Teams Make a Difference
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed
people can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.  – Margaret Mead.
 
"The difference between a small business owner and a
successful entrepreneur is the presence of a TEAM," says
Robert Kiyosaki, in Retire Young, Retire Rich.
"Entrepreneurship," says Kiyosaki "is a team sport."
 
As you start your new health care practice and prepare your
business plan, include a section in your management plan
about your support team.   We all need to surround
ourselves with positive, helpful people as we go through
life.  If you want to have a successful health care
practice, you need to work with a team who will support you
in your efforts to start and grow this practice.
 
So who should be on this team? Anyone you choose who you
feel can help you in setting up your practice and
supporting its progress.  Some possibilities:
1. Your attorney
2. Your CPA
3. Other professionals in your field in the community or an
adjoining community
4. Your spouse or parent
5. Your banker
6. An old friend who is in marketing (or web design, or
advertising)
7. A success coach (more about this later)
 
Construct your team by looking for individuals who can fill
specific functions:
1. A financial guru, who can help you through the setup of
your books and be sure you're on the right track at tax
time.  This person should also help you look ahead to when
your practice is going well and you need to minimize your
taxes, provide employee benefits and, yes, evaluate tax
shelters.
2. A coach, to help you "envision, clarify, create and
sustain" your results.  Successful people have coaches.
You need one too.  You'll be amazed at the positive effect
on your life and your business.  Here's what a great coach
can do for you: - Clear out your mental obstacles to
success - Help you clarify your goals - Keep you
accountable for progress - Give you momentum over the tough
spots.
 
Your coach doesn't have to be local; it's more important
that you feel comfortable with the coach's style and you
are compatible.  For a list of coaches, go to "Coach U's
"FindACoach" (http://www.findacoach.com ) or Coachville
 
1. A marketing guru, to keep your marketing plan sharp and
help you refocus when you need to make changes.  This
includes a web page designer and branding expert.
2. A visionary thinker, to help you see into the future and
keep you motivated to get there.
3. An attorney or someone with a broad knowledge of small
business law.  You'll need this person anyway, so why not
get him/her on your team too?
 
What are the requirements for these individuals to join the
team?
1. They must have some specific area of expertise that you
can draw on for knowledge, as discussed above.
2. They must be positive, supportive people (no
"nay-sayers" or "party poopers" allowed).  Mark Twain said,
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions."
  If you ask someone to be on your team and he/she seems too
negative, politely remove the person.  One negative person
can destroy a great team.
3. They must be willing to commit some time to meeting as a
group and individually with you over a period of time
(possibly years).
 
Why would these people want to do this?
1. They care about you
2. They are excited about your practice
3. They are flattered to be asked
4. In some cases, you're paying them.
 
What's the difference between this team and my corporate
Board of Directors? They might be the same group, but
probably not.  Your Board has fiduciary (financial)
responsibility for the success of your practice; your
support team does not.  You can get your support team
together more often than the Board, for different types of
issues.
 
How do I get these people together? Do they all have to be
in the same place at the same time? With the Internet,
everything is possible.  Team members can be anywhere and
you can connect with them via free conference calls (try
 
What do I do with these people once I've identified them?
Invite them all to breakfast and ask them "What is the one
thing I should do to make this practice successful this
year?"  Then sit back, let them talk, and take notes.  Do
it once a month for the first year or two, then once every
other month.  Give them your business plan and have them
discuss it at the first meeting.  Ask them, "What do you
think?  If you were a bank, would you lend me money? What
can I do to improve this plan?"
 
The first few months after you open, they will be helping
you work through the startup decision process ("Should I be
a sole proprietor or an LLC?" What phone service is best?
What marketing approach will work best in this
community?").  Later, they will be keeping you motivated,
review your sales and expense figures, deal with issues of
the moment, and determine additional strategies.
 
The point is that you don't just designate people to help
you.  Talking to each of these people individually is
helpful, but it isn't everything.  Get them together on a
regular basis.  There is synergy (whole is greater than the
sum of its parts) in having people talk with each other and
focus on one issue or problem.
 
What if they don't want to participate? For some of these
people, you may have to provide payment.  Your attorney,
for example, might have to bill you for the time.  But in a
small town he/she might be willing to participate for
nothing more than a free breakfast.  People love being
asked for their advice and they love being involved in
something new and exciting.  In a small town in particular,
they will catch on quickly to the benefit of your practice
to the community at large, and to them.
 
What if I can't afford to pay people?   Find people who
will help you for nothing.  Check your local chapter of
SCORE (www.score.org).  Find a business owners group.  For
example, there are several groups for women business
owners, like NAWBO (www.nawbo.org ) , which has chapters
across the country.  Start networking by joining the
Chamber of Commerce and find someone else who is starting a
business and be supports for each other.  One of my grads
is starting in a small town where a new dentist is also
just starting; they have found it very useful to share
startup experiences and discuss joint marketing efforts.
 
For marketing expertise, check the local community college
for students in these areas who need expertise to add to
their portfolio.  You may find a great person who is
willing to help you for very little.
 
Motivational speaker and writer Brian Tracy says, "Teamwork
is so important that it is virtually impossible for you to
reach the heights of your capabilities or make the money
that you want without becoming very good at it."  Remember
that you ARE the 5 people you spend the most time with.  So
if you want to be successful, get yourself a positive,
knowledgeable group of people, form your practice success
team, and get going!
 
 
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Copyright 2007 Jean Wilson Murray, MBA, PhD.
Dr. Jean Murray has been advising small business owners
since 1974.  As the founder of Planning for Practice
Success, she specializes in assisting health care
professionals with business plan construction and startup
details. She can help you gain the knowledge to act and the
confidence to begin.  Learn more at
 
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