Podcast Summary: Private Practice Startup – Episode 187

Title: Helping Your Business Survive & Thrive Through Crisis: The Light at the MIDDLE of the Tunnel
Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guest: Jane Carter, Business Coach
Date: May 23, 2020

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode addresses how private practice owners can navigate, survive, and eventually thrive during times of crisis—specifically referencing the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the evocative metaphor of “The Light at the MIDDLE of the Tunnel,” guest Jane Carter explores how practitioners can stay grounded, purposeful, and even grow during uncertain and stressful times. The discussion focuses on mindset, purposeful action, self-care, and embracing the unique opportunities the crisis presents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Tunnel Metaphor: Living in Uncertainty

• Jane introduces the metaphor of driving through a tunnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway (05:00). Upon entering, everything suddenly shifts from light to darkness, evoking uncertainty. The “light at the middle of the tunnel,” a phrase borrowed from Priya Parker, suggests that meaning and transformation can be found during hardship, not just at the end.
  • "Everything suddenly changed. We don't know what's on the other side. We're in one of those long tunnels where there might be that little pinprick of light. We're not sure... but what we do now really matters.” – Jane Carter (05:07)

2. Mindset First: Avoiding Frenzied Action

• Jane cautions against panicking and seeking only tactics or "flipping on all the gadgets" when overwhelmed (07:50). Instead, she stresses clarity and presence—deciding who you want to be as you move through the crisis.
  • “As a private practitioner, this is a really important time to get clear on who do you want to be while we’re in this tunnel?” – Jane Carter (08:13)
• She urges listeners to reflect on their purpose, acknowledge distractions, and consider what practices or habits are actually serving as tolerations rather than value-adds. (09:10)
  • Practitioners are using this time to recognize what no longer works—such as giving up evening appointments or reducing workdays.
  • “Let this be a time to sort of clear some of that away.” – Jane Carter (09:43)

3. Mindset’s Role in Business Success

• The hosts highlight how mindset is the foundation for effective marketing and business growth, comprising up to 80% of success (10:47).
  • “Mindset is about 80% of our business success. And it’s just more essential.” – Katie Lemieux (10:47)
• Many therapists default to busyness instead of mindful, aligned action, leading to exhaustion and overwhelm.

4. Keep Moving—But with Intention

• Jane’s advice: even when things slow down or feel frightening, don’t freeze or rush—just keep moving forward in small, intentional ways (11:39):
  • Do excellent work for current clients.
  • Offer free value or expertise to your broader community as a form of authentic marketing (e.g., social media videos, blogs, outreach).
  • Use slowed schedules as an opportunity to consider new markets, niches, or telehealth expansion.
  • “No matter what happens, keep moving. Keep moving forward.” – Jane Carter (11:39)
• The hosts validate the emotional toll, noting the extra roles and energy demands brought on by the pandemic (13:35).

5. Adjust Expectations and Self-Care

• Jane introduces the concept that “B minus is the new A” (14:29); success right now means progress, not perfection.
  • “Just keep the forward movement, but don’t have those hugely high expectations of yourself…” – Jane Carter (14:40)
• Emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and getting comfortable with doing what’s sustainable.

6. Tunnel Vision and The Gift of Transformation

• Jane describes “tunnel, vision” (15:23): After time in darkness, emerging into light is more vivid and powerful. Likewise, work invested during crisis can pay off exponentially in business and personal growth once the crisis subsides.
  • “Your business really could just go gangbusters. It could be so much better and on such a better track later on.” – Jane Carter (15:37)
• She encourages deepening relationships:
  • With family, colleagues, and referral sources.
  • Practicing “extreme client care” by reaching out and supporting clients more proactively.
• It’s a prime time to build new content, skills, or focus on business fundamentals (16:45).

7. Faith, Presence, and Inspired Action

• The hosts discuss faith in the process—believing they will come out of the crisis, possibly stronger (17:41).
• Katie shares her own experience with burnout and the importance of rest and recalibration (19:40).
  • “I just took a three-day step back of, like, no computer, and began to reset myself.” – Katie Lemieux (19:53)
  • Inspired actions arise naturally when one is grounded and rested.

8. Contemplation and “The Inner Suchness”

• Jane shares how crisis becomes an invitation to go deeper into self-reflection and experiential richness, quoting a monk on “penetrating the inner suchness of things” (21:59).
  • “This is the time to really, like, go in there really contemplate things.” – Jane Carter (22:12)
• Rather than running from discomfort, practitioners can see this as training for future challenges and sources of wisdom for their work (20:46).

9. Key Takeaway & Closing Message

• Jane hopes listeners leave with a guiding metaphor and a call to presence. Focus not just on surviving, but on becoming someone you truly like and admire through the tunnel of crisis (24:21).
  • “I really want them to love who they are, their business... to really get clear on who you are and to really enjoy who you are and really figure out how do I want to bring that into my business moving forward. So just be in the tunnel.” – Jane Carter (24:22)
• Collective encouragement: "We’re all here together. Let's just be in this, and we will be okay." (25:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jane Carter:

  • “Everything suddenly changed. We don’t know what’s on the other side... but what we do now really matters.” (05:07)
  • "Turn on your headlights, and maybe turn down the radio." (08:03)
  • "What a lot of people have done is they're panicking because we have all these uncertainties, and they're like, just give me tactics..." (07:50)
  • “B minus is the new A. Or even like C is the new A.” (14:29)
  • "Keep moving forward... even if you've slowed down." (12:11)
  • “Tunnel, vision – the vision that comes with the tunnel...your business could just go gangbusters.” (15:23)
  • "Penetrating the inner suchness of things." (21:59)

• Katie Lemieux:

  • “I feel like I need to say amen to that.” (10:27)
  • “There's a franticness of like finances, and it's like, well, I'm working... but this is not what I want to be doing, right? This is too much.” (18:34)
  • “I just took a three-day step back of, like, no computer, and began to reset myself.” (19:53)

• Dr. Kate Campbell:

  • “I know our listeners are really going to be interested in this topic, but I feel like it’s especially for me today.” (06:29)
  • “It’s just so overwhelming for all of that. And so it takes a lot of energy emotionally...” (14:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:49 – Jane introduces the tunnel metaphor and its origins
• 07:09 – Mindset over tactics: Slowing down, defining who you want to be
• 09:12 – Letting go of distractions and tolerations
• 10:47 – The importance of mindset to business and marketing
• 11:39 – Keep moving forward with intention, not frenzy
• 14:29 – “B minus is the new A”: Adjusting expectations
• 15:23 – “Tunnel, vision”: Transformation on the other side
• 17:41 – Having faith and focusing on being rather than just doing
• 19:53 – Katie’s personal experience with self-care and burnout
• 21:59 – The invitation to contemplation and “the inner suchness”
• 24:21 – Jane’s final hope for listeners: presence, purpose, and loving who you are

Resources & Giveaways

• Jane Carter's Giveaway:
  • Business Survive and Thrive Checklist – A simple resource combining actionable strategy and mindset support for practitioners, available via the episode show notes. (25:09)
• Connection to Past & Future Episodes:
  • Past episodes referenced for mindset (Carrie Nola) and alternative income ideas (Marissa Lawton)

Final Thoughts

Listeners are encouraged to adopt Jane’s tunnel metaphor for the crisis—seeing value and the potential for transformation during dark and uncertain times, not just when things return to normal. The episode blends sincere, practical advice with humor, warmth, and authenticity. Practitioners are reminded that self-care, clarity, and aligned action—not just busyness—are the tools for surviving and thriving, both now and in future challenges.