Work With Us

Stop Competing, Start Differentiating: Blue Ocean in Action Part 2 | GP 317

  • blue ocean strategy, practice differentiation, practice innovation, private practice growth, private practice strategy, testing a business idea, therapy practice marketing

Podcast (group): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS

What could your practice become best in the world at? Can you clearly articulate why your offering is uncontested? Are you ready to test your idea, or are you still circling the shore instead of launching into open water?

In this podcast episode, Brandon Shurn discusses his journey to growth, and the Blue Ocean framework in action | Part 2

Podcast Sponsor: POP Consulting

Whether you’re starting a solo practice, thriving in solo practice, getting a group going, or thriving in a group! Or launching a big idea, or thriving with your big idea, we have a consultant that can help you.

With our team, we continue to grow to have consultants that will help you at every single phase of practice.

If you want to apply to have a 30-minute pre-consulting call with me, I would love to chat through where you’re at.

Apply to work with us!

In This Podcast

  • Implement strategic focus

  • Brand positioning 

  • Practice testing and launching into your Blue Ocean

Implement strategic focus

You need to be strategic in your thinking if you want to place your practice in a blue ocean setting, out and away from the competition. Some of the questions you can ask yourself are: 

  • What is one aspect that my practice could become best in the world at? 
  • How can I simplify my offering so that clients instantly understand the value? 
  • Am I differentiating the value, or am I just adding features? 

When I think about the value that my practice could become best in the world at, it’s empowering clients to navigate the ups and downs of life successfully … You’ll land on a different space [than mine], and that’s okay, because it’s about creating a blue ocean. We’re not trying to be in a crowded market; we want to stand out. (Brandon Shurn)

Brand positioning 

Having good branding and positioning yourself well in the overall market is aided by clearly communicating what you do and who you help. 

You want to be able to articulate your blue ocean clearly. You want to be able to say specifically what it is that you’re going to bring, because that’s what’s making you stand out. (Brandon Shurn)

Here, spend some time asking yourself the following questions to gain some more insight and clarity: 

  • What new emotional or social benefits could you create for your clients? 
  • How would you describe your offering if you couldn’t use industry jargon?
  • What would make your value proposition so compelling that it feels uncontested? 

Practice testing and launching into your Blue Ocean

Now that you have used strategic thinking and you have evaluated your brand position, along with the other pieces, you can start some experimental testing and practice to see what sticks. 

When you test and launch, you need to test the waters to see what it’s going to be like and how it might turn out. (Brandon Shurn) 

To help you with this phase, here are some more questions to consider: 

  • What small-scale experiments can validate your blue ocean idea? 
  • How can you create a wow-moment that clearly differentiates your approach? 
  • What objections or fears might clients have, and how can you eliminate them through design? 

Useful Links:

Check out these additional resources:

Meet Prof. Brandon Shurn

Brandon Shurn, Ph.D., LCPC, LMHC, AFC®, NCC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor and the founder of EmPower Me Holistic Counseling, a fully virtual Maryland-based practice.

Brandon Shurn, Ph.D., LCPC, LMHC, AFC®, NCC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor and the founder of EmPower Me Holistic Counseling, a fully virtual Maryland-based practice. He’s also a full-time professor in Seattle University’s online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. With extensive experience launching and directing university training clinics, Brandon now focuses on helping therapists design and grow impactful, sustainable practices. Outside of his work, he enjoys fitness, yoga, Wing Chun, golf, reading, and spending time with his family and dogs.

Visit Empower Me Counseling, and connect with Brandon on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Email him at: brandon@practiceofthepractice.com

Share this content