The first quarter is in the bag, and now you can look back and see how you did at this important evaluation point. If 25% of the year is now past, how did your accomplishments stack up compared to your goals?

This is not an excuse to judge, complain, or even wish – it’s a time for cold, hard reality, objective assessment, and a willingness to shift your attitudes and strategies where necessary. If you’re on course or exceeding your expectations, then bravo, and keep cranking! Your plan is working, so keep on working it, and find ways to intensify, refine, and celebrate your victories along the way.

But if you find yourself lagging behind your intentions, or if you simply know you can do better, then no blame, no freaking out, just take a breath, get yourself resourceful in whatever ways you do it, and prepare to launch yourself into the next quarter with resolve, enthusiasm and determination.

Start by checking in on yourself – are you taking good care of yourself physically, so you have sufficient energy to invest? Are you tending your mental, emotional and spiritual garden, so you empower yourself with positive self-talk, consistency with your highest ideals, and a sense of humor so you can keep it light when you need to?

Now that you are feeling good about the challenges before you and your ability to address them, get it in gear! No dragging your feet, set a reasonable goal to develop some momentum, and take massive action! If the issue is new patients, then get passionate and creative about sharing your message, and about making yourself available to serve. If the issue is office procedure and patient compliance, narrow down the problem to its causes, and focus on solutions. Get your team involved, they have ideas and perspectives that can help you if you allow them to.

No matter what your accomplishments so far this year, there is ample opportunity for you to reach and surpass your goals. The only way you can fail at this is to not do your best, because your best is good enough to move ahead, and then some. But it requires your attention, some personal power, and of course, persistence. Take responsibility, and grow yourself and your practice – it’s what you were meant to do, and you can do it.