Welcome to the Planning for Practice Success Newsletter

November 27, 2006

ISSN 1934-3248

All I would tell people is to hold onto what was individual about themselves, not to allow their ambition for success to cause them to try to imitate the success of others. You've got to find it on your own terms.
-- Harrison Ford (1942-) American Actor

In this issue:

New: The Bank for you???
Marketing Tip: The "swipe" file
Just for You: How to increase your credit score
Relevant Reading: The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People

The bank for you?  If you live in the Quad Cities area and you are looking for a bank for your business loan, consider Northwest Bank.  I saw recently that they are Number One in working with SBA for small business loans.

Just For You:  For Practice Startup Success subscribers ONLY - I found a great report by Bankers Healthcare Group that gives 3 tips on how to increase your credit score to give you a better chance of receiving financing and to keep your loan rate low.  This is definitely worth reading.  Here is the link:
http://www.bhg-inc.com/Docs/RaiseYourScore.pdf

Marketing Tip:  As you start thinking about how you will market your practice, consider a "swipe" file.  A swipe file is a collection of marketing materials that you collect and save, because you like the look or think they might be a good way to market your practice.  In other words, you "swipe" these ideas from others. I 'm not saying you will steal someone's idea, but you can use the "swipe" materials when you talk to advertising people or artists, to give them an idea of what you want your printed marketing materials to look like.  I "swiped" a couple of direct mail pieces that I received to create the new direct mail postcards I will be sending out after the first of the year.  Get into the habit of looking at everything you receive, every ad you read, as a possibility for your "swipe" file.

Relevant Reading:  The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People, by David Niven (not the actor).  (2002, Harper Collins) Niven says his book contains information he received from "the research conclusions of scientists studying success," and that each conclusion is derived from the work of multiple researchers.

Here are a couple of examples:

1. Confidence comes from feeling confident. One study revealed that, "for eight of ten people," self image matters more than actual performance in how they rate themselves.  In other words, to be successful, start by being confident.  Act as if you know what you're doing and soon you will know what you're doing (I'm really paraphrasing here.)

2.  Effort is over-rated.  It's not how hard you work, but how "smart" you work. Remember that test you studied for all night and did poorly on because you studied the wrong stuff?  How to work smarter?  Get advice from a mentor, read Planning for Practice Success? - that kind of stuff.

3. Take joy in the small steps, the minor victories.  One study found that "life satisfaction is 22 percent more likely for those with a steady stream of minor accomplishments."  In other words, celebrate small victories and enjoy the ride.

Ask Dr. Jean Murray a question: email her at jean@dcpracticesuccess.com
Order Planning for Practice Success or one of our other
products or call our toll free number at any time (24/7): 1-866-940-7526

Best wishes for your continued success,

Jean Murray
Planning for Practice Success
Online at:   http://www.dcpracticesuccess.com

The most absurd and reckless aspirations
have sometimes led to extraordinary success.
-- Vauvenargues

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