Hi, how are you?
Happy October!
If this is your first time reading the Radiant Business newsletter, welcome!
This is where I share my practice reflections together with tips and links I hope will inspire you.
It’s also where I share news of upcoming courses and webinars.
Money Wisdom for Homeopaths ✨
£50
Wednesday 6th October 9.30 am - 2.30 pm
As homeopaths, we offer and give a valuable service.
Why then, is it so hard to align ourselves with financial success?
There are many ways to sabotage ourselves when it comes to money.
Conscious blocks, total avoidance or simply being vague. I have ticked all of these boxes myself, so there's no judgment here. 🤷🏼♀️
When I started training as a homeopath I didn't give any thought to how I was going to earn a living from it.
I was so absorbed in learning about my passion, that I allowed myself to be blinkered to the business and money side of things.
To begin with, I was only concerned with investing in my learning.
I not only paid for my training but also extra clinics, multiple seminars, books, remedies, and all the other things I felt I needed along the way.
For a long time, homeopathy was something I spent money on, not earned money from.
After 14 years in practice, I have learned many lessons about the reality of earning a living as a self-employed homeopath.
This webinar will cover many topics, including: pricing, when and how to increase fees, selling products, evaluating overheads, concessions, packages, swaps, banking, financial record-keeping, and more.
PLUS my wonderful accountant Lis Sims (who trained as a homeopath at CHE the same year as me) is going to join us for Q and A for one of the sessions.
Lis is fab, and she submits accounts for many homeopaths so she really knows what we need to know! 🦉
As well as myself and Lis, there’s a workbook to use during the webinar and a clear set of notes.
NOTE: To take part, you need to attend the webinar on the day. If you don’t join live, there isn’t a ‘watch later’ option.
If you are looking for some insight and wisdom on how to increase your earnings from homeopathy, I hope you can join me.
Other interesting trainings
Martine Mercy on Fossil Remedies
I was lucky enough to attend a training with Martine several years ago at her home. Her research into the use of fossils as remedies is fascinating and unique.
Contact Clare and Margaret directly for more details and to book: sloughhomeopathycpd@hotmail.co.uk
Caroline Gaskin on Managing Menopause Naturally
I have learned so much from Caroline in the last 18 years, and I know this 2-part training will be full of inspiration and insight as well as practical tools.
Contact Caroline directly for more details and to book:
caroline@carolinegaskin.com
Reality check
This August I was reading a newly published book called ‘Four Thousand Weeks’ by Oliver Burkeman.
Burkeman takes the reader on a deep dive into the human relationship with time, and alongside, a huge reality check.
My work ethic
As I read Four Thousand Weeks, I reflected on my upbringing where I inherited a strong work ethic (mostly from my father) and along with that a feeling that I need to be of service to others (mostly from my mother).
Both of these are positive in many ways, but I have begun to wonder whether my sense of self-esteem rests on me a) working hard, and b) being of service?
That’s been a big realisation for me, and I’m still reflecting on it.
I’ve also been thinking back to my two decades of working extremely hard in London primary schools during the 90s and 00s. This was a time when education standards were pushed towards higher and higher graded achievement through continuous testing and rigorous inspection by OFSTED.
My ability to work hard and push myself continued through 14 years of self-employment during a recession and a pandemic, with six years of them as the sole earner in my family.
It’s hard to know that you are working when you really love your work as I do.
I love to help my homeopathy clients, and I am passionate about sharing my learning with homeopathy colleagues through webinars and courses.
My recent reality check brought me to understand that while my work is important to me, I really don’t want to work full-time and, in fact, I probably want to retire in 6 or 7 years time.
I definitely want to find more balance.
Why I’ve stopped taking on any new clients
Last week I made the decision to stop taking on new clients for the next couple of months.
I honestly never thought I would see the day when I would need to do this, but it finally came.
Four Thousand Weeks definitely influenced me, but I’d been having increasing concerns about my ability to take on new clients for quite a while.
Factors that have influenced my decision
An increase in enquiries for conditions I don’t feel qualified to treat.
Many new enquiries from people without knowledge or experience of homeopathy, simply looking for solutions.
Wanting to make more time available for long-standing clients.
Feeling increasingly tired and stressed, which I didn’t used to.
Thanks to Oliver Burkeman, I am also starting to understand ‘finitude’ - the finite amount of people I can accommodate as part of a therapeutic relationship.
Decisions so far
Change my ‘book a free call’ button to a ‘send an enquiry’ form.
Refer on to other homeopaths who have space for more clients.
Update my client-therapist agreement and create a new intake form.
Review my decision again in January 2022.
How about you?
Do you have a ‘finite’ number of people you feel you can give your time and energy to?
Have you ever needed to stop taking on new enquiries?
Please do share your thoughts in the comments below.
I promise to respond to all of them. 🙋🏼♀️
October inspiration
If you’d like to join me for a webinar discussion around this topic or if you simply feel you need some inspiration for October, feel free to join the paid subscription for this newsletter (£7 per month).
Our October webinar will be on Thursday 7th October, 9 - 9.45am.
You will receive an email with a private link to join the webinar the day before.
Brain food
Working with anxious clients - tips from a therapist
If, like me, you’ve been seeing more anxiety in your clients, this article gives some useful tips and insights.Wellness Mommy Bloggers and the cultish language they use
This is a long read, and could be challenging for anyone who identifies as working in ‘wellness’. Lots of food for thought.How to identify your personal strengths
We have a running joke at home about ‘superpowers’. It’s good to know what they are, and this article can help you identify them.The benefits of journalling on productivity
I am always grateful for resources that inspire me to keep on journalling, such as this one. Even 15 minutes can make a difference. Truth!It’s unfair and it doesn’t make sense
Worth reading right to the end for the valuable insights into what to say (and what not to say) when people are going through a tough time. I have needed to embed this way of thinking for myself personally as well as professionally this month.
Thank you, as always, for reading.
I’ll be back in your inbox again in a few weeks.
If you’d like to download the free October planner you can do that here.
I hope you have a good month ahead! 💁🏼♀️
Tracy
P.S. If you would like to subscribe and receive an invitation to the monthly inspiration webinars, you can do that here.
Hey Tracy. Funny you should say that now.
I too have been looking at my resources and the sense of the finite. I never thought I’d be thinking this way but a combination of factors have brought me here.
First is the business course I did with you in 2017 - the changes I made as a result transformed my practice making it much more visible and viable.
Second is my daughter having to move back home with a cancer diagnosis. Her illness and treatment have affected us all and made me be much more careful with the finite nature of my resources.
This August and September I have trialled informally reducing client contact to two days/ week but taking that extra day as a day off.
I have continued to redirect those clients who, for various reasons, I don’t wish to work with.
My income has risen.
The next step is to increase my prices in 2022.
The wallpaper on my phone currently reads ‘become more aware of what’s worth your energy’. My constant reminder.
Thanks for this thought provoking piece. I’ve been getting clearer about where I want to go with my work and for how much longer. Interesting others are too.
Hi Tracy. Great Newsletter as always. I seem to be on a similar path. I have thrown myself into my practice the last 21 years. It feels like time to semi retire with big chunks of time off. I am trying to work out how to do that without losing all my clients. Lots of options like working with another homeopath etc so I will work on it the next few months. Have a great October. Jude