Business is one of those aspects of practice that many new practitioners approach with a not small amount of fear and loathing. Business is often viewed as something bothersome and takes away from focusing on our practice. But the truth is, just like there is a false dichotomy between mind and body, the idea that business is somehow separate from our practice not only is not helpful, but cuts us off from all kinds of creativity and learning.
In this conversation we use the entrepreneurial mindset to discover solutions and opportunities where previously you might have only seen obstacles and annoyance.
Listen in to this conversation and learn why learning to care for your business is not so different from learning to care for your patients.
In This Conversation We Discuss:
- How John got into business
- The difference of being the boss
- Treating business as a privilege instead of as a requirement
- Strategies for overcoming obstacles, daily routine and suggestions for entrepreneurs
- Complaining does not help
- The 80.20 rule
- Key performance indicators for acupuncturists
- S.M.A.R.T
- Ways of getting your message out to the world
- Using your strengths to extend your business
- Building relationships with patients
- Closing thoughts
In marketing, focus is everything.
Marketing is about deciding what you’re going to do, while recognizing that which you’re not going to do!
It’s possible to have fun doing serious things.
I’m John G. McGarvey, a co-founder of DAO Labs, an herbal medicine and lifestyle company that is changing the way western consumers approach health, by embracing the 2,500 year-old formulas and practices of Chinese medicine in sustainable, easy-to-understand formats. While I started my professional career on Wall Street, I made a significant pivot and worked at an international NGO in Lhasa, Tibet. Following that experience, I shifted to the natural products industry, first with a frozen food platform and now, by focussing exclusively on Chinese herbal medicine. I’m typically a high stress-type-A personality, so I’ve embraced Chinese medicine to help with everything from improving my sleep quality, to reducing anxiety, to radically improving my digestion. I attended Northwestern University and have an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management. I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the hot bed of Chinese herbal medicine, with my wife and two kids.
Links and Resources
Visit John's herb company at mydaolabs.com
Looking for some business reading? Here's John's book on Trade and Promotion
Join the discussion!
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