Ask Yourself this ONE Question to Determine Potential for Practice Success

If you’re beginning to think about becoming an advocate or care manager in private, independent practice, you probably have a dozen or more questions about what that will be required. That’s especially true if you have never been in business for yourself before. It might seem overwhelming.

But the truth is, that running your own business doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many ways to simplify it, and there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of resources available to help you. From other independent advocates, to coaches and mentors, to organizations like the SBDC, or the SBA – you can easily find all the support you need.

Over the years, I’ve talked to maybe a thousand or more advocate or care manager wannabes, and I have found there is ONE question, above all others, that will help them determine whether they can be successful. Because the answer to the question tells them what they need to know about themselves to make that determination.

I first posed this question in one of my books, So You Want to Be a Patient Advocate? Choosing a Career in Health or Patient Advocacy. If, after you’ve asked yourself THE question (below), you still want to know the answers to others, you will very likely find them in that book. You can purchase that book on Amazon, or other online bookstores, or from the publisher (at a discount!) from the link above.

So What Is THE Question?

The question is this:

Am I able to ask people for money?

Are you surprised? It seems very simple for something that sounds so complex as starting and running a business, right?

But whether or not you can ask others for money indicates a few things about YOU that will be integral to your ability to succeed:

It means you can shift a conversation from “yes, I can help you” to one that determines your income.
It indicates you have enough confidence in your ability to help that you can get to the heart of what will keep your business afloat – income.
It showcases your understanding of your VALUE to patient-clients, and not just what it costs to hire you.
It proves that you are a PROFESSIONAL and not just a wannabe.
It’s a good illustration of your ability to toot your own horn; to showcase that yes, you are GOOD at what you do and are PROUD of your ability!

If your answer is kind of a gray area, such as you THINK you might be able to ask a potential client for money, but you aren’t sure…. Then do what it takes to grow your confidence in that ability. If necessary, fake it till you make it! Practice in front of a mirror. Ask a close friend to support you in that quest and let you practice with them. Take courses. Ask for help from mentors.

Once you feel your confidence is there, that you can confidently ask for the amounts of money you’ll need to keep your practice afloat, then, AND ONLY THEN, will you be ready to start your own independent practice.

If it’s too uncomfortable, but you’re determined to shift to an advocacy career, consider connecting with an organization that provides the business support you need (marketing, practice management, billing, others) while you provide and track the services required. While you won’t be 100% independent, per se, you’ll still be pursuing an advocacy career.