3. Master your schedule before your day masters you.
Time is your most precious resource. Without a well-structured schedule, days can be consumed by a blur of reactive interruptions and manufactured crises. Effective time management is not an easy skill to master and requires a willingness to refresh your approach.
You have an interconnected triad of schedules to manage: your clinical schedule, your business / administrative schedule and your personal schedule. Each area competes for your time and energy. How you block your time may be a personal choice, but try to set clear boundaries when possible. Your mind needs breaks to stay ready for the challenges ahead.
4. Measure what matters.
Track a few meaningful but simple, quantifiable metrics, and review them regularly. Then, use the data to inform your decisions. They need to be SMART: Simple, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant and Time-Bound. A common trap I see physicians and small-business owners fall into is relying on bad data. This could be incomplete data, such as tracking expenses without considering whether they are necessary to generate revenue. It could also be inaccurate numbers, such as not recognizing that expenses are often paid in real time while collections are delayed. Decisions made on unreliable numbers can be costly.
Start by creating a detailed budget for the upcoming year, covering all anticipated expenses such as rent, salaries, supplies, technology and marketing. These estimates free you and your administration to act strategically, so long as activities align with the budget. This approach prevents the administration from repeatedly requesting funds for necessary projects, which can cause delays and increase costs. You can also cross-reference your revenue to make informed decisions about how to proceed in the following year.
Owning a medical practice offers a unique blend of freedom and responsibility. You can build it yourself, or you can join a group that can help you. I hope these tips help guide you along the way.
Dr. Higgins is a rhinologist in private practice at Kentuckiana ENT, a division of ENTCC, and President and Chairman of the Board of ENT Care Centers( ENTCC).
A Call FOR NOMINATIONS!
The 2026 GLMS Nominating Committee will meet in January to develop the slate of members to be included on the 2026 Ballot. We are looking for names of potential candidates for the following offices up for election this year:
President-Elect( 3-year term: President-Elect, President & Board Chair) Vice President Secretary( 2-year term) At-Large Member( 2-year term) At-Large Member( 2-year term) KMA Delegates Nominating Committee
Any nominations for yourself or a colleague must be presented to Kathryn Vance at kathryn. vance @ glms. org no later than Monday, January 5, 2026. Please include the physician’ s full name and email address. Those members whose names are to be added to the proposed ballot will be notified by email in January. An official proposed ballot will be sent to all members via email in February.
Please note, nominations do not guarantee placement on the ballot by the Nominating Committee. To be considered for nomination, a member must have paid their 2026 dues.
For a full list of your current Board of Governors, please visit glms. org / about / glms-board-of-governors. December 2025 5