In Twelve Step programs, “hitting bottom” refers to the place a person suffering from addiction must reach before they admit they have a 
problem and ask for help. For many healers, practitioners and other small business owners, the term is also applicable in the sense that so many of us seem to wait until we’re in crisis before we realize we’re not meant to build our businesses alone.
I’ve known a number of gifted practitioners who have struggled for years trying to get clients and finally gave up, going back to work in soulless 9 to 5 jobs. Or people who are still barely eking out a living, because they feel guilty at the thought of charging more. Some of us may be making a decent living, but the constant pressure of being a solopreneur puts many at the risk of burnout. The real question is, why do so many of us feel we have to do this all on our own?
For many of us, the most frequent answer given seems to be about money. We may tell ourselves that of course if we had more money, we would gladly outsource some of our work, get help with our marketing and hire a coach, but in truth, money is just the effect of the real cause. As in 12 Step, it’s important to be very honest with ourselves about why things are the way they are in our business before we can really move into having a successful practice. Often, people aren’t able or willing to ask and answer these tough questions until they hit bottom, but I know this is not only unnecessary, but is a very dangerous place to allow yourself to get to.
The bottom often includes physical, financial and emotional burnout and can also cost you your primary relationships. Why go there? Especially when there is so much help available to you as a healing practitioner.
The first of the 12 Steps is to admit I am powerless over my addiction. Ah, now this is the one that really sticks in the craw of so many of us. No one wants to be in that place. But let’s think about this in another way. What if, instead of being powerless, we start by admitting that we don’t have all the answers to creating the kind of success we want and are humble enough to seek help? I don’t know about you, but that certainly seems more palatable to me. The fact is, you cannot be successful in business without strong self esteem. This is why not hitting bottom is very important.
Step 2 is coming to believe that a power greater than myself could restore me to sanity. There is truly no way to create a successful healing practice without an understanding of your connection to Source Energy or whatever your name for that power greater than yourself is. In addition, there has to be an active relating to that power through spiritual practice and fellowship with others of like mind. This also includes peers, colleagues and mentors, teachers and/or coaches.
Just because you are currently a solopreneur doesn’t mean that you have to run your business by yourself. And it really isn’t possible. Think about it. Aside from your clients, you have relationships with other healers in your field, whoever you got your training from, whoever you rent your healing space from, people you get your office supplies from. Just the mere fact that you’re in business means that you’ve already created a community. Why not be proactive in making that community a positive place by developing your connection to Source?
While not all the 12 Steps are necessarily applicable to your practice, it’s a helpful model for getting clear about your priorities and effectively maintaining your perspective while growing your business. With all the information that’s available out there for small businesses, just trying to wade through it all can be a full time job in itself. So it’s important to invest in getting the right kind of support for yourself personally and professionally.
Want some practical steps to take to keep yourself and your business as healthy as you help your patients become? Read on…
Action Steps
- What support do you need? Consider the different kinds of support you need in your business: peer support, self-care, administrative and financial support (such as a bookkeeper and/or accountant), marketing and business growth help and continuing education and development in your particular field. Write these down and consider any others that come to mind.
- Brainstorm ways to get started. Next to each item, write down how you can start getting that kind of support RIGHT NOW. Just think of the first ideas that come to mind about how you might access support in each of the areas on your list. If you’re not sure, consider talking to a friend or colleague in your field. The Small Business Administration is also a great resource of information for small businesses. You can also get help from a local chapter of SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives), which offers online and in person consultations that can help you create a business plan and offers other business-related resources. Consider joining a Meetup for practitioners and/or solopreneurs. You might also want to join a Mastermind Group to help you stay focused and on track. You may be surprised to find all kinds of resources that are available at low- or no cost.
- Invest wisely. By making wise investments in your business that free up your time and energy and allow you to focus on those areas that are your genius, you are exponentially increasing your ability to help more people and make more money. While you may not be ready to implement all the ideas for getting support that you listed right away, make a plan to implement them over time and you will see your business grow by leaps and bounds! Questions about the Action Steps? Send them here!