action step

One of our CLNC^® pros, Suzanne Arragg, shares how losing sight of her business plan almost cost her a valuable attorney-client and what she did to come back even stronger.

“A couple of years ago a law firm I had worked with for three years noticeably stopped sending new cases to me and emails I sent on existing cases went unanswered. My relationship with the paralegal paid off. She called me to let me know that the partners were shopping for another nurse consultant. She told me she was advocating for me and had expressed her concern to the attorneys that she felt it was unfair they hadn’t let me know. I thanked her for her phone call and as I hung up, my head started to spin.

This was a reality check. Too often, we become comfortable with the daily routine of business and forget the importance of spending time each day on our business plan and marketing. Even if it is only 10-15 minutes, we should never lose sight of its importance.

Once my head stopped whirling and my thoughts became more organized, I began to refocus on my CLNC^® business practices and market more. Within a couple of months, new cases began to arrive and I picked up new attorney-clients. But more importantly, I did not lose sight of the value of my existing attorney-clients. I continued to call the partners and express my commitment to servicing their law firm. Guess what? They called to set up a meeting to discuss moving forward. Since that time, our relationship is stronger than ever. In fact, at their request I have expanded my CLNC ^® services to meet their litigation needs.

In hindsight, I think their shopping experience was healthy not only for them, but for me as well. They quickly realized the communication and work product of others did not compare to mine. I learned that taking the time to build strong relationships with attorney-clients and their staff has value beyond the dollar and that losing sight of my business plan was a prescription for potential failure.”

Suzanne E. Arragg, RN, BSN, CDONA/LTC, CLNC

Success Is Inside!

When I decided to start my own business as a legal nurse consultant in 1982 I had a full time nursing job at the hospital, plus I was having to work a part-time job to pay my mortgage. How could I possibly realize my dream of starting a business? Through Promise 3. No matter how tired I was at the end of the day I would take at least one action step a day toward my legal nurse consulting business.

Let’s face it, dreams and visions are great, but without action they are nothing more than hallucinations. Without action, visions scud away and dissolve like clouds. While my belief in pioneering this new profession never wavered my belief alone wasn’t enough. I needed to take action every day.

When a national news anchor from CNN asked me how I got to where I am today in light of my humble beginnings, I was hoping to say something profound. But the truth was I did it one step at a time.

Like anyone trying to accomplish any whopping big goal, I had to tackle it in small workable chunks – talk to that first attorney, get my first medical-related case and build my first attorney-client relationship.

I lacked business savvy, but with each small step I gained both knowledge and momentum. Sometimes I barreled through with enthusiasm, other times I barely had the energy to inch forward, but the accumulated effect of all those steps brought me to where I am today. What I learned in the process and what still applies today is that it is less important what I do and more important that I do something.

Successful Certified Legal Nurse Consultants love the action as much as the dream. By taking action every day you develop the habit and discipline to make your vision a reality. When you focus not just on the idea but on making it happen, you stay in motion, not just dreaming your passions but living them.

Make this third promise now, that you will take at least one action step every day for the next 30 days on the big thing that will bring you closer to launching or growing your CLNC^® business. Once you are hooked on the natural high of action, taking giant leaps comes easy.

Success Is Inside!

P.S. Comment and share the action step you will make today to launch or grow your CLNC^® business.