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Dr. Barbara Hales discusses overcoming burnout among physicians by addressing the barriers of time and money. She emphasizes that time is often mismanaged, citing examples of doctors like Dr. Emily and Dr. Njali who reclaimed their time through delegation and workflow redesign, leading to personal fulfillment. On the financial front, Hales argues that many physicians have a clarity problem rather than a money problem, as illustrated by Dr. Lisa, who, after optimizing her expenses and revenue, felt like a CEO. Hales encourages physicians to invest in coaching to achieve balance and thrive, not just survive.
Key Takeaway:
Dr. Emily: An internist who felt she had no time for coaching due to her packed schedule. Through coaching, she identified tasks she could delegate to her staff and set more precise boundaries. As a result, she reclaimed personal time and was able to enjoy meaningful moments with her daughter—demonstrating that time can be created, not just found, by changing how responsibilities are managed
Connect with Barbara Hales:
🐦 Twitter: @DrBarbaraHales
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/theMedicalStrategist
🌐 Business Website: TheMedicalStrategist.com
🎙️ Show Website: MarketingTipsForDoctors.com
📧 Email: Barbara@TheMedicalStrategist.com
📚 Books:
- Content Copy Made Easy
- 14 Tactics to Triple Sales
- Power to the Patient: The Medical Strategist
▶️ YouTube: TheMedicalStrategist
💼 LinkedIn: Barbara Hales
Dr. Barbara Hales 00:02
Welcome to another episode of marketing tips for doctors. I’m your host, Dr Barbara Hales. Today, we are going to be helping physicians move from burnout to business brilliance. We are diving into two of the biggest reasons doctors hesitate to get support, time, and money. You’ve probably said or thought one of these yourself. I don’t have time for coaching. I can’t afford it right now, and that’s okay. They’re valid, real, and deeply human concerns. Today, I want to unpack those beliefs, not to convince you of anything, but to help you see what might be possible if we look at time and money through a different lens, because when you shift how you think about time and money, you open the door to more freedom, more balance, and more joy. You
Dr. Barbara Hales 01:33
let’s start with time, the most precious thing you have, if you’re a physician in private practice, your schedule probably looks like organized chaos. You see patients back-to-back, handle administrative work late into the night, and you’re probably convinced this is just how it is. But what if the real problem isn’t the amount of time you have? It’s the way your time is being consumed by things you shouldn’t have to carry alone.
Dr. Barbara Hales 02:07
I want to tell you about Dr. Emily, a brilliant internist who told me flat out, “I don’t have time for coaching.” My days are packed from sunrise to bedtime. When we look more closely, we see she was spending half her week on tasks her staff could handle —approving every insurance claim, handling scheduling, and even restocking supplies. Together, we built simple systems, trained her team to take ownership, and set clear boundaries. Four weeks later, Emily sent me a text that said, I just went on a walk with my daughter on a Tuesday afternoon. She didn’t gain time. She created it in that one shift, learning to delegate and lead rather than do it all. Gave her life back. That’s the power of reclaiming your time. It’s not about doing less. It’s about doing more of what matters.
Dr. Barbara Hales 03:16
Another physician I worked with, Dr njali, came to me in tears our first session, she said, I promised my son I’d be home for dinner tonight, and then I broke that promise again. It wasn’t just about dinner; it was about integrity, motherhood, and the deep ache of missing out on moments she could never get back. Within a few months, she redesigned her workflow, shortened her patient hours, and built a leadership team around her. The next time we talked, she said, I made it home for dinner three nights in a row. Coaching didn’t just give her time; it gave her presence.
Dr. Barbara Hales 04:04
So when you say, “I don’t have time for coaching,” remember you’re not buying time. You’re buying back your life, and that’s what makes it priceless. Let’s move to the second big barrier, the belief that you can’t afford to invest in yourself right now, I completely understand this one, because for many physicians, expenses feel endless, payroll, rent, insurance, taxes, it feels like every month starts from zero, but what I’ve learned over years of coaching is this, most doctors don’t have a money problem. They have a clarity problem. When you’re burnt out and overwhelmed, it’s easy to lose track of where your time and money go. They are leaking.
Dr. Barbara Hales 05:02
Dr Lisa ran a small women’s health practice. Her clinic was busy, but she still felt broke every month. She told me, I can’t afford coaching, not now. So we looked at her numbers together, and what we discovered shocked her. She was paying for three overlapping software subscriptions, undercharging for her most valuable services, and losing patience with scheduling delays. Within two months, she saved over $3,000 in wasted expenses and increased her monthly revenue by 7000, but what made her cry wasn’t the money. It was when she said, I finally feel like a real CEO, not just a tired Doctor trying to survive. That’s what investing in yourself does. It restores your confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.
Dr. Barbara Hales 06:04
So if you’ve ever said, I can’t afford it right now, maybe the real question is, can I afford to stay stuck where I am because the cost of burnout, stress, and missed opportunities is far greater than the cost of getting the help you need?
Dr. Barbara Hales 06:28
So, whether it’s time, money, or both, I want you to know this: your hesitation is valid, but it doesn’t have to be your reality. Coaching isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about taking the heavy things off it. If you’re tired of missing dinner with your kids, if you’re tired of feeling like you’re always one crisis from collapse, then this is your invitation to step into something anew.
Dr. Barbara Hales 07:06
You deserve balance. You deserve a practice that gives back as much as you give to it. So take the next step. Book your free strategy call using the link in the show notes, let’s build the structure clarity and freedom you deserve so you can love medicine again.
Dr. Barbara Hales 07:31
Thank you for listening, and remember, you’re not just a physician. You’re a leader, a visionary, and you deserve to thrive, not just survive. This has been another episode of marketing tips for doctors with your host, Dr Barbara Hales, until next time bye.
