Wow - The Entrepreneurial MD's Project Number One for 2007 is about to begin!

I am thrilled to announce my affiliation with Start-UpNation, Pam Slim of Escape From Cubicle Nation and John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing to offer a 12-week coaching program to help anyone who is serious about opening for business (or recrafting their existing business or practice).

Before I share any details about the program, here's my question to you:

When you picture leaving your clinical practice or organizational job to start your own business, what happens?

• Are you overwhelmed with a sense of not knowing where to begin?
• Do you procrastinate when it comes to tackling your first steps “to-do” list?
• Do you experience fear and doubt about your ability to pull it off?

It may be that you're planning a small business to supplement your current income, a start-up that fulfills a change-in-lifestyle fantasy, or a mini-empire employing others and creating a legacy.

All successful businesses start with the basics:

• alignment of personal and business goals
• sound business planning
• viable financing
• finding the right people, and
• knowing how to distinguish themselves in their markets and sell their offerings.

For most people, it ISN’T enough to read books or web articles, no matter how comprehensively the authors cover the topics. They need the guidance and insights from actual people with knowledge and experience!

StartUpNation has long been a favorite resource to refer entrepreneur clients to, as it provides resources for thousands of entrepreneurs through its articles, podcasts, and call-in radio show. However, until now, it has lacked a structured program led by experienced coaches to personally guide people through the initial phases of starting a business.

In response to a huge demand for live help, the innovative company has created a coaching program to enrich and deepen its "Ten Steps to Open for Business" module. In this coaching program, as the coaches who designed the course, Pam and I will be addressing all the basics!

My involvement came about as a result of networking (see - I promise it works!), and a cherished relationship with Pam, whom I had met in a teleclass. She had, turn had forged the connection with Rich and Jeff Sloan, the founders of StartUpNation.

As the first of StartUpNation's affiliated Entrepreneur Coaches, Pam and I are committed to delivering the "Ten Steps to Open for Business Coaching Program" to our course participants, taking advantage of the wealth of StartUpNation resources AND providing our coaching expertise and support in real time.

It's a 12-week coaching program that starts on February 14th (Pam Slim's class) or on February 16 (my class) (this is two weeks later than originally anticipated because of a tight timeline to get all the software testing completed). It combines 75-minute weekly group coaching meetings over the phone with a private online forum for your group, and 1:1 coaching sessions with your coach - me, if you sign up for the February 16th series! And, yes, if you have to miss a class (after all who could realistically commit to all twelve weeks as a physician?), you'll be able to catch up by listening to a downloadable recording of each class.

Is this program for you? The answer is YES, if:

• You have a specific business idea
• You are intrigued by the thought of going into business for yourself
• You don’t have an organized process for how to do that….yet!
• You’re stuck in your "day job" and working on your business on the side, and your next big step is to go full-time in your business
• You are a self-starter who would appreciate some support and structure
• You are ready to take action!

 If this is just what you need to help you kickstart your 2007 with a resounding bang, check out the program. I'd love to have you participate in my group!!