The downsides to working on your own and what you can do about it.

Working your hours around your family needs sounds and can be wonderful. Lots of therapists who own a small business will tell you how great it is to be your own boss and that they love the autonomy of 'going it alone.'

But there are disadvantages to being surrounded by the same four walls day in day out. You can quickly become isolated from the wider community if you’re not careful. In this post, I share the downsides of working on your own.  Whether that is from home or as part of a practice.

1. Feeling isolated.

Ever stopped in the middle of your office one day and looked around you to see just four walls with some charts? Working in your own business, especially if it’s a one-man or one-woman operation can leave you feeling lonely and isolated and aching to talk to someone else about the work you do.  It can be very hard to stay motivated and renewed by the work you do I you feel isolated.

What to do: Get out of the office for lunch, grab a coffee or go for a walk. Do not catch up on notes during your break.  Leave the building!

2. Not having a mentor

Mentors are imperative if you’re to make progress in your business. Successful practitioners always credit their mentors with their successes.  Mentors are a wonderful way of bouncing off ideas and to get a different, more experienced perspective, to get encouragement that you are on the right track and to help you stay motivated.

What to do: Get a mentor it doesn't have to be someone in the same work as you, but someone you respect, and that has experience in working with clients.  Finding someone who will meet with you face to face is the ideal and observing them in practice is even better. Unfortunately, it is a rare mentor who will let you sit in on consults and answer your questions. The next best thing is an online community where you can ask questions and have them answered by others.

3. Not referring patients.

A patient has been referred to you by their friend, wife, etc. and after the first 2 or 3 sessions, there is no change and your just not gelling with the client.

What to do: Instead of struggling with a customer that may not benefit from your type of treatment it is far better to refer them.  Don’t be afraid that this might make you seem incompetent, or that you need the money.  Not being able to get a change in 3 treatments you need to refer or talk to a mentor.  Clients who don't get results and feel like you just keep getting them back again and again for treatment are bad for your business as well s your moral.  Refer.

Instead, focus on the fact you sent them to another expert - who knows you might also receive a referral in future?

What not do: Accept to treat the patient despite knowing they won’t benefit from your treatment. This will only create patient dissatisfaction in the long run and lead to bad word of mouth for your practice.

4. Not investing in skills and courses.

For any occupation these days, it’s important to keep yourself abreast of what's happening in the industry, how it’s evolving and what you need to self-learn to keep your skills and knowledge current.  Not learning is a fatal mistake and will result in burn out.

What to do: Learn, online course are great, listen to podcasts, and not just in your field. If you think you need to upgrade your energy levels, then listen to Dave Asprey or Tim Ferriss, if you think you need to be a better communicator then learn that.  If you feel that its your palpation skills that are lacking, then take a pottery class.  Build on every aspect of yourself and your work and be committed to lifelong learning.

5. Burning out quickly.

Every person who runs their own business often works long hours, and this can leave you feeling burned out especially if you don’t see it coming. A lack of motivation, feeling blue and falling ill quickly are common signs of burning out.

What to do: Get regular treatment, at least once a month and more than that if you're busy.  It is hard to give clients advice on health when your not walking the walk yourself.  Eat well, get quality sleep and relaxation time.  Start a gratitude practice and seek help from others.

You can be on your own, and not feel isolated.  Take steps to keeping yourself happy and working on your own can be incredibly rewarding.

Have you experienced any of these? How did you deal with them?

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