Ben Saunders is not a therapist. He has a very big dream and plan. He wants to set the new fastest time (on foot and with no support) from the edge of the Arctic Ocean to the geographic North Pole. He is not a newbie to Arctic excursions. He is the youngest to ski solo to the North Pole and is known for completing the longest solo Arctic expedition by a Briton.

To help make the latest excursion possible, Ben recruited sponsors, which in a recession isn’t the easiest to do. He was turned down by many but persevered to get a few companies, including LandRover, who believed in his dream.

As Ben prepared for his excursion, he knew he would face thin ice, polar bears, and temperatures with the windchill as low as -70 degrees C. (-94 degrees F.)

Ben was dropped off at the edge of the Arctic Ocean on March 23, 2010 with the plan of completing the 478 mile distance within thirty-five days. Again on foot and with no support!

Just a few days in, there were catastrophic problems with his equipment. One of his fuel canisters was broken. The leaking Coleman fuel contaminated 70% of his food supplies. He now was low on fuel and food.

What now?

Ben weighed the options and while his desire to complete the distance was strong, his personal safety was more important. On March 30, he reported on his blog:

“For a number of reasons, some outside my control and some entirely down to me, I’ve decided to postpone restarting this expedition until the spring of 2010. Convincing sponsors, the media, the audiences I speak to, my girlfriend and my mum that solo expeditions without support over several weeks in one of the least hospitable places on the planet aren’t inherently reckless has at times been difficult. And while I suspect I have a healthier appetite than most for challenge, solitude, hardship and risk, outright danger is something I’ll go out of my way to steer clear of.”

What a powerful lesson in leadership for us all. Sometimes it is time to simply pack up and go home to regroup.

Over the last 35 years in business, I have acquired some guiding principles. Here is one: Both good and bad things will happen at times – sometimes for reasons you don’t understand. The key is to expect and accept them. Then you want to ask the question “What now?”

Your (and my) business income will fluctuate – perhaps during certain times of the year -  or even from year to year. Sometimes it is because of where we are in our own lives. Sometimes it is something that appears – like Ben’s leaky fuel container – outside of our control.

What does a ‘wealthy therapist’ (or ‘thera-preneur’) do when things aren’t going the way you want?

1. Assess the situation with clear eyes, mind and heart.

It is so easy to over-identify with one’s business. (Trust me, I know.) To make decisions that serve and support your business, it is important to see your business as a separate unit from you. When things are going well, a savvy ‘thera-preneur’ determines what is working and why. She looks at her metrics (income and expenses) and asks, “Right now, which of these expenses are driving income? Which aren’t?” She makes decisions thoughtfully.

2. Look for opport’unities to increase income that are new and fresh.

Pair an old idea with a novel approach. For example, instead of a community lecture, consider offering an interactive discussion night with a theme. If you are love working with singles, you could offer an “Understanding the Opposite Gender” group discussion one evening. The attendees write down questions they have for the opposite gender. You could start with asking one of the “men’s questions” to the women. Facilitate the discussion and then offer your own thoughts. Then switch to a “woman’s” question that you ask the male attendees. You could offer this at church singles groups or anywhere singles meet. Heck, you could even do it on a teleclass!

Or maybe you have thought of opening a training institute. Is now the time to do it? Why yes or why not? What about the book you’ve been thinking about writing? Imagine offering a several-session class where you write the book as you teach it. Find your way of creating more income by looking for or creating new oppor’tunities for yourself.

3. Know when to pack up, let go and move on.

Why do we cringe when we think about ‘failure?’ Each time we try something that didn’t work, we are closer to learning what does work. If you are like me, you have tried many therapy models before finding a favorite. You may have spent time with many supervisors, or clinical populations, or even business models before you felt successful. You are not expected to succeed at everything you try. If you learn when to let go (by assessing well) you are then able to move on to your next “big thing.”  Make sure you make space and time for it.

Earthquakes. Ship wrecks. Dangerous excursions to the North Pole. There is uncertainty all around. But in my heart, there is a flutter of excitement in uncertainty. The unpredictable can invite us to tap into our inner-innovator. We can look for new ideas and creative ways of implementing them. We can refine, repeat and offer fresh approaches to ideas that have worked before.

Above all and in spite of the uncertainty around you, please treat yourself with the utmost respect. You know best what is right for you and what you are called to do.

And now – it is your turn.

What situation would be a good one for you to assess now? If it is working, why do you think that is? If not, what does that mean?

Is there an activity in your business (or personal life) that simply needs to be stopped, shut down, or turned off? If yes, how might doing so help you find more time and energy for a more rewarding activity?

How might you use a fresh or novel approach to increase your income?

I thoroughly look forward to reading your thoughts and comments. Please share them posting in the comments below. I look forward to the dialogue. I read and treasure every comment.

And, for me? What now? Well, there is the new book. And, seriously, I can hardly wait until next spring as I follow the brave and smart Ben Saunders on his Arctic adventures. (He invited me to share this amazing photo with you.)

{ 6 comments }