Last month, probation officer Shawn Williamson in Utah, wrote an email asking me for “general lessons learned” that I can pass on to a new counselor.  These are the first three things that come to mind.

Start Small. In all the ways that you can start, start small.  Buy 250 business cards, not 2000.  (You’ll change your mind about how they should look.)  Rent office space 1-2 days each week.  (You won’t use that office 7 days a week for a long, long time.)  Limit your networking to one organization, join a committee, and work it! (Rather than joining 5 and wearing yourself out.)

Get the idea?  Start small and focus.  Be exactly who you are.  And, excel at it.  No one else can do you like you!

Think Big. And, I mean really BIG!   Create that vision of who you want to be and what you want to be doing 20 years from now.  Feel the power and influence . . . the difference that you want to be making 20 years from now.  Don’t skimp on this part.  It matters.  It’s your road map for how you get there one small step at a time.

Adapt Quickly. It’s key to staying viable and successful in private practice.  Stay alert to the changes in your community so that you can anticipate the needs of your clientele.  One of the best things about being small is that you can be nimble – offering a new service, creating a new product, or responding immediately to an unmet need.  Take advantage of your small size to find and seize the opportunities in the marketplace.  There are clients out there just waiting for your unique skills!

Can you think of other ways to start small, think big, and adapt quickly?  If so, I hope you will share them with us here!