I wish I had learned this lesson sooner.
At almost 48 years old, it’s wild to think I’ve been running a successful private practice since 2007. Over the years, I’ve made more mistakes than I care to count—but each one taught me something valuable. So if you’re in a season where your business feels like a flaming dumpster fire full of insurance denials and frustration, I want you to know: you’re not alone. I’ve been there.
The truth is, successful private practice dietitians don’t avoid hard things—they lean into them.
And the #1 thing they do differently?
They master the singularity of focus.
The Hard Truth Most Practice Owners Avoid
We’re trained to work hard, but not always to work smart. We create to-do lists, chase productivity, and stay busy with low-impact tasks. Why?
Because it’s easier.
Busy work feels productive, but it often doesn’t move the needle. As a result, many dietitians spend too much time organizing and planning, and not enough time focusing on what grows their practice.
Even something as simple as charting CAN be done more efficiently. BUT dietitians love to make things more challenging than they have to!
Focus isn’t a personality trait. It’s a skill.
It’s what happens when we cut the noise, set boundaries, and commit to meaningful actions. That’s what successful private practice dietitians do.
Ask Yourself This ONE Question
When I feel scattered (which is quite often!), I pause and ask:
“What is the ONE thing, if accomplished, that would make everything else in my practice easier or irrelevant?”
Often, the answer is the one task I’ve been avoiding. For some, that is learning how to bill insurance for MNT.
For others, it’s marketing their insurance-based practice or streamlining systems. Whatever it is, successful private practice dietitians do this hard thing first.
Make That ONE Thing Visible
Now we can come up with a plan.
Here’s how to take action:
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Write your “one thing” on a sticky note. Please put it on your desk, your mirror, your phone wallpaper.
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List out every small task required to complete that one thing.
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Start with tiny, clear actions. Here’s an example:
Example “one thing”: Tell more people about my insurance-based nutrition practice.
Mini-tasks:
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Create a one-line elevator pitch.
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Verbally tell five new people per day about your services.
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Join a local networking group within 30 days.
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Post that elevator pitch on one social platform daily for 30 days.
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Send a monthly email newsletter introducing your services.
Focus on Less to Achieve More
Successful private practice dietitians eliminate distractions, focus on high-impact actions, and build habits that grow their business, especially when it feels uncomfortable.
On the other side of discomfort is the practice you’ve been dreaming of.
Sometimes, one conversation is all it takes to identify your “one thing.”
So… what are you avoiding?
Let’s tackle it together.