Blank Slate

By Stacy M. Menz, PT, DPT, PCS

The start of a new year is like the first page of a brand-new notebook. The pages have not been written on yet and we get to create the story that fills the pages. It is a great time to sit down and strategically plan for the upcoming year. What were the goals you declared last year? Did you meet those goals? What are the goals that you want to achieve in the coming year? What do you want to change? What have you learned for the future of your practice?

The Private Practice Section Annual Conference each November is fortuitous in terms of timing. This event can be a catalyst to reflect on the past year; discuss ideas—as well as challenges—with colleagues; and attend presentations that may open your eyes to new systems, ideas, or perspectives that can benefit your practice. Discussing your past year with colleagues may help you to take a step back and reflect on the past year, and this reflection can help you look at things that happened a little differently.

While this may seem like a no-brainer, it is something that motivates and energizes me, allowing me to reinvest each year in my practice and team. It can help bring fresh ideas into existing practices and help us see a new perspective. It allows me— and my team—to decide what those words will be when we begin write in that blank notebook!

What are you excited about for 2016? In addition to starting a new chapter in my notebook, I am excited about a whole new year of editing Impact magazine. We have a brand new editorial calendar starting this month, and our editorial board collaborates with industry leaders and experts to bring fresh perspectives, ideas, and inspiration, which we hope will help guide you on your journey as a private practice physical therapist.