In this book I have organized information that focuses on my managerial/leadership strengths and weaknesses and information that will help me learn new leadership skills. Chapter 1 is a summary of my career aspirations and the inspiration for putting this information together. This book is a tool that I will use to learn how to lead and manage others. Currently I am working as a recreational therapist (RT) in an inpatient psych unit as well as a detox and addition treatment center. I have worked in a variety of settings as an RT and with a variety of populations. I have assessed the strengths and needs of recreational therapy in these settings and with that information decided that I want to start my own RT consulting business. I have worked as a RT consultant in the past and I want to build upon that experience and start my own and somewhat unique RT consulting business. To do this I will need to become a great leader and manager.
Aspirations:
My career aspiration is to start and run a Recreational Therapy consulting business. I am extremely passionate about the work that I do as a recreational therapist and the people that I help, which is why I want to do this on a larger scale and be able to reach more people. I am also motivated by the challenge of creating and running my own business.
To create and run a recreational therapy consulting business I will need to become a great leader and manager. I will need to develop a business plan so that I can run a successful and profitable business as well as develop the skills necessary to manage the people who will be working for me. After doing some research I have identified some of the most important and necessary skills for starting and running your own consulting business and they include:
-Organization skills
-Networking skills
-Business and marketing plan writing
-Marketing/sales skills
-Public Speaking
-Willingness to learn and grow
-Integrity
-Creativity
-Communication skills
-Basic accounting/billing skills
-Time management skills
-Passion and drive for excellence
and
-Knowledge about the subject
In the following chapters I will first assess myself in the above skill areas to get an idea of where I am currently, explore where I need to be, and develop a plan for how I can get myself there in order to achieve my goal of starting and running a recreational therapy consulting business. I will focus on the areas of leadership, motivation, groups and teams, managing change, organizational culture, ethics, and innovation, as they relate to my ultimate goal of starting and running my own consulting business. Below are my short term, mid-term, and long term goals. These goals and methods to achieve them will be mentioned throughout the chapters in this book.
My goals:
Short term goals: 1-3 years
-Complete MBA program
-Research and complete credentialing for NC RT consultants
-Research NC standards and laws pertaining to RT
-Network with other RT consulting companies across the country
-Write a business plan
-Write a program plan for each market (patient population) that I will be working with
-Begin consulting on a part time basis
Mid term: 3-5 years
-Consult full time
-Begin entering new markets (i.e. group homes, assisted living facilities, psychiatric programs and facilities, etc.)
-Hire consultants (as needed)
Long term: 5+ years
-Grow the business beyond NC
-Develop a RT training program for large hospitals/facilities
My motivations, drivers/passions:
The following are what drive and inspire me to develop and run my own recreational therapy consulting business. After finishing school my first job was working with individuals with mental illness. This was my first experience with these types of illnesses/diagnoses and I immediately recognized the need for improved services and public education. I am passionate about removing the stigma that goes along with mental illness and addiction and helping those suffering to live a full and meaningful life while managing the symptoms of their illness. I have worked with a variety of populations that can benefit from recreational therapy services and my dream is to be able to provide those services to as many people as possible. The following are some key motivators for me in pursuing this career aspiration.
-Improve patient care and quality of life for individuals in group homes, nursing/assisted living situations, hospitals, mental health facilities, etc.
-Inspire people to be healthy and take care of themselves when dealing with illness or hardship
-Provide resources and education to people in need
-Fight against mental health and addiction stigma
-Have a healthy life balance for myself and family
-Have a flexible schedule so that I can work around my family’s needs while having a successful and meaningful
career
-Financial security for my family and for my retirement
This book's purpose is to map myself and it's readers through a plan to develop the skills necessary and master the content necessary to become an effective leader and manager so that I can achieve my ultimate career aspiration of developing and running a recreational therapy consulting business.
Aspirations:
My career aspiration is to start and run a Recreational Therapy consulting business. I am extremely passionate about the work that I do as a recreational therapist and the people that I help, which is why I want to do this on a larger scale and be able to reach more people. I am also motivated by the challenge of creating and running my own business.
To create and run a recreational therapy consulting business I will need to become a great leader and manager. I will need to develop a business plan so that I can run a successful and profitable business as well as develop the skills necessary to manage the people who will be working for me. After doing some research I have identified some of the most important and necessary skills for starting and running your own consulting business and they include:
-Organization skills
-Networking skills
-Business and marketing plan writing
-Marketing/sales skills
-Public Speaking
-Willingness to learn and grow
-Integrity
-Creativity
-Communication skills
-Basic accounting/billing skills
-Time management skills
-Passion and drive for excellence
and
-Knowledge about the subject
In the following chapters I will first assess myself in the above skill areas to get an idea of where I am currently, explore where I need to be, and develop a plan for how I can get myself there in order to achieve my goal of starting and running a recreational therapy consulting business. I will focus on the areas of leadership, motivation, groups and teams, managing change, organizational culture, ethics, and innovation, as they relate to my ultimate goal of starting and running my own consulting business. Below are my short term, mid-term, and long term goals. These goals and methods to achieve them will be mentioned throughout the chapters in this book.
My goals:
Short term goals: 1-3 years
-Complete MBA program
-Research and complete credentialing for NC RT consultants
-Research NC standards and laws pertaining to RT
-Network with other RT consulting companies across the country
-Write a business plan
-Write a program plan for each market (patient population) that I will be working with
-Begin consulting on a part time basis
Mid term: 3-5 years
-Consult full time
-Begin entering new markets (i.e. group homes, assisted living facilities, psychiatric programs and facilities, etc.)
-Hire consultants (as needed)
Long term: 5+ years
-Grow the business beyond NC
-Develop a RT training program for large hospitals/facilities
My motivations, drivers/passions:
The following are what drive and inspire me to develop and run my own recreational therapy consulting business. After finishing school my first job was working with individuals with mental illness. This was my first experience with these types of illnesses/diagnoses and I immediately recognized the need for improved services and public education. I am passionate about removing the stigma that goes along with mental illness and addiction and helping those suffering to live a full and meaningful life while managing the symptoms of their illness. I have worked with a variety of populations that can benefit from recreational therapy services and my dream is to be able to provide those services to as many people as possible. The following are some key motivators for me in pursuing this career aspiration.
-Improve patient care and quality of life for individuals in group homes, nursing/assisted living situations, hospitals, mental health facilities, etc.
-Inspire people to be healthy and take care of themselves when dealing with illness or hardship
-Provide resources and education to people in need
-Fight against mental health and addiction stigma
-Have a healthy life balance for myself and family
-Have a flexible schedule so that I can work around my family’s needs while having a successful and meaningful
career
-Financial security for my family and for my retirement
This book's purpose is to map myself and it's readers through a plan to develop the skills necessary and master the content necessary to become an effective leader and manager so that I can achieve my ultimate career aspiration of developing and running a recreational therapy consulting business.