I love talking about business strategy with mentors, colleagues, and the dietitians in Dietitian Business School! A big part of business strategy is business planning. Admittedly, I love to plan. To me, planning = creating dreams and a vision of where I want my business (and life!) to go. But planning is also HARD. Looking at the business as a whole and analyzing what’s working and what’s not working is challenging.
I started annual planning in 2017 and saw what a difference it made in my business. Sometimes the plan worked out well! Other times, I had to pivot. I have found that the best lessons give us the richest business strategy.
Business can be full of ups and downs. Sometimes you are flooded with referrals and have clients begging to see you for your earliest appointment. Other times (my group practice included!), inquiries are slower and you don’t meet your goals. Sometimes you feel at peace with work/life satisfaction, and other times you feel chaotic because the stress of the business takes over your emotions. You can feel abundant and scared in the same day, even in the same hour!! All to say that business is a journey of twists and turns, much like our clients go through when working with us for nutrition counseling.
Navigating these ups and downs is a skill. Many dietitians get “stuck” and this prevents us from taking the next right step in our business. If you are feeling stuck, you are certainly not alone.
I’m giving you 3 insightful tips for annual planning to help move you out of “stuck”. After all, insight leads to clarity, which leads to action!!
- Set aside CEO time for youself. This time is different than completing tasks and checking things off of your to-do list. This is time for you to work ON your business strategy and make decisions for the overall business. I have realized that I need double (yes DOUBLE) the amount of CEO time I normally give myself. I’m giving you permission to set that boundary!
- Set your plan around how you want to feel, not just your goals. When you make business goals from a place of values and boundaries, you create a transformation for your life. I’ve seen so many dietitians create goals that lead to more work and burnout. I challenge you to set goals that honor your self-worth, just as much as your hustle!
- Connect with others for accountability. The *magic* happens when you surround yourself with a group of people that will cheer you on. Your support system is everything! Don’t just reflect on your goals, go tell others about your plans and gather the support you need to make it happen.
Check out our free resource about boundaries to learn more about how you can plan with self-care in mind!