Check off only what is true for you today. Then score your assessment to see how well you do in terms of business know-how.
(From 12 Months to Your Ideal Private Practice: A Workbook, Copyright 2003 Lynn Grodzki; all rights reserved)

Your Professional Mind-set

To be successful in private practice you need to approach your practice like a business, not a hobby.

__ I assess and correct any unprofessional, unethical, or amateurish policies and procedures in my business.

__ I surround myself with other entrepreneurial colleagues who want me to succeed.

__ I am becoming more pragmatic and optimistic in my thinking about business each month.

__ I know how to set a future goal and not be deterred by negative, self-sabotaging beliefs.

__ I have created and have regular contact with an advisory board of people who can offer me good business advice.

__ I am accountable to others for achieving my monthly business goals.

__ I am comfortable talking about the positive aspects of my work (my strengths and talents).

Your Business Vision

Your business vision brings meaning and direction to your private practice.

__ I understand the concept of a building a business by design—that if I don't make choices for my business, circumstances will.

__ I make the time each week to work "on" the business not just "in" the business.

__ I know how to spot trends and can list several future trends that may affect my practice in the next two years.

__ I've identified my top three core values.

__ I have a vision for my practice that is oriented around my core values, strengths, and talents, and set into a predictable future context.

__ I have a written vision, purpose and mission statement with a list of action steps.

__ I have articulated my vision to other trusted peers who are at my level of business development and can give me support and encouragement.

Marketing Successfully

At the heart of every healthy private practice is a steady flow of new clients. Knowing how to market your services in an essential skill that will keep your practice viable.

__ I have an articulated basic message that I use as a professional introduction.

__ I can list the benefits of my services and tell specific success stories.

__ I can comfortably ask for referrals in a manner that reflects the integrity of my practice.

__ I have a menu of options for new clients and have packaged my services in five different ways so that price is not a barrier to my services.

__ My promotional materials focus on the solutions I offer to others, in language that highlights what clients really want, not what I think they need.

__ I cultivate "practice angels"— influential people who are well connected and can make multiple referrals so that I leverage my marketing time.

__ I know several ways to market my services that actually work, and can pick and choose the ones that are most comfortable for me to use at any given time.

Attending to Profitability

A business must make a profit. As the business owner, you need to attend to making money while doing the work you love.

__ I have reconciled the difference between profit and service, as it applies to my practice.

__ I understand the limits of profitability as it applies to a therapy, coaching, or consulting business and keep my expenses low and my income as secure as possible, to keep my practice on a good financial course.

__ I know how many billable hours I will work this year and what my fees need to be to meet my income goals.

__ I have more than one profit center and revenue stream.

__ I understand the hidden costs in my practice.

__ I am very comfortable discussing fees, fee raises, how I handle missed-sessions, cancellation policies, and other financial issues with my clients.

__ I am building a practice to sell, not just to own.

Getting into the Flow

A successful entrepreneur regards operating a business as not just work, but pleasure.

__ I understand the difference between a fear-based and a love-based practice.

__ I design a profile of my "ideal client" so that I only work with those clients who can best use my services.

__ I organize my calendar to reflect a balance of work, spirit, and buffer time.

__ I set monthly goals and enjoy achieving them.

__ I model the strategies of other successful businesspeople.

__ I collaborate and link with others to make operating my business more fun.

__ My practice operates from a model of abundance, not deprivation. I believe that there are more than enough clients, opportunities, prospects, and money available in the world for my business to succeed.

Charting Your Business Evolution

Growing your practice means helping it develop as you, the business owner, also change and evolve.

__ I can recognize where my practice is on its developmental path and what to anticipate next.

__ I understand how to take my practice beyond a limited model of business, such as a medical model if I am a therapist or healing professional, and open up to other choices and options.

__ I have a list of services for clients at all of the stages of personal growth.

__ I, myself, am a model of the personal growth, consulting, or coaching services that I offer to others.

__ I have a five-year vision and am excited about my future direction.

__ I've identified all of the existing communities-professional, social, spiritual, neighborhood-that I belong to and stay connected to others in these communities in order to keep energy and opportunity flowing through my practice.

__ I know that my success depends on staying motivated over time, and have strategies to help me stay active, focused, and confident.

Scoring:

Give yourself one point for each checked item above and total up your points.

35-42 points: You are really working on the business and have a strong sense of how to set up and maintain your ideal private practice. Congratulations!

27-34 points: You're definitely on your way. Use additional resources, such as books or business coaching to motivate yourself to take the next important steps. Go for it!

19-26 points: Time to do some additional work on your practice and on yourself, so that you can meet your goals and learn to enjoy the business of therapy. Get the support you need to see results you deserve.

0-18 points: You can make some important changes and vastly improve your practice. Use one of my book, such as the workbook to get started. Strengthen your business abilities by going completing each exercise and all the fieldwork. Take in lots of support to make the process easier.

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