[00:00:00] Libby: If you're looking to grow your business as a registered dietitian, you've come to the right place. If you're not sure what to do or what steps to take next so that you can create flexibility and freedom in your life, then you're going to learn a lot from tuning into our podcast here at Dietitian Boss.
[00:00:17] Libby: I'm Libby Rothschild, the founder of Dietitian Boss, a fellow [00:00:20] registered dietitian and business owner. And in our podcast, I share the highs and the lows, and I talk all about how to grow your business. Get it started. And I interview our clients to date. We've had over 200 interviews from clients who share their journey on our podcast dietitian boss.
[00:00:37] Today's episode is dedicated to first year [00:00:40] dietitians setting goals and expectations. A lot of you come to us and you're not sure exactly what's possible. And you're on either end where you feel like you're discouraged. And you're not sure if it's possible or you think you can make a lot of money really fast and you're not always [00:01:00] realistic.
[00:01:00] So today I want to come to a happy medium and discuss what is possible. So, of course, anything is possible, but let's talk about what's average. So, firstly, let's talk about understanding what dietitians do. So, as you know, as a new dietitian, it's essential to understand the full scope of your role. So, dietitians go well beyond providing meal [00:01:20] plans.
[00:01:20] So, you'll be educating clients, collaborating with healthcare providers. care teams and sometimes advocating for policy changes. So grasping the breadth of your responsibilities will help you set realistic and aligned goals. So I do want to encourage you that there are so many opportunities as a dietitian and it's a really fun career track, but let's talk about what's [00:01:40] average.
[00:01:40] So let's get some actionable tips first. I want you to research online because that's something as you're growing your brand, you're going to want to get comfortable doing. So explore reputable websites like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to learn about various dietitian roles and responsibilities.
[00:01:56] Social media is important so you can follow dietitians who you like. [00:02:00] On platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn and tik tok and YouTube, and engage with their content by asking questions and joining discussions. Cause then you're going to start to see what your peers are up to, make some connections. You might even be able to hop on some phone calls and make some friends.
[00:02:16] And then you want to network. So you want to attend events, you can [00:02:20] even set a goal to attend one event a month, or one a quarter, the more the better, if you're able to. And virtual events do count. So if you're attending webinars, that's also counts. Although I do think try to do in person as much as you can.
[00:02:32] So attend local or virtual nutrition conferences like FENCI, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics webinars that can be [00:02:40] clinical based or business based and workshops. So these opportunities will not only help you expand your knowledge, but they're going to help you connect with seasoned professionals, which is going to inspire you and help you learn more of what's possible.
[00:02:53] We also have hundreds of podcasts, interviews with clients and professionals in the field that are doing amazing things. [00:03:00] And you can learn from listening to our podcast episodes about what's possible as well. You can also head over to the show notes. It's if you prefer to read some of the summaries and transcripts over on our website under the podcast tab, you can do informal interviews or reach out to dietitians in your desired field for informal interviews.
[00:03:16] And you can ask them about their day to day responsibilities, challenges, and what they wish they had [00:03:20] known when starting out. Now, nextly, let's talk about, Income expectations, which is something that I know you might be thinking of based on the title of today's podcast episode. So how much do registered dietitians make?
[00:03:33] So a common concern for newer dietitians is salary. I know that that was a problem for me. I was offered a really low [00:03:40] salary at several jobs, my first few jobs, which was felt really disappointing. Of course, income can vary widely based on location, specialization, if you have one, or if you're going into more of a specialized field, and then your experience.
[00:03:55] So on average, starting salaries do range from 50, 000 to 60, 000 a year, [00:04:00] but that can increase if you gain experience and expertise. Problem is, as you're gaining experience and expertise, you're probably going to take a lower salary. Not always, right? And you should definitely negotiate. We have podcast interviews about how to negotiate and what that looks like as well.
[00:04:14] So I want you to do your market research. So use resources like the Bureau of Labor and Statistics [00:04:20] glass door to reference other positions in dietetics or pay scale to find detailed salary data specific to your area and specialization. You can also go to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics salary calculator, which is only available to members and it's fantastic.
[00:04:35] So it can help you negotiate a higher rate based on all types of factors like where you live. [00:04:40] And, if you're looking at that particular facility, That you're interested in working for, you can get even better data based on what the budget is and how many people if you're managing somebody, et cetera.
[00:04:50] So that's really going to help get specific. That's a great tool, but it is part of the membership from the Academy of nutrition and dietetics. Then there's cost of living comparison. So you want to consider the cost [00:05:00] of living in your region. When setting salary goals. So using online calculators again, like I mentioned, the academy of nutrition and dietetics is one calculator, but there are others as well.
[00:05:10] And that can help you understand how your salary aligns with local living expenses to be realistic. You can speak with local dietitians. So network with professionals in your area and gain [00:05:20] insights to what you can realistically expect on local trends and what the demand is, and then there's professional development.
[00:05:26] So. Research additional certifications or specializations that can boost your earning potential, like maybe sports nutrition or diabetes that can open the door to higher paying positions. I'm more of a fan of hands on experience than getting more [00:05:40] certifications, but it can depend on what that certification is.
[00:05:42] My experience when I was. working in clinical and thinking about that diabetes, becoming a certified diabetes educator is that it takes 1000 hours and that's a lot of time to be receiving a low salary for me to try to get a boost in income, right? So that was discouraging for me, but I'd love to hear your story.
[00:05:58] If you let us know, just email us or [00:06:00] let us know on social media, dietitian boss. Then there's setting professional goals. So creating clear roadmaps. So professional goals are crucial for staying motivated and focused during your first year. Now, you might not be familiar, but when you do fill out your continuing education, you have somewhat of a roadmap that the CDR is updated where you have to fill out some information.
[00:06:19] And then you [00:06:20] can't even remember what all the names are called for it, but you have to, you know, codes and then you have to submit a plan. For your professional development. And that's actually pretty similar to how a business plan works, whether you're landing your first job or obtaining a certification or starting a private practice, it doesn't have to be a business plan, but you want to have clear objectives in mind [00:06:40] so that you know what you're working towards.
[00:06:42] I do suggest breaking down your plan into SMART goals. So that's a framework where you set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound goals. For example, I want to complete my certification in diabetes education within the next 12 months, that's a clear, actionable goal. And then you break that down even further.
[00:06:59] So let's say you've [00:07:00] got a monthly plan where you want to study a few hours a week, or you want to take the practice test three times the third quarter of the year, something like that. So you break down your goals even further, and that's really going to help you move forward and help you have a better chance of making, earning more money as a dietitian.
[00:07:14] Managing your expectations in your first year is important. So you want to balance ambition and reality. So the [00:07:20] excitement of possibilities of your first year as a dietitian can be overwhelming and that can also make it vital to manage your expectations. So remember that this year is about learning, growing and establishing a solid foundation.
[00:07:31] We do have clients that have been able to grow their career and grow a six figure income within the first year as a dietitian. That's not always normal or average. [00:07:40] So if you want to create. Results that are double of what's normal you're going to have to work hard and you're going to have to think about what inputs are you doing to receive that spectacular output so for those that are earning more they're practicing their sales skills they're putting themselves out there they're doing a lot of networking they're accepting [00:08:00] rejection meaning they understand that for every ten or twenty people that they talk to and pitch that not every single person will buy but that's the attitude of somebody who wants to earn more.
[00:08:09] faster. So I want you to practice self compassion as you navigate the learning curve in dietetics and set small achievable goals and don't hesitate to adjust them as you progress. Celebrate your [00:08:20] wins no matter how big or small to maintain motivation and think about connecting with some peers, whether they're local or online on social media.
[00:08:28] Build a support system. So connecting with peers and mentors is important. And that's part of the reason we did create the library. That's our affordable monthly membership. We have a forum where you can connect with your peers, fellow dietitians who are also growing their [00:08:40] business. So if you're feeling a bit shy, we have a whole forum where you can connect and meet people and start to make conversations and have conversations about clinical and about business and social media, etc.
[00:08:52] Because your first year can feel isolating without a solid support system, especially if you're looking to grow your income or start a business, because not every [00:09:00] dietitian feels the same way. So you might not be familiar with who to talk to. So when you do connect with peers who are experiencing a similar journey, you can find a mentor.
[00:09:08] That can significantly impact your professional development. So join dietitian groups, whether they're online or in person and share your experiences and seek advice and a mentor like me and like our team can help [00:09:20] provide guidance and support with experience. Cause we have a proven roadmap to help you grow your business specifically.
[00:09:25] We also do support some of your clinical questions as well. So then planning for long term success. So I want you to think beyond the first year. So while your first year is about laying down a foundation, it's also essential to consider long term goals. [00:09:40] So think about where you want to be in the next five to 10 years as a dietitian.
[00:09:43] Break that down into smaller, more actionable steps, and that can help you work on each year to keep you on track. Right? So for example, if in the next five years you want to grow into a group practice, then what are the actions that you would need to take now as a solo practitioner to work towards that goal?
[00:09:59] And [00:10:00] if you're not sure what you want in the next five years, then you can just start to spend some time thinking about your future and at least make sure that you're setting some goals now to network and follow some of the action steps I've given you with laying a solid foundation. So now let's talk about my favorite part, which is starting a business.
[00:10:17] Not all of you will want to start a business. But if, [00:10:20] and when you do, let's be realistic about the expectations in entrepreneurship, which are different for cash pay versus insurance. And now we have a lot of these venture backed companies like Fay and nourish that are hiring a lot of dietitians that are employing.
[00:10:34] Many dietitians that helps you see more patients without doing admin and back end. [00:10:40] And that's very attractive for dietitians, but it's not the same as owning your own business and having complete control and flexibility over your own schedule. But of course, being an entrepreneur means that you're wearing more hats, which can feel overwhelming.
[00:10:51] So if you're considering starting your own dietetic practice, it's essential to be realistic because entrepreneurship is absolutely rewarding and it comes [00:11:00] with its challenges, especially in the first year. So understand business basics. So you have to think about your business structure. So whether you want to be a sole proprietor LLC or a corporation, it depends on where you live and there are pros and cons to each liability and taxes when it comes to business structure.
[00:11:16] Then there's licensing and certification. So you want to ensure that you have the [00:11:20] necessary licenses and certifications to operate legally with where you live and based on your scope of practice. Then there's the business plan. So you want to develop a clear business plan, outlining your services, target market, and financial projections.
[00:11:33] Even if those financial projections are loose, you still want to have a few goals in mind, right? So the business plan is going to [00:11:40] include your structure and of course your services, right? What are you selling? What price point? So as an actionable tip, I want you to set some milestones. So break down your business goals into quarters or monthly milestones.
[00:11:51] For example, your 1st milestone could be that you set up a website and social media presence within, let's say, the 1st 3 months. And then maybe the 2nd goal would be something along the [00:12:00] lines of how many times you're pitching and networking your services. I also want you to seek mentorship. Find a mentor.
[00:12:05] Hopefully it would be us if we're a fit that has experience helping you market and grow your private practice. Now this mentor can provide valuable insights and guidance like a roadmap to help you navigate these early stages of starting your business with confidence. So [00:12:20] you're not alone. We offer monthly live coaching calls that I run inside of the membership called the library, but it's free.
[00:12:26] Where I answer your brain questions and maybe you don't have questions. You just want to have a conversation and open conversation about what's going on in your world. And that's what we offer here at Dietitian Boss inside of our monthly membership called the library. We also have a [00:12:40] video coaching option.
[00:12:41] If you have private questions that you'd like to ask us that we do respond to. In conclusion, setting goals and managing expectations are key to maximizing your first year as a dietitian. Remember, it's just the beginning of a long and fulfilling career that has so many options. So take time to learn, grow, and set yourself up for success.
[00:12:59] [00:13:00] Thank you so much for listening to today's episode. If you found this podcast helpful, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with your fellow dietitian peers. I also invite you to check out our membership and resources that you can learn from to help you in your first year and beyond at dietitianboss.com.
[00:13:16] Looking for support to grow your dietitian business or even get [00:13:20] started, I invite you to join the library, our monthly affordable membership that shows you exactly what to do every step of the way so that you can create the business of your dreams. Not sure if it's the right time, the membership gives you an option to.
[00:13:34] Go at your own pace. We have modules, a roadmap to show you exactly what to do and [00:13:40] monthly live calls, as well as new content that we release every single month based on requests inside of the library. We have four stages of business. So whether you come in getting started or you want to enter the membership and grow or scale your business, we have the appropriate resources for you.
[00:13:55] And our team, including myself available to answer your questions, head on over [00:14:00] to dietitianboss. com and check out the library today. We'd love to see you there.
