The P.t. Entrepreneur Podcast

I'm getting a bit vulnerable and talking about a struggle we've faced with Athlete's Potential: losing our vision. As PTBiz grew, my focus shifted, and the clear direction for our local practice got hazy. It's a tough lesson, but a crucial one about how vital a strong, unwavering vision is for your team, your growth, and keeping that Azimuth pointed right. We're talking about getting back on track and why your conviction is everything.

Today, we're tackling personal development. Stop wishing problems were easier and start seeing those frustrations as your golden ticket to get better. I’m sharing how a tough spot with my son pushed me to grow as a parent, and guess what? It’s making me a better business owner too. It's all about facing what you suck at and leveling up, because if things were easy, everyone would do it.

Just got back from Disney, and man, it's fascinating how they operate. I soaked up a ton and wanted to share a couple of huge takeaways from their playbook that you can plug straight into your cash practice. We're talking about customer experience on a whole other level.

I’m sharing a couple of stories to break down something crucial: the difference between risk and danger, especially when you're thinking about betting on yourself in business. One story involves a camera guy who risked it all to chase his music dreams, and the other… well, let's just say it involves my father-in-law and a very angry rattlesnake. There's a big lesson here about calculated chances versus just plain stupid.

A PT student asked what I’d do if I were back in school, gunning for my own cash practice. I’m breaking down the exact steps I'd take to set myself up for success from day one. This episode unpacks the strategic moves I’d make as a PT student aiming for a cash practice. Think getting sales experience as a trainer, building an online client base with digital programming, mastering manual skills for rapport, and making local connections early. This is your blueprint.

Had a patient drop some serious truth bombs on me the other day all about the power of clear communication. We're talking about how spelling out the 'what,' 'why,' and 'what's next' for your patients isn't just good practice, it's how you build a referral machine. If they don't get it, you're losing 'em. This is huge for your clinic and, frankly, any service business.

Ever feel like you were sold a different dream in PT school than the reality of 30 patients a day? You're not alone. If you're thinking about a cash practice, or you're already in it and realizing business is a whole other beast, this one's for you. This episode takes us back to a 2019 Q&A with the sharp DPT students at Indiana State. We hit on everything from my jump from Army PT to starting Athletes Potential, the critical first steps like defining your niche, practical advice on marketing and sales (yes, you need 'em!), how to price your services confidently, and why mastering communication is non-negotiable. Plus, some real talk for students on rotations. Packed with insights if you want to build a practice on your own terms.

I'm diving into something I wish I'd grasped way earlier in my career: the massive power of just talking to your patients. Seriously, sometimes the most profound "treatment" we offer isn't on the table, it's in the conversation. This week, I had a couple of long-term patients where we didn't do any manual work, no exercises. We just talked. And the breakthroughs? Huge. We get so focused on the physical, the diagnosis, the technique, but often the biggest barriers to recovery are stress, job dissatisfaction, or just life stuff. This episode is about recognizing that, listening, and understanding that you're treating a whole human being, not just a sore shoulder. It's about how much their overall well-being, especially their mental state, impacts their physical outcomes.

I'm laying out a no BS strategy to hit $10,000 a month in revenue by month THREE of your cash practice. Yeah, you heard that right. This isn't theory; it's based on what we've seen work for multiple PTs in our mastermind. I'm breaking down the five common threads these successful early-stage entrepreneurs share. If you're just starting or feel stuck, these are the levers you need to pull. We're talking niche, community, commitment, client experience, and yeah, getting the right help. Forget trying to figure it all out alone for a year; let's talk about getting there faster.

Got a quick one for you today, a little story from a patient encounter that really drives home a point I've been hitting on: you can't fake being an expert in a niche. If you want to be the go-to for golfers, runners, CrossFitters, whatever but you better actually be in that world. I had a patient who runs the wellness side of a big country club. They have in-house PTs and chiros, TPI certified even, but she won't send golfers their way. Why? Because those practitioners don't actually play golf. They don't speak the lingo, don't have a passion for the sport. It's obvious they're just chasing clientele. Authenticity matters. You can't just fast track expertise with a certification; you gotta put in the time and be part of the community.

We're digging into some basic business finance that's super important: profit and revenue. Sounds simple, but it's easy to misunderstand, especially when you're building your own cash practice. Think of solid financial understanding like a killer offensive line in football. They don't score touchdowns, but they stop bad things from happening. Same in business. Knowing your numbers, the difference between top-line (gross revenue) and bottom-line (net profit), is your bedrock. We'll talk about how your profit picture changes as you scale, why a $250k solo gig is a profitable job but not a business, and the trade-offs when you hire to build something truly passive and sellable. It's about understanding what kind of business you want to build.

Dropping another nugget from our Mastermind event, and this is a big one I wish someone had told me when I was starting out: earn the right to start a second project. So many of us, myself included early on, get shiny object syndrome. You start your cash practice, and then you're immediately thinking about online courses, digital products, multiple revenue streams. Here's the deal: splitting your focus like that when your primary business isn't yet self-sufficient is a recipe for slowing yourself down, or worse, mediocrity in both. We talk about the allure of "passive" digital income and why it's often harder than it looks. Before you dive into a second venture, build your first one to a point where it can largely run without you. Focus, build, systemize, then diversify.

Still buzzing with excitement and lessons from our recent mastermind event in Atlanta. We're all about tactical, actionable stuff you can implement right away, not just theory. Today, I'm hitting on a big one I saw over and over, especially with newer practice owners: this urge to be a jack-of-all-trades, trying to master multiple niches at once. You're a runner, but you want to be the CrossFit guru. You're a swimmer, but you're eyeing that CrossFit market. My message? Stop. Double down on your strength, that one niche where you have inherent credibility and a real passion. That's where the magic happens, and it doesn't limit you; it actually expands your reach.

Joined by Yves and Jerred, a little brain-dead after our two-day live mastermind event here in Atlanta. We just wrapped up and wanted to share some big takeaways while it's fresh. Man, it's incredible to see the growth – from 7 people in 2017 to 68 this year. We're diving into the power of getting the right people in a room, the energy, and the insane brainpower. We talk about the vetting process, the importance of an abundance mindset, and why we exclude big egos. Plus, we're spilling on a cool new thing we did with colored name tags based on revenue (it's a game-changer for motivation!) and the magic of structured hot seats for problem-solving. It's all about tangible results and supporting each other.

Got a real talk episode for you today. We all think we're pretty awesome clinicians, right? But what if I told you, you're probably not as awesome as you think you are when it comes to the stuff that really builds a bulletproof practice? Too many of us are chasing new patients, new patients, new patients. That's only 10% of the game. The other 90%? It's your service, your product, the experience you give people. We're talking about being the Chipotle of PT, focusing on delivering something so damn good, people can't help but talk about it, instead of just throwing money at ads. This one's about the little things that make a massive difference.

I'm tackling a big one: bringing on your first staff PT. This came up with one of our Mastermind members, and it's a hurdle for a lot of practice owners. That first hire is always the scariest, right? The unknown. We're diving into the common fear: "Will I have enough work for them?" and flipping that script. Your new hire isn't just a cost; they're an asset, another rep for your brand, another person to do marketing and networking. But you gotta set it up right. We'll talk about consistent marketing systems, cash flow, and the absolute necessity of investing time in training both clinically and in business skills. Don't make the mistake of hiring and then being too busy to support them.

Today, we're not just talking business, we're talkin' MATH. Yeah, the marketing math that can make or break your practice when it comes to paid ads. Sick of throwing money at Facebook and hoping for the best? I'm breaking down exactly what numbers you gotta track, cost per lead, show rates, all that good stuff, so you can see if those ads are actually bringing in cash, or just draining your bank account. We're talking turning one dollar into seven, eight, even nine bucks back. Time to get predictable with your growth, people!

So, I jumped on a sales call the other day, something I haven't done in a while, and it got me thinking. That whole "we're one on one" pitch? It's not the magic bullet it used to be. Lots of folks are doing one on one now. If that's your main differentiator, along with "we do dry needling" or "we have BFR," you're heading towards becoming a commodity. And when you're a commodity, it's a race to the bottom on price. We're diving into why you gotta go deeper, connect with people on their real problems, and deliver an experience that truly sets you apart, not just a list of services.

We're diving into TIME today. You think you're busy now? Wait 'til you're really in the thick of it with your own practice or a couple of kids. I'm breaking down how to stop wasting time on stuff that doesn't matter and actually get organized. We'll cover how to track your time honestly, block out what's important, and actually stick to it, so you can get more done and stop feeling so damn overwhelmed. This isn't just about managing time; it's about managing your energy and focus to build something great.

I was just down in Chattanooga and hit up Rock City, pretty cool spot. But get this, back in the 1930s, the founder got this place famous by hiring a guy to paint "See Rock City" on 900 BARNS. Nine hundred! Talk about getting your message out there. It really drives home a point: if people don't know who you are, they can't come see you. We gotta be doing our own version of barn painting, constantly getting in front of people with valuable stuff, not just hoping they stumble upon us.