Barriers and resistances

Having just written a bit about anxieties, I thought I'd get a little more specific. True, there is a general fear of the unknown that makes it difficult to move forward with changes. But when I think about it, I can break the fears down into more specific categories. I think it is good to be aware of what barriers we face before we begin.

Here are five that I've recognized - some are practical concerns, some cut to the core of how I view myself:

• Confidence in myself as a clinician ("Am I really ready to do this?" / "Who do I think I am?")
• Confidence in myself as a businessperson ("Where do I start?" / "What if I fail?")
• Finances ("Can I afford to invest in a business at this time?" Of course, on the flip-side, we have: "Can I afford to continue to have no job and no income?")
• Indecision about making key choices (such as: fees; locations; focus; etc.)
• Licensure issues (It's complicated; I'll expand on this later)

I'll probably go into these in more detail as I move forward.

Why starting a business is like having a baby

It occurred to me, today, that starting a private practice couldn't  be any harder than having a baby. Granted, I am a father so I didn't have to carry a child inside me, or squeeze it out, or nurse him once he was born. But I've done a lot - from buying strollers to choosing diapers, to changing diapers to waking up at all hours of the night, and so on. Prior to the birth, my wife and I went through a period of planning; decision-making; and preparation. We were a bit nervous about our preparation and readiness, and it was hard to imagine what it would really be like. At that point a baby was all theoretical. Once our son was born, the theory faded and we just did what we needed to do, day by day, and everything went great. Anxiety usually comes from the unknown.

I tell myself that my new business endeavor is similar: a lot of preparation; a lot of unknowns; some anxiety or uncertainty; no instruction manual. But, once the groundwork had been laid and once I start seeing clients, the fear of the unknown should fade (or maybe be replaced by new fears) as the reality takes on its own momentum.