Comments on: My Acupuncture Business Plan http://blog.insights-for-acupuncturists.com/2009/04/08/my-acupuncture-business-plan/ Lisa Hanfileti, LAc Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:22:32 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Courtney http://blog.insights-for-acupuncturists.com/2009/04/08/my-acupuncture-business-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Courtney Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:23:39 +0000 http://blog.insights-for-acupuncturists.com/?p=280#comment-277 Lisa, you state on your web site that "no one goes to acupuncture school on a whim." I think I may be the exception to this fiat! I was midway through a BA in Philosophy and starting the pre-med program when I decided to run away to New Zealand and study massage therapy. During the program, one of the tutors did an acupuncture demonstration that I happened to witness. I also read an article in the local newspaper about women in the Bay Area (one of my homes!) who were using acupuncture to get pregnant! I was fascinated, and decided to abandon my pre-med curriculum (which I was NOT enjoying), settle for a Bio minor, and pursue TCM education a couple years after I graduated. I didn't end up receiving a treatment until about 8 months before I matriculated, and even then it didn't do a lot for my original complaint (but did do a lot of other neat stuff). Still, I was drawn to the subject and decided to follow my gut, without doing much research or reading on my own (oops!) I've greatly enjoyed perusing your web site, particularly the page where you expound on your evolution from skeptic to practitioner. The first year of TCM school has been challenging in unexpected ways, the most primary being a newfound skepticism that I can't seem to shake. This is echoed my the majority of my friends and family, who haven't tried acupuncture or have tried with mixed to no results. On top of that, the first year of school is replete with rote memorization of terms and concepts that are completely foreign and never quite explained. I've had a few "ah-ha" moments, but I'm holding out for a whole lot more. To my chagrin, I'm still pretty far off starting my own business (I'm still in my first year, going 3/4-time). However, I'm taking a SCORE class at school this term and find your material incredibly useful and pertinent. Even tips on choosing a name for my practice get me excited about this field and this future, which is absolutely invaluable. I completely agree with your assertion that we all need to work together to build a network of business-savvy practitioners, and you've done a remarkable job providing the information to do just that. Despite my misgivings, I'm looking forward to joining the ranks! Thank you for all your work, and especially thank you for sharing your process. Lisa, you state on your web site that “no one goes to acupuncture school on a whim.” I think I may be the exception to this fiat! I was midway through a BA in Philosophy and starting the pre-med program when I decided to run away to New Zealand and study massage therapy. During the program, one of the tutors did an acupuncture demonstration that I happened to witness. I also read an article in the local newspaper about women in the Bay Area (one of my homes!) who were using acupuncture to get pregnant! I was fascinated, and decided to abandon my pre-med curriculum (which I was NOT enjoying), settle for a Bio minor, and pursue TCM education a couple years after I graduated. I didn’t end up receiving a treatment until about 8 months before I matriculated, and even then it didn’t do a lot for my original complaint (but did do a lot of other neat stuff). Still, I was drawn to the subject and decided to follow my gut, without doing much research or reading on my own (oops!)

I’ve greatly enjoyed perusing your web site, particularly the page where you expound on your evolution from skeptic to practitioner. The first year of TCM school has been challenging in unexpected ways, the most primary being a newfound skepticism that I can’t seem to shake. This is echoed my the majority of my friends and family, who haven’t tried acupuncture or have tried with mixed to no results. On top of that, the first year of school is replete with rote memorization of terms and concepts that are completely foreign and never quite explained. I’ve had a few “ah-ha” moments, but I’m holding out for a whole lot more.

To my chagrin, I’m still pretty far off starting my own business (I’m still in my first year, going 3/4-time). However, I’m taking a SCORE class at school this term and find your material incredibly useful and pertinent. Even tips on choosing a name for my practice get me excited about this field and this future, which is absolutely invaluable.

I completely agree with your assertion that we all need to work together to build a network of business-savvy practitioners, and you’ve done a remarkable job providing the information to do just that. Despite my misgivings, I’m looking forward to joining the ranks! Thank you for all your work, and especially thank you for sharing your process.

]]> By: Julie M Baumhofer, MS, L.Ac http://blog.insights-for-acupuncturists.com/2009/04/08/my-acupuncture-business-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Julie M Baumhofer, MS, L.Ac Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:20:55 +0000 http://blog.insights-for-acupuncturists.com/?p=280#comment-59 My education, like that of most acupuncturists, was focused solely on the practice of Chinese medicine and not on the business side of things. But in order to start a private practice I needed a crash course on business, and Lisa Hanfileti provided invaluable resources towards this goal. Her website, "10 Big Mistakes" video, and business plan enabled me to quickly and effectively secure the funding I needed to make my dream a reality. -Julie M Baumhofer, MS, L.Ac http://www.butongacupuncture.com/ My education, like that of most acupuncturists, was focused solely on the practice of Chinese medicine and not on the business side of things. But in order to start a private practice I needed a crash course on business, and Lisa Hanfileti provided invaluable resources towards this goal. Her website, “10 Big Mistakes” video, and business plan enabled me to quickly and effectively secure the funding I needed to make my dream a reality.

-Julie M Baumhofer, MS, L.Ac
http://www.butongacupuncture.com/

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