This last weekend my sister's dog Lulu (she's a maltese-poodle) was belle of the Christmas ball in her new velvet frock. In case you're wondering if she has to be coaxed to put the outfit on, nothing could be further from the truth! When my sister  holds the wee outfit in front of her, Lulu starts leaping in the air and barking. 

Later that evening, we gathered at my aunt's house where we sing Christmas songs, eat lots of good food and sweets and the kids dress up in costumes and put on a pageant for everyone. I hope your holidays were wonderful! 

Speaking of sweets, that's the topic of the next post. Most Practitioners are doing their usual day to day routine with their clients and patients and all the necessary tasks to run a Practice, but rarely stop to evaluate what is working and what is not. Rather than go on autopilot, I encourage Practitioners to assess where they are at and where they are going. In that way you can hit  the "Sweet Spot" in your Practice: your Practice runs like a well-oiled machine, you spend the majority of your time doing what you love, you feel confident because your marketing continually brings you a steady stream of clients and your business grows in profits each year. Sound like a fantasy? I assure you the "Sweet Spot" is not a myth, it's attainable and you can learn how to get (and stay there!) in the next post.




It's quickly coming to a close...


Wow the New Year is just around the corner, are you ready? While we're still in an uncertain time, the fact remains that there are Practices that are thriving... will yours be one of them? 

It's here!
What does 2011 hold for you? Do you have a plan to create your ideal or will this year be the same as the last?

If you've been at certain level in your Practice for some time but want to grow more, gain more patients and clients and increase profits, then you'll need a plan with the support and mentorship to guide you every step of the way.

Currently I have a few spots open for private coaching to get you the guidance you need and I'm offering f*ree consultations, which is a brief phone chat to see what your needs are and how I can help. To schedule yours, go to this page and fill out the CONTACT form on the bottom. 

Wow the New Year is just around the corner, are you ready?  Here's a quote I recently read: "If you always do what you've always done, you will always be where you've always been." 
 
While we're still in an uncertain time, the fact remains that there are Practices that are thriving... will yours be one of them?

If you're feeling like you've been at a certain level in your Practice for some time but want to grow more, gain more patients and clients and increase profits, then you  have to do something different or 2011 will just be a repeat version of this year.
 
Currently I have a few spots open for private coaching to get you the guidance you need.

Not sure if it's for you?
 
I'm offering f*ree consultations,  which is a brief phone chat to see what your needs are and how I can help and answer your questions about private coaching.

Here's how to schedule our informal phone chat:

1. C*lick here
2. Read how I work and about those I've assisted
3. Fill out the CONTACT form on the bottom.
 
Supporting you and your Practice-
 
AnaMaria Herrera
Director
The Practice Building Institute
http://www.ThePracticeBuildingInstitute.com
 
PS: I'm here to assist but you have to reach out too. Here's the link to get info:  Click here
http://www.practicebuildinginstitute.com/interview-with-anamaria.html

Are you giving your patients and your staff SANDWICHES?

No I'm not meaning the lunch time favorites for folks, but the way you deliver instructions and (when necessary) corrections?

It's an easy, effective and non-threatening way to communicate, especially in tense situations. Here's how to do it:

1. Top piece of bread: praise your staff for doing a great job, or when handling a challenge acknowledge the difficulty.

2 . Meat (or tempe for vegetarians!): the dilemma or problem, why it occurred and what you're doing to resolve it and the solution you have come up with. Include instructions here on what the receiver needs to do to assist in the resolving of the problem.

3. Bottom piece of bread: Thank them for their understanding and cooperation.

I think you'll find that serving sandwiches in the form of clear and concise communication will smooth out even the most challenging of situations and   keep your Practice purring like a content kitten.

Let me know how it goes!

Okay, so there wasn't snow (it was about 70 degrees that night)... but over the hills we did go, laughing all the way. I'm talking about the annual entourage of red trolleys taking passengers through the streets of Santa Barbara to view the stores and houses strung with lights, ornaments and holiday cheer.

I went with my friend Amy who charters one of the trolleys every year for Alpha, a non-profit corporation which provides services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Years ago I worked with developmentally disabled adults and it brought a lot of good memories seeing my friend with her group.

We spotted Santa seven times in front of different houses (how DOES he get around so quickly? ) and Mrs. Claus too and loads of folks waving as we sped by singing holiday songs. We had so much fun, I hope they invite me again next year.

It's quickly coming to a close...

Wow the New Year is just around the corner, are you ready? While we're still in an uncertain time, the fact remains that there are Practices that are thriving... will yours be on of them?

If you're feeling like you've been at a certain level in your Practice for some time but want to grow more, gain more patients and clients and increase profits, then you  have to do something different or 2011 will just be a repeat version of this year. Currently I have a few spots open for private coaching to get you the guidance you need.

Not sure if it's for you? I'm offering f*ree consultations,  which is a brief phone chat to see what your needs are and how I can help. To schedule yours, go to this page and fill out the CONTACT form on the bottom.

I want to spotlight a client, Catherine Brau Pouget originally from France now living in the UK, who just  received acknowledgment in her local news paper for her work.

Way to go Catherine!

Are you celebrating a success in your Practice? Drop me a line, I'd love to know! Email me: anamaria@ThePracticeBuildingInstitute.com

The topic isn’t a sexy one. It’s not one that Practitioners long to hear about. And yet it’s a necessary skill to know and implement if you want a sustainable Practice.

Setting and maintaining boundaries both with clients, new or existing, whether you are just starting out in your practice or you have been seeing patients and clients for years.

It is crucial to set boundaries for a safe and successful business.
The challenge I hear about for Holistic Practitioners is not just in creating clear boundaries but also in maintaining them. Over the years I have observed that this can be a major area  that drains Practitioners and their staff of energy, time and eventually of money.

Many times when I talk with Practitioners they’ll tell me “Yes, I know it would be good for me to have more structure, stick to certain policies or have clearer boundaries. I know it would maybe be better for my staff too, so they aren’t drained by certain patients/ clients or dealing with certain frustrating situations.”

One of the first principles I teach my clients of The Practice Building Institute is to embody their roles as leaders. So rather than see ‘boundaries’ as a big, bad scary word, I like to think of boundaries as healthy perimeters which facilitate the work we do in the most efficient, safe and yet personable way possible.

It’s important that these perimeters are in place for ourselves as healers as well as our clients to facilitate the work we do and their healing process.  The other advantage to our clients, is they will feel and know they are in professional hands. They will feel more secure and safe with what you are about to do.

Let’s take a look at some areas in our Practices which need the most support in terms of setting boundaries. 


One of the first areas I suggest for you to look at is the areas of payment and money. Is it clear how and in what form payment is accepted? Is this clearly communicated before your patient books a session or treatment? Do you have clients that try to get around your payment policy or our delinquent payment?

Another area to look at is scheduling. This can be an area that patients will test your “boundary muscles” most especially if they’re used to scheduling with you and you’ve recently handed over scheduling to an assistant or use an online scheduling software. Is your cancellation policy clear and do you and your staff adhere to the standard you've set? Is it clear how much access your clients/patients have to you beyond their scheduled session or treatment? 

Learn how to graciously direct conversations with your patients and clients in a timely fashion. There’s nothing wrong with answering a quick question between treatments to clarify a concern or inquiry, but too many Practitioners spend their breaks, lunch time and time outside of their office hours to address patient’s inquiries. Begin to observe how much of your time is taken answering questions that can  be handled in other ways, such as a frequently asked questions list or by your assistants.

Your Practice Building Assignment:

Take some time to look at your Practice. Get a couple sheets of blank paper and ask yourself, “In which areas of my Practice are the boundaries lines between my clients and myself blurry?

What policies are we (include your staff here) not adhering to? Rather than tackle all areas that come to mind, I encourage you to just choose one. Usually the best one to focus on is the area that’s draining you (and your staff) of most of your energy, time and money.

Define or redefine your policy or perimeter and communicate this to your staff and patients, both existing and new. 


Building your boundary muscles doesn’t make you the bad guy or gal. Instead, you’ll find your staff and your patients will respect you more, you’ll have less ‘fires’ to put out in your office and you’ll spend more time doing what you love.

Could you benefit from setting a few boundaries? I'd love to here your comments. You can post them by selecting COMMENTS located directly above the picture in this article.

Until next time, have a fantastic day. 

(c) 2010 AnaMaria Herrera
About the author: AnaMaria Herrera, Online Marketer and Director of The 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.ThePracticeBuildingInstitute.com

 A few years ago I wanted to network with more people locally, I stumbled upon a website of another marketer. "Do I see correctly... a marketer... who is female?" and sent out an email asking if she would ever want to connect.  Well, connect we did and have been incredible sources of support for each other ever since.
 
Here we are holding up the "Vision Boards" of images and words depicting what we wanted in our businesses and personal life. A stack of magazines, some poster board, 2 glue sticks a bag of gummy bears and a bottle of Chianti later we sat back basking in our newly crafted, bigger picture for our lives.

I know creating vision boards, like affirmations, are a hot topic and will sharing why it's crucial for Holistic Practitioners to have a compelling vision. Stay tuned!
 
By the way....Do You Have a Plan for 2011?

"It feels great to have you to guide me..." that's what my private client told me at the end of our first coaching session. I'm so glad she feels my support to assist her in expanding her Practice and start to create a solid plan to get there.

So, if you're ready to have an expert help you craft a clear marketing and Practice management plan, let's chat to see how to make that happen. I currently offer a f*ree consultation, which is an informal chat. You can get info at the bottom of this page.

How can you step out in a new way in your Practice?
Do you have an idea you've been holding back on?

Let today's Monday's Marketing Tip inspire you:

“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself.” 

-Katherine Mansfield