baked marketing strategies that dilute your focus...

You make sure your message is on point and solves a real problem, because you don't have the luxury at waiting for a niche to magically land in your lap...

You basically get over your self really fast, and start making decisions.

Why? Because you don't have the time to waste.

At least if you have to earn a serious income.

Here are some examples of the potential client BS you force yourself to get over as well...

No convincing. When a potential client starts to tell you why they can't hire you, before they've even spoken to you, you say okay, but I work with people who want to do this work and solve the problem I solve, and move on.

No people pleasing. When a potential client compares what you do to what others offer (pricing, structure, coaching style), you're not interested nor are you defensive nor do you engage in convincing. Offering a service based solution is not about people pleasing. You understand that client engagement is a lot like dating. If they need to think about it or go date other people first, they're not ready for you.

No red flags. You do not ignore potential clients who show up late for their first call with you or call from "on the go", or seem to be chronically disappointed in others, or can't remember why they're calling you, or didn't do their homework before they get on the phone with you and other situations that feels like a "red flag" to you. You understand that how a client is from the get-go is how they always will be with you throughout the coaching relationship.

No excuses. Potential clients who tell you they can't afford it before even speaking to you... (okay then, why are you calling me?) When I didn't have any money, I just went to the library and used what I have. Or signed up for stuff that was within my budget and did the work. You understand that there will always be folks who can't afford what you offer, and that's okay, because there are other ways for people to help themselves.

Essentially, you develop standards.

Standards of who you work with.

Standards of how you work.

And you uphold them.

It's not about being inflexible, it's just about having standards that allow you to be YOUR best and do YOUR best work.

Your 25 hour work week must be worthy of your time and attention.

And it must be a positive influence in your personal life.

Or else why bother putting in the sweat, time, energy and personal growth on steroids that a thriving practice requires.

Here's to remembering a small practice, is plenty big enough, when done right,

Karin

P.S. Want help with this? If you haven't already, grab a cup of tea, pen and paper and watch my webinar that explains my Happy Little Practice Method and see if it's for you. Then if it makes sense, apply for a time to talk with me and let's see if we might do some great work together.

Where's Karin?

June - I'll be leading a virtual business development training for Wellcoaches.com grads in June. More details to come!

Would you love to bring me to speak at your alma mater? Just shoot me an email or send my speaker info page to the powers that be.