A New Year...A New Beginning

A New Year....A New Beginning!
Copyright 2004 Livvie Matthews

The New Year, for me, has always been an exciting and
happy time! Recently while talking with some friends, I
compared the New Year to a new page.

The new year always brings the opportunity for what seems
like a new beginning, a chance to "start over". It always
seems crisp, clean and exciting! We all get to start with a
"new page" and it's up to us what we want to "write" on it!

Take a few minutes and reflect on last year and your goals,
but don't dwell on the past year's missed opportunities. We
need to look ahead with excitement and anticipation for
what we can do with this year's new opportunities (pages)
that will be presented.

Whatever you "write" is an opportunity within itself! At the
beginning of a new year we are all at the same point,
granted some may be beginning with more than others, but
we are all beginning!

As you begin "writing" your business this year, focus on
ways to "work smarter and not harder". We unclutter and
organize our garages, our houses, our closets, our cabinets,
right on down to our drawers! Shouldn't we do the same for
our minds?

Eliminate (unclutter) situations that are stressful. Focus
(organize) on what you did that was positive last year that
caused the practice to grow and then expand on each
of those areas.

Let your patients get to know you and you get to know your
patients. Ask them what they want to see, what they would
like added, what could you do to improve your service or
what would be of benefit to your patients. Find out what you
could do or offer differertly.

Every patient is an opportunity looking for a place to happen!
Make it easy for your patients to give you their feedback.
Include a survey once a week from patients seen that day.
Often the information you receive will show direction and
new opportunities for the practice. Look and listen for
Opportunities!

The old saying "You can't see the forest for the trees"
sometimes prevents us from seeing new opportunities
for marketing and growing our business. Ask a patient or
a team member, who's opinion you value, to comment on
what you are doing or not doing.

They aren't seeing the same "trees" you are seeing and
can offer a different view....they might even help you to
be able to "see the forest"!

As you begin "writing" this new year don't lose site of
balance. Remember to keep all the "pages" in perspective.
From time to time you will need to turn the "pages" down,
walk away and take time to enjoy life and everything that
goes with it.

So, what do you want to "write" on your new page this year?
It's all up to you! Just get your "keyboard" going, "write"
one "word" after another and then--press "enter"!!! After all it's.....
A New Year and A New Beginning!