One of our APHA members* forwarded this video link to me, interested in the idea posed about starting one’s practice before it is perfect.
So I watched it… And watching it was perhaps the best 3 minutes and 16 seconds I have spent on business motivation in a very long time. So I ask you, too, to spend your next few minutes viewing it – then come back here for a few comments….
“tap” “tap” “tap” “waiting for everyone to come back to this post….” “tap” “tap” “tap”
OK – so in those few minutes I heard a very young and clearly experienced and knowledgeable Miki Agrawal** sum up the mental approaches and attitudes it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. (I am truly impressed!)
Her suggestions, and her approach, are spot on for those who think they want to start and grow a patient advocacy business! I’ll provide some highlights here because they are so valuable.
Miki begins by saying that if you want to start a business to make money – forget it. That you’ll only be successful if you start a business with PURPOSE. You can determine whether you truly have purpose by asking yourself three questions:
1. What sucks in my world?
2. Does it suck for more than just me?
3. Can I be passionate about it for a long time?
See what I mean? If I didn’t know better, I would think she was talking directly to those of us who are so very passionate about patient advocacy. It all fits so well.
Miki goes on to talk about three important things you must do and believe to make your business work:
1. You must eliminate negative relationships. If you have people telling you that you can’t be successful, or that your business will fail, then don’t talk to them anymore about your business. Conversation non grata.
2. Then – the reason this video was forwarded to me: “Iteration is perfection.” You must start somewhere – and you don’t need to be perfect to start. This is similar to Voltaire’s “Perfect is the enemy of the good.” Just get started! Then tweak it along the way as you listen to your marketplace. If it’s not perfect, then improve and adjust it and do it better the next time. If it still isn’t quite right, then adjust it again. It may never be perfect! But it may always be better than the last time. And if it’s not, then make that adjustment, too.
(I hope this concept of “Iteration is Perfection” will help some of you who suffer from the paralysis of analysis get off the dime.)
3. Micki’s last piece of advice (now – remember – she does all of this in just over 3 minutes!) – is to reach out to others not by asking “how can you help me?” Rather, approach every relationship with “how can I help you?” and watch how doors open.
I recognize useful motivational thinking when I see it – and in this video, I certainly saw it. Thanks to Miki for lighting a fire under me and for the promise of lighting a fire under you, too.
What good advice do YOU have to share about starting and growing your advocacy practice?
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Share your experience or join the conversation!
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*Thanks to Maryellen Jachimowski for forwarding the link!
**Miki Agrawal is the founder and owner of several businesses, and the author of Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After
Loved this. Makes me happy I started a business!
Thank you for sharing!
I love the idea of starting from the place of whatever sucks for you. Negative emotions can be a powerful source of energy when work transforms them into something good.
Brilliant, concise and powerful!! Missed this, glad to have found it. Thank you Trisha!