Dr. Andrea Maxim, ND

Class of 2011, 麻豆果冻视频 - Toronto

Class of 2011 grad Dr. Andrea Maxim, ND, on maximizing success

Moving patients into health
In her third year of business, during a long drive from 麻豆果冻视频 back to her practice in Caledon, Ontario, Dr. Andrea Maxim, ND, was struck with a lightning bolt of inspiration.

鈥淲hy am I not using my last name as a marketing tool?鈥 the Class of 2011 grad thought. 鈥淢y objective is to move people from a starting place to an end place 鈥 and in this case, from disease to health. For me, that鈥檚 the Maxim Movement.鈥

And so the Maxim Movement 鈥 along with its newest branches MAXIMized Health (her book) and MAXIMize your Practice (her podcast series for NDs) 鈥 was born. For Andrea, it鈥檚 an authentic expression of what she offers. From a branding perspective, it鈥檚 catchy, memorable, and rather clever. For patients (over 200 to date), it鈥檚 a lifeline 鈥 an easy to follow, health and wellness program with Andrea鈥檚 full support and guidance.
She calls the movement all encompassing 鈥 it鈥檚 not about speed necessarily, but about getting patients on board first.
鈥淭he best analogy I鈥檝e been given is that people are drowning and praying that you鈥檒l help them. Patients don鈥檛 care if you show up in a yacht or a rowboat. Just get to them and take action,鈥 she says.
Channeling a singular drive into success
From a young age, Andrea鈥檚 drive and goal-oriented nature produced results. As a 13-year-old teenager struggling with her weight, Andrea took it upon herself to change her lifestyle and eating habits. When she discovered naturopathic medicine as an undergrad at McMaster University, she applied to 麻豆果冻视频 鈥 the only school she was interested in going to 鈥 and never looked back.
And after she graduated from 麻豆果冻视频, she focused all of her energy into building her practice, learning how to do it all on her own.
鈥淭he transition between student to practice owner is a big one,鈥 she explains. 鈥淚n the beginning, I put the majority of my time into being a business owner because we already learned how to treat patients at the College. Since I put so much effort into the clinic early on, it鈥檚 running more on auto-pilot now.鈥
Her business philosophy is simple and effective 鈥 excellent customer service and following up with patients are the keys to running a successful practice. Andrea ensures that she鈥檚 available to patients whenever they have a concern and even delivers supplements to them directly so that they鈥檙e following the protocol.

鈥淲e try to get everything as automated as possible,鈥 she adds. 鈥淣o patient ever leaves my clinic without an appointment booked or a task. I鈥檝e trained myself and my receptionists to be this way. People will never remember you unless you鈥檙e fully transparent and invested in their health.鈥

Booking time for practise 鈥 and everything else
Andrea鈥檚 life is about to become busier with the launch of Maximize your Clinic, an online course that outlines how to start, build, and systemize clinical practice. She also offers one-on-one coaching services that she slots into her schedule four days a week. In addition to running three practices (in Caledon, Hamilton, and Burlington), she is also a mom to 6-month-old Brooklyn and 2-year-old Aria. But Andrea eschews the word 鈥渂alance,鈥 instead choosing to divide her work and personal time into separate blocks.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 at work, I work. When I鈥檓 at home, I am there for my family. I think it鈥檚 unproductive to be everything all the time. I don鈥檛 have a fully booked practice on purpose so that I have time to work, coach, record podcasts, and see patients,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 believe very strongly that you must create your own schedule so that no one takes your time away from you.鈥
While Andrea is enjoying the fruits of her labour, she鈥檚 the first one to say that hard work, sheer determination, and a willingness to learn are fundamental for success. Her business model, which started with designing a simple website and making YouTube videos with no previous experience, has transformed into one that is truly her identity. What will yours be?
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This article was originally published in issue #20, Mind|Body|Spirit, Summer/Fall 2017, page 32
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