In 2010, I was an only child facing the serious illnesses of both parents. My mother, diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic at age 4, was in her early 60's and struggling with the effects of critical illnesses related to her condition. My father had a sudden aneurysm in his aorta, a normally terminal condition that he somehow survived after three days on life support. Barely able to balance all this, I lost my job as an attorney, in a horrible economy.
After a few weeks, I returned to Chicago from my parent's home in Michigan with renewed determination to serve clients an use my experiences to help people like myself - daughters, nieces, and spouse of people struggling with the challenges of aging. I founded my own law firm, focusing on estate planning, disability planning, elder law, guardianship and probate as well as a service I call patient advocacy, where I work so my clients receive the best care in hospitals and nursing homes and, if possible, rehabilitate and return to independent lives.
Rebuilding your life in this economy is tough and takes grit. To keep myself positive, I looked to principles I used while dealing with my parent's illness. Here are some that kept me positive, motivated and focused as I started my business.
- Information is power.
The best way to control a crisis, ease anxiety and problem-solve is to gather information. I ask questions until I get clear answers. I read books and articles on business building. I find successful business people and ask them how they got where they are and ask them for tips or for books or websites to read. - Small changes, over time, make a huge difference.
In 2007, I was told by my mother's doctor she would not survive a septic coma. However, each day, my mother's test results got better. Each day, my father and I held on to those numbers. The test results slowly added up to enough positive developments that she survived the coma and woke up. With my business, I've formulated a daily financial goal and each day, hitting that goal, results in profits and success. - Be creative and flexible.
Stay flexible in your thinking. Don't accept "no" for an answer if your instincts tell you there is another way. At one time, I was told my mother could be rehabbed in a nursing home. Disgusted with the ineffective physical rehabilitation I saw there the first day, I hired supplemental help for my mom and got her discharged and home in three weeks. In my business, I think creatively to find solutions for clients which might be out of the ordinary but lead them back to living independent lives. - When you don't know what else to do, do something.
The learning curve for a small business owner is huge and overwhelming. However, you can still be doing something to move forward each day. When my mother was in a coma, my father spent hours with her in the hospital, moving her arms and legs. When she woke from the coma, my father was told those actions were critical in her ability to learn again how to feed herself, pick up items and walk. Every action you take to build your business, even if it doesn't pay off as you hoped, is a lesson learned and a step forward. - Complaining is a waste of time.
My mother taught me that complaining is a waste of time and puts you in the role of the victim. After her coma, my mother could not stand up, feed herself or go to the bathroom by herself. However, if you asked her how she was doing, she answered "good" every time. She never complained and described herself as "good" during months of rehabilitation until, one day, she really was "good" and able to take care of herself. I stay positive and describe my business as "growing" and "successful" and those words are a powerful part of moving me toward success.
Kate
Curler is the principal attorney of the Law Office of Kate Curler. Kate practices in the areas of guardianship,
estate planning, disability planning, elder law and probate. She also offers patient advocacy services to
her clients, helping them get the best care, maximize their access to resources
and benefits and remain as independent and healthy as possible.
