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Most everyone is familiar with the saying “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  To stop the insanity, how do we get different results?  One word “CHANGE.”   The problem with change is that it’s hard and it’s scary, but without it we can never realize our true potential.

In business, change invigorates and excites me.  Admittedly, that wasn’t always the case, but as I have grown and (“ahem”…aged) I embrace the idea of change in business.  However, in my personal life, I have to confess change scares the hell out of me.  But in the midst of the fear, I have found the “courage to change.”  Why is it that now is the time to take the leap of faith, move forth into the unknown and hope for the best?  I wish I knew.   That’s the thing with making important moves, you just need to do them and not ask too many questions about whether the time is right.  If you wait for the “right time,” that time may never come.

One of my favorite quotes about fear and making the moves necessary to improve your business as well as your personal life comes from Joyce Meyer.  She said that the thing about fear and taking the leap is that you just have to: ”do it scared.”  Rarely does someone make major shifts or even small ones full of confidence; there is always some element of apprehension.

When change occurs there are always going to bumps along the road, but if you stay steadfast and true to the direction in which you want to go and even take a couple of detours along the way, the end result is well worth the journey.  In my business, I always look for opportunities where we can improve. When you honestly evaluate your processes, staff, and philosophies there are so many wonderful opportunities for change.  The key is to enter the world of transformation with a sense of excitement and anticipation; like a child waiting for Christmas to come with all its presents and wonder.

Yes, some changes don’t work out as one had hoped, but had you never taken those first steps, you would always be in a “what if” mindset in hindsight.  Good, bad or indifferent; change is part of life’s wonderful prospects for a better life and/or better business.  If you ask my staff, what one of my weaknesses is they would tell you that I change too quickly on certain occasions.  That character trait I will blame on my father. The gene pool is strong there.  J

But, in knowing this, I have to make a conscious effort to rein that side in to fully analyze where I want my company to go, listen to those who are doing the work day to day and engage my team in meaningful conversations.  By doing this I can gather more data, gain different perspectives and then make the decision.  I still move faster than the average person, but that’s why I’m an entrepreneur.  I have that freedom to maneuver and be nimble while others are buried in a myriad of bureaucracy.  God Bless America for giving me the ability to be an entrepreneur.

As you close out 2017 and look to the clean slate that is 2018, what do you want to do?  What scares, but excites you?  What do you know whether intuitively or through data examination that has to be done, but will cause pain in the process?  Think about it, do your research then….MAKE YOUR MOVE!  Don’t sit still and watch others pass you.  “Do it scared.”  That way you can look back and know you gave it your all. Even if you fail, think of all the great lessons you learned so you won’t make them again the next time around.

And if you need a little extra courage, there’s always wine…

Till next time….Sarah

Recently while talking with a friend/business advisor about expanding my business; we discussed some areas which I had ventured into in the last year. The topic of the conversation revolved around budget allocation for this expansion. I know what you are thinking…”YAWN.” During our conversation he asked me my thoughts on the marketplace in which I was making my move. I knew I could do what needed to be done to make it successful, but as we continued to talk about the costs and steps required to make it happen, I said “I know I can do it, but I’m just not passionate about it.” At that moment he said, “Stop right there. If you don’t have the passion, it’s not worth pursuing.”

He was right. You have to have passion to be successful. So, I took a step back and asked some important questions: what excites me in business, where can I find my passion in my expansion, what is holding me back and how can I overcome that?

I have to say…I still have passion when it comes to my current book of business in healthcare. At this point, you may be thinking I’m crazy, which I don’t blame you as it’s hard to imagine still having that enthusiasm with all the challenges we face in the current marketplace, but God help me… I’m still passionate about it. That being said, in order to stay relevant and grow you have to look at areas that ignite in you a hunger for more.

This conversation with my trusted friend was a pivotal moment for me. I had been feeling a burden about my thoughts on the expansion and when he pointed out what I knew but didn’t want to admit, I found my load lift and ideas flow. In these days of uncertainty about the healthcare arena many owners look desperately for a new way to increase revenues. Desperation can lead to miscalculations and lost profitability.

We forget that we are entrepreneurs who began many years ago with a passion and a purpose which led us to start our businesses. Overtime, some may lose that entrepreneurial spirit as work experiences, reimbursement cuts and maybe age takes its toll over time. Why should we not move forward with the same vigor and optimistic fortitude which got us into our businesses? The only thing stopping us is ourselves.

My son graduated from college recently and he is so enthusiastic about his future. He listens to podcasts, reads books and sits on lectures from some of the most successful and wealthy entrepreneurs. He found them so interesting that he told me about them. I began listening and reading the same authors, lecturers, speakers, etc. as he and I have to say, I found myself getting excited again. So when, my friend told me I needed to do something that gave me passion…it all hit me at once. Everything which I had been reading, listening and thinking about settled in and I knew that I could find my new passion in business and I am an entrepreneur. That spirit needs to feed our minds and ideas for new revenue streams, opportunities and increased potential for success.

People always say “hindsight is 20/20.” Guess what…as more experienced (not older ) entrepreneurs we do have the insight and experience that we didn’t have in our 20s and 30s. We can use that knowledge to spur on new ideas, experiences and yes, even new businesses. We can keep our current companies moving forward by reviving our sense of spirit and if we want, venture into new business expansions too.

You don’t have to be a millennial to find your revived entrepreneurial spirit and make the jump to increased success. You just have to have the passion to take the leap again. And if you need a little extra courage, there’s always wine…

Till next time….Sarah

I always look forward to attending Spring Medtrade in Vegas. First of all…it’s in Las Vegas!!! Need I say more? Second there’s a different vibe in Vegas. Maybe it’s the shortened time period, maybe it’s that it attracts more folks from the west coast, or maybe it’s the venue. Whatever the reason, this year’s Medtrade brought with it a new focus. The Medtrade Educational Advisory Board (EAB) paid attention to comments from previous year’s evaluations and did a conference ‘shake up.’ The sessions where composed of mainly panels in hopes to inspire more interaction and networking opportunities. This was an interesting change from individual or dual presenter seminars.

Overall, it seemed well received. Although a bit of a surprise at first for those in attendance, it did provide a great opportunity for interaction between participants and facilitators. My takeaway from the experience as a panelist and moderator is that providers are motivated to make changes, find new opportunities and make synergistic contacts that can help them promote their business. In previous years, billing and audit presentations were hot topics. 2017 seems to be the year of operations; finding ways to make their companies run more efficiently and looking at a business plan that is strong and will move forward in these interesting times. Learning from others experiences and sharing their own made for a very positive experience. Networking was the key word for this Medtrade.

“Networking – the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions”
– Merriam Webster

One of my favorite aspects of what I do is to be able to visit a variety of different companies. Thereby, I get to network for part of my living. People bring me to their businesses to help them operationally but I always have the honor of learning new aspects of the healthcare arena that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity had I not traveled to their locations. Each company has a unique fingerprint in their community. Even if an organization has multiple branches in different cities/states there is an overriding corporate culture, but different nuance based on locale. That’s the benefit of doing what I do, I get to see a variety of businesses and their unique set-ups.

Networking whether at a trade show in Vegas or with business people/owners in your community is a great way to learn and improve your own operations. And if that doesn’t help, there’s always wine…

Till next time….Sarah