By Mark Gonzalez, PharmD, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

As we come to the end of a year that was full of the difficult and unexpected, we still have the opportunity to challenge ourselves to finish the year strong. A fitting quote that has been attributed to author C.S. Lewis is , “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” Although 2020 will not go down as an “all-time best,” the remaining days and weeks of the year can still bring out your best. Here are five actions you can take to close out the year stronger than how you started.

1. Meet with your staff for the sole purpose of encouraging and praising them on a job well done.

At PCCA, we call this showing meaningful appreciation — and it’s more important this year than ever before. Be specific, use names, and recall moments where each staff member stood out and had a positive impact. Building your team up empowers them and reminds them that they’re the difference-makers they truly are.

2. Acknowledge that COVID-19 provided a huge “reset” for how the public views our industry, and determine how you are going to build upon that in the future.

Pharmacies were among the health care heroes this year. You came to the rescue of many and built trust within your area. Leverage that trust you have developed and build upon the new relationships you have established to service your community in new ways.

Learn more about building reciprocal business relationships on The PCCA Blog: “ Strategic Alliances: A Community Approach to Business Growth .”

3. Look for ways to improve quality and efficiency with new lab equipment.

New compounding gear and technology can provide new dosage forms for your patients, increase consistency and efficiency in the lab, and lower overall labor costs. And it’s OK to admit that it is fun to have the newest compounding equipment on the market. It may qualify as a tax deduction for your business, too. PCCA members with Clinical Services support can contact our clinical compounding pharmacists, and we can walk you through a few options that may just change how you practice.

4. Finally get to building up and improving your online presence.

If you are that pharmacy that still has a “Page under Construction” title on some of your webpages or a “Copyright 2012” statement in the footer of your website, I am speaking to you! Your digital platforms are part of your pharmacy’s identity, and they are often the first places that people look when wanting to know more about who you are and what you do. Set up a budget to update your website. Watch a few YouTube videos on how to use Facebook and Instagram to boost business. PCCA members can also visit our Marketing Resources webpage for lots of free resources to help with social media. If people are not visiting your pharmacy online, they are clearly visiting someone else’s.

Get expert advice on how to improve your online presence on The PCCA Blog: “ 5 Ways to Leverage the Shop Small ^® Movement for Your Pharmacy .”

5. Give yourself some room to breathe!

There is energy and refreshment that comes from rest and relaxation. A church in my area actually provides one additional vacation day for each staff member to go on a one-day retreat of their choice. Some use this day to go fishing, while others get pampered at a spa. Regardless, when we treat ourselves and our staff, we build team loyalty and normalize those cortisol levels that are probably off the charts right now. Most importantly, a moment of rest recharges the mind and, in my opinion, gives us the energy to move forward.

An old year is ending, and a new year is around the corner. Finish strong, leave the past in the past and move forward to the best version of you. I promise that you will not regret it, and neither will the patients and practitioners you serve.

Mark Gonzalez, PharmD, is a clinical compounding pharmacist at PCCA. He owned and operated Med Specialties, a pharmacy in Yorba Linda, California, for 18 years before joining the staff of PCCA. His areas of specialty are hormone replacement therapy, dermatology and veterinary compounding.

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash.