Welcome to my Heart 2 Heart Series featuring existential reflections of the narratives of my heart stories and those of my children and how these stories impact me, my wife, family & friends. Glad you have joined me on this introspective journey.
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When I taught graduate level students to two major universities, I pontificated on how being a counselor is like being an entrepreneur. My license to practice counseling is a license to be a business owner.
Business ownership is an “E-Ticket” ride to adventure. Being your own boss is great. Plenty of autonomy and freedom for the taking. Setting your own schedule. Inconsistent pay and royalty checks are like walking a tightrope. Not getting paid when you are not working or providing care (i,e, sick and vacation time) can be a bit unnerving for some of us.
As I prepare for my surgery, hospitalization and recovery, I am winding down my counseling and consulting business for a period of five to six weeks. Not to mention the weeks preceding and following my surgery and recovery will be different in terms of volume of meetings, energy needed and income generation. My anxiety over not having any and/or low income while ensuring that my clients can “span the gap in care” are two very real concerns that have my full attention.
I have been working with my clients for the past several weeks and will continue up to the start of my medical leave on Saturday, January 28, 2023, to ensure that they are prepared for this interruption to their care. My focus is to ensure that my health and recovery do not unnecessarily impact my client’s care and experience; and that disruption is at a minimum.
Secondary to my client’s care is my own financial security and long term health of my counseling and consulting business. Winding then shutting the business down for a period of two months is a definitely scary and not for the faint of heart. Loss of income, purpose and productivity can be tough on everyone of us. These losses create anxiety and even depression on top of the anxiety and depression associated with health crises. Planning and preparation have and will continue to help. A solid partnership, love and unity have and will continue to help. Faith has and will continue to help.
On the up side, my medical leave will give me time to retool and improve my counseling and consulting skills and approaches. I will emerge from the leave a better and more qualified counselor and business owner.
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