A doom loop is a self-perpetuating series of events that keep you stuck in negative or limiting behaviors. It's possible to get out of them but requires a shift in your thinking that's not very obvious.
We all have beliefs about the world based on our past experiences, and these beliefs cause us to act in specific patterns or behaviors. It's largely unconscious, and often they're defense mechanisms to past traumas.
Here's an example:
You get a dog from the shelter. It’s a great dog, and months go by without any issues. Until one day, you decide to treat your new friend and give him a bone.
A switch flips, and immediately the dog changes. Your new best friend now lays in a corner chewing on their bone and growls any time you get near. You try to take it away because you don't want your dog acting like this, and he bites you.
You might be thinking this is a bad dog in your head, and you should take them back to the shelter. This dog is dangerous, and you don't want it around your family.
Let's consider the dog’s perspective. Maybe your dog’s life before didn't provide enough food, and other bigger dogs were trying to take it away. That dog learned it had to guard and protect its food if it wanted to eat and survive.
If you simply think this dog is terrible every time it gets a bone, you're going to fall victim to a self-perpetuating doom loop.
Anytime your dog gets a bone, he’ll turn mean, and you'll take it away, reinforcing the dog’s belief they have to protect the bone. The dog will get more aggressive as it tries harder to protect its bone, and you'll think the dog is getting meaner.
If you choose to break that cycle and recognize the dog is operating from a place of survival and protection, you can stop the cycle. You can change your behavior to show the dog it's safe and there's plenty of food.
It won't happen overnight, but if you keep working at it, you can change your new dog’s belief system, so he isn’t aggressive with food or treats anymore.
Your brain operates in the same way.
Most of us have been taught by our loved ones and schooling that we need to work for someone else. Becoming an entrepreneur is dangerous and filled with uncertainty.
“Don't do it,” they all say…
Every time you share your idea of starting your own healthcare business, they tell you not to. It reinforces that doom loop.
But here's the crazy thing, the people who say don't do it have usually never tried to start their own business. They're operating on a false belief system.
To break this cycle, you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who have made the leap and are doing the work.
I promise these people will have a different story to tell you because they know how great it is to make that leap.
Yes, it takes work and isn't easy, but if you surround yourself with the right people, they'll support you and encourage you through the hard times instead of telling you to quit.
I believe this is one of the most significant needs for healthcare entrepreneurs. Having a safe place to share our ideas and dreams and have others encourage us instead of shooting us down.
I have a few communities I've been building online and am doubling down on them. If you haven't joined one of our Facebook groups yet, I'd like to invite you to join us.
Our groups have healthcare professionals at all stages of the process, from still debating if starting a clinic is right for them to very successful clinic owners.
Join The IV Therapy Practice Startup Group
Join the Ketamine Clinic Start-up Group
Hope to see you there.
-Jason Duprat, MBA, MSA, CRNA