5 Hard Lessons in Business I’m Grateful For [episode 17]
Listen to 5 Hard Lessons in Business I’m Grateful For on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | Your player of choice
Sometimes, the greatest lessons that we learn in life are the ones that we have to learn the hard way.
Since being in business, I’ve had 5 really challenging business experiences.
These are the situations that made me question if I was cut out for business. I had thoughts pop up in my head, telling me I should quit Instagram and my private practice. Yep...I even thought it may be time to throw in the towel on entrepreneurship all together.
But...these hard situations ended up being some of the BEST lessons that I've learned in business! Of course, it wasn’t easy, and it didn’t feel ‘good’ when I was in the thick of it.
Thankfully, I'm on the other side of these experiences now. I’m super grateful for them, because they made me a better business owner + a more self-assured person outside of work, too.
In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 hard lessons in business I’m grateful for. An important lesson I learned early on was how scary it can be to let people really ‘see’ you. I was featured in a Business Insider article that I thought was going to be about why private practice was a better alternative for therapists, vs. tech companies.
Let’s just say...I was a little shocked to discover the article was allll about my finances!
I hadn’t really shared this information with my family or friends yet. I didn’t know if this was something I should be proud of and promoting, or shy away from and pretend it never happened.
At the end of the day, I decided to share the article everywhere I could. This was my first time getting some mean, nasty comments from people online. It was very disorienting for me, but thankfully, people in my real life (and the majority of my community online) were super supportive!
This was a powerful experience that showed me I could be comfortable talking about money. Now, I LOVE getting to be transparent and share about money (which is also my top performing content).
You’ve got to find what sets you apart from others - don’t be afraid to get a little ‘spicy’ and put yourself out there!
Another lesson that I learned the ‘hard’ way was that you will get paid what you allow yourself to get paid.
When I first started seeing therapy clients, I was with a group practice for a set rate of $45/session. I left to see insurance clients on my own, and then private pay clients only. I even used a sliding scale for clients who really wanted to work with me, but couldn’t afford the $150/session.
I *finally* got my life together and realized that charging $250/session to ALL of my clients is what I would do. Since then, not only have I built a full caseload of clients at $250/session, but I’ve also landed some INCREDIBLE brand deals along the way!
You don’t have to settle for those ‘short-term’ wins. Providing value consistently and focusing on building long-term relationships will take you SO much farther!
I’ve got 3 more hard lessons I’ve learned in business, but…you’ll have to tune into the episode to hear ALL the juicy details on those!
The biggest takeaway that I want you to have from this episode is that building a business IS hard. When you’re going through times that are tough and uncomfortable, it simply means you’re about to reach your next level. There really is so much opportunity, and sooo much to be grateful for - even in those hard seasons!
Take some time to reflect on how far you’ve come in your business, and where you’re going next. I’m always cheering you on, and I am TRULY grateful to have you as a listener!!
In this episode, 5 Hard Lessons in Business I’m Grateful For, I cover:
Why letting people really ‘see’ you can be scary
Realizing that you will get paid what you allow yourself to get paid
Risking failure to get really BIG results
My experience with losing $18k on paid ads
Receiving negative feedback from clients
Resources & Links:
⭐️ This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
⭐️ This episode is sponsored by Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2 month grace period
Related Episode:
More about the Business of Therapy podcast:
Are you a passionate therapist that’s burnt out and ready to transition to private pay? You’re asking yourself questions like “how do I build a business?”, “how can I effectively use Instagram to market myself” and “how can I scale a private practice?”
Welcome to the Business of Therapy podcast where we’ll answer those questions and more! Here you’ll find honest conversations about the good and the bad of being a therapist, tactical advice and best practices for marketing yourself on Instagram, and solidarity and community to find your own version of success as a therapist.
Join your host, Kelly McKenna, and her guests as they dive deeper into topics such as navigating burn out, mastering your mindset and boundaries, and tactics and strategies for marketing on Instagram, and more!
Kelly is a licensed therapist and business coach who grew her private practice on Instagram and has helped thousands of other therapists market themselves on social media, and effectively start and scale their private practice.
These episodes will leave you feeling empowered and equipped to take action towards your dream of a successful private practice.
Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
