Center Institute

Why as motivation

Back for more on the why issue? I’m glad you’re still with me. (If you are new to this thread, you can catch up by reading the first in the series here and the second article here.)

When I think about what it takes to start a private practice, I think about change. And change makes me think about motivation. What is it that you truly want? I mean really, truly, over-the-moon want. Ten out of ten want it? You know what I am talking about, don’t you. Maybe it is not that you want a private practice – maybe you’ve never even thought of being a business owner, but you know, deep down in your bones, that you MUST find a way to travel, be with your kids, have financial security…

When you start to think about how to achieve that thing that you want so clearly, does private practice pop up? (If you are still reading this, I bet it does.)

When I get to the end of a day where I had multiple clients run over-time into my slots for breaks and I get to the end of the day I realize I have been in the office way too long and I didn’t even eat lunch, the thing that makes me come back the next day (in addition to my clients!) is that I know why I am doing this. I know why I am here.

When I have a rough week and all my clients seem to be in crisis (it comes in waves, doesn’t it?!) the reason I don’t quit and join an agency where I could slough off some of the work onto the case managers and the office staff and that I know why I am in private practice.

When the logistics of running a business stress me out (and yes, they still do at times), the thing that keeps me going, in addition to knowing that it mostly has to do with my own anxiety and I just need to delegate to my assistants better, is that I know with certainty why I am working for myself rather than a “regular” pay check.

I am not going to sugar coat this: Building a practice and being your own boss take elbow grease. It is a ton of fun as well, but it is a lot “easier” to work for someone else. But the thing is, if your WHY is big enough and strong enough, the work doesn’t matter so much. It actually makes sense. It feels like effort toward a goal, a dream, a desire. And then you get to reach that WHY. You get to have it and hold it in your hands and go on that vacation, be at home more with the ones you love, AND have financial security.

Is your why big enough? Is it worth it? Are you willing to make it happen for yourself? I hope so. No one else will do it for you.