Welcome to the Planning for Practice Success Newsletter

December 11, 2006
ISSN 1934-3248

HOLIDAY REMINDER:  If you would like to receive Planning for Practice Success for Christmas, write to santa@dcpracticesuccess.com and include the email of the person to whom Santa should send a reminder.  AND we have special holiday pricing on the book during December! Order now and by Christmas you can be reading and working on the details of starting your practice.

What's New: New Blog: Practice Startup Success
Details on Non-compete agreements
Best States for Business Owners
Relevant Reading: The Four Agreements

Check my new Blog:  http://practicestartupsuccess.typepad.com/ where I write about all of the common questions I get asked on a daily basis about associate/independent contractor contracts, buying a practice, and practice startup. For example,

* What's the standard for build-out?
* How much should I expect to pay for a practice?
* How do I select my business name?
* When do I sign my lease (before or after getting the loan)?

Non-compete agreements:

Since I receive many questions about these agreements, I did some asking.  Here's what an expert on physician agreements says about the enforceability of non-compete agreements:  "To be enforceable, a non-compete agreement should specifically define what activities are prohibited, narrowly define the geographic area to which its restrictions apply, and remain in force for a specific but limited period of time."  Read my new blog (http://practicestartupsuccess.typepad.com) for more information on what makes non-compete agreements so tricky.

Best States for Business

Forbes.com recently evaluated all 50 states to see which were most business-friendly.  The criteria they used included factors related to business costs, economic climate, growth prospects, labor, quality of life, and regulatory environment.   Here are the top 10 states, in order:
#1 Virginia (yes, Randy, that's what they said!)
#2 Texas
#3 North Carolina
#4 Utah
#5 Colorado
#6 Idaho
#7 Nebraska (I can hear those Huskers cheering!)
#8 Delaware
#9 Florida, and
#10 Georgia

Relevant Reading:

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (Amber-Allen Publishing, 1997).  Recently someone reminded me of this book, which I had read some time ago in a group.  I'd suggest you read it, memorize the four agreements, and keep them on a wall in your office, for everyone to see.  Briefly, here are the Four Agreements:

1. Be impeccable with your word. Words have a power and force that can change lives and destroy or create.  Don't use them to spread poison, through gossip, blame.  Use the energy of your words in the direction of truth and love for yourself.
2. Don't take anything personally.  If someone calls you "fat," it's their problem, not yours. (Hard to not take that personally, isn't it?) If someone calls you "beautiful," don't take that personally, either.  It's not about you.  It's about them.
3. Don't make assumptions.  Assumptions create beliefs which can be positive or negative.  Henry Ford said, "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." Ruiz says, "All the sadness and drama you have lived your life was rooted in making assumptions and taking things personally."
4. Always do your best. Your best is constantly changing, but it's always attainable. If you always do your best, there's no way you can blame yourself or judge yourself.
There is so much more in this little book. Give yourself a present this holiday and get this book and read it, then read it again.
_________________________________________________________________

Ask Dr. Jean Murray a question: email her at jean@dcpracticesuccess.com
Order Planning for Practice Success or one of our other
products or call our toll free number at any time (24/7): 1-866-940-7526

Best wishes for your continued success,

Jean Murray
Planning for Practice Success
Online at:   http://www.dcpracticesuccess.com

The most absurd and reckless aspirations
have sometimes led to extraordinary success.
-- Vauvenargues

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