I had a wonderful vacation on the East Coast last month and was looking at pictures that my friends sent me. We were there during the heat wave and boy was it hot, hot, hot! We ducked into cool and shady spots to have a drink before we continue walking and then stumbled across this display. 

My friend Amy knowing I'm a budding seamstress snapped this picture of me in front of a very unique store in Boston. In the window are dozens of old sewing machines. It was a great reminder of my love of clothes and sewing and because I hadn't sewn in months, this picture is a perfect reminder to set time in my schedule for this past time.

Do you have a hobby you enjoy? I'd love to know what it is.

Summer is coming to a close and hopefully you are gearing up for a full fall schedule.

Next week I'll be sharing some great resources especially for Practitioners that want to make sure they are set up for more clients and to handle those that you currently have. Stay tuned!

This week's article is about making Practice Building a priority. It's so important that it is one of the first steps I cover with my private clients. You'll discover how and why to carve this time in your schedule so it doesn't slip through the cracks.

If you are like most Holistic Practitioners, you are probably juggling more than one ball in the air. Sure we serve our clients, and our patients and our practice, but that is not all we have going on in our life, is it?

We have our husbands, our wives, our partners; some of us have children or parents to care for. And of course we have ourselves and our own needs. 

So when I talk to my clients about carving out practice building only time, which is an essential step in the practice building system, I often get a few protests.  I will hear, “Make more time? I already feel maxed out. Between clients I am either answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, managing my staff, or paying bills."  

"Sometimes instead of eating lunch I will go out and run errands before my next client or patient. And you want me to create practice building only time?"

My answer is yes. And it is an emphatic yes. You see if you don’t create practice building only time which is time specifically set aside to building and expanding your practice, it will fall through the cracks. 

If you want your practice to grow and expand or perhaps you would like to offer additional services and products that will increase your income, it is imperative that you set aside specific time where you schedule it. Think of a patient or client in your schedule book.  Is this an appointment that cannot be moved or postponed, or can it?

In the same way practice building only time should really be carved out in your schedule. Here are a few tips to creating practice building only time in your schedule and treating it as a priority. 

First, get out your schedule book whether it is an online calendar or you have a physical day timer and really mark out, bi-weekly, when your practice building only time is. Ideally, I suggest to Practitioners that this is before they see their first patients or clients. 

Make sure you do not have your email on. One of the deadliest traps for Holistic Practitioners is to work on a project or work on marketing their practice in front of emails. Invariably, you will get distracted. So turn this off so that you can focus. 

Make sure practice building only time is in a designated space. Make sure there is a designated space in your office or in your home that is set aside for you to focus on practice building only time. Make sure this space is non-cluttered and attractive so you actually want to go to your desk to work there. 

Lastly, make sure you set boundaries with others. If your practice building only time happens in your own office, make sure you close the door and put a post it note out there indicating that you are not to be disturbed. If you have a home office or your practice building only time happens when you are at your house, again, make sure you set up boundaries with those you live with so they aren’t interrupting you and that you don’t get distracted. 

Creating this essential time to market your practice and expand it is well worth the effort and focus that is needed to create this time. You will find that by carving time out in your schedule you are taking steps to move forward. You will see the rewards of your efforts in both the short term and the long term. 

I would love to hear your comments. Please leave them, until next time, have a fantastic day. 


(c) 2010 AnaMaria Herrera. About the author: AnaMaria Herrera, Online Marketer and Director of Practice Building Institute publishes 'Practice Building Success' teaching Holistic Practitioners how to get clients and build their practice. For a f*ree audio and resources go to: http://www.PracticeBuildingInstitute.com

Many people, Practitioners included, enter the Facebook party reluctantly. Some even are 'kicking and screaming." But after a while find themselves mixing and mingling with others and enjoying themselves.

I recently came across a MD's profile on Facebook. We had been friends on FB for a while and had enjoyed reading her posts on health topics. Was I surprised, shocked really, to read on her wall very personal notes she was posting about the troubles she was having with her husband. 

Previously her wall was quite active with comments and questions from her friends on FB, as she was sharing about her medical practice, health topics and of course different snippets from her families life, such as going on vacation.

But her wall was now blank. No one was writing anything. As she continued to share her candid feelings about a painful situation, it was if an uncomfortable silence fell in the room.  I know I felt uncomfortable.

I thought it would be good to re-post my article on Facebook and some key points to keep in mind so that we are enjoying ourselves while being personal and professional.  CLICK HERE to read the post. 

Have you ever been the victim of bright shiny object syndrome? Having talked to many holistic practitioners I know this is a condition that many of us suffer from. What is bright shiny object syndrome? 

This is a self-defeating pattern of starting on a project or a task such as creating your new website or wanting to have more of a presence on social media such as Facebook. You start making progress or taking steps in the direction of that task. But then you find yourself distracted by another project or task and then you start walking in that direction. Taking a step or two to complete it then you remember the first project you started and you go back to that. See what happens here? 

It is bright shiny object syndrome at its worst, distracting us from focusing on a single task or project to completion. Trust me I am not throwing any stones here. I have struggled with bright shiny object syndrome myself.

But now I can absolutely say that it is possible to stay on track and since knowing how to create a powerful focus I see the dramatic difference it has made in my practice as well as in my income. 

Ask any of my clients and they will tell you that I am notorious for having them choose a project or a task and committing to it and sticking to it until it is completed. How do they react? Many are silent and then when they regain their words, they will say how do I know what to focus on now? There are several pots on the stove I have, how do I know which one to choose? 

For Practitioners that are wanting an increase in income now, I will ask them, what project or task brings you closest to the money? So that can be something like gaining more clients, or increasing patient referrals, or beginning to offer a supplement line so they can have passive revenue. 

For those Practitioners that tell me they feel overwhelmed and overworked in their practice, I'll ask them what area in your practice is draining most of your energy and time? So for example for them it could be that they are scheduling their own clients and it is best for them to have a scheduling system that doesn't involve them. Or perhaps they have management issues with their employees that they have to sort out that is taking their energy and time. 

When you set your mind in one direction and focus in that area, you will find an increase in income, you will gain more clients as well referrals, you will have more energy to do what you love and your staff will be more harmonious and productive, plus you feel great about yourself.

Your Practice Building Assignment: Now it's your turn. Do you get distracted with bright shiny object syndrome? Admitting you're focused challenged is the first step to recovery. 

Commit to one project or area. Use the questions I have just mentioned to help you focus and choose one that is most beneficial for you now. 

Lastly share it with your colleague or your business coach or mentor so they can lovingly hold you accountable until the project and task is completed. 

Wondering whether you too can create a powerful focus now for a sustainable or more sustainable Practice? CLICK HERE for additional resources.

(c) 2010 AnaMaria Herrera

About the author: AnaMaria Herrera, Online Marketer and Director of Practice Building Institute publishes 'Practice Building Success' teaching Holistic Practitioners how to get clients and build their practice. For a f*ree audio and resources go to: http://www.PracticeBuildingInstitute.com