The P.t. Entrepreneur Podcast

On this episode, I had a killer chat with Nick St. Louis from The Foot Collective. This dude is up in Ottawa, Canada, doing some amazing things, not just with his physio practice but with a whole movement around, you guessed it, feet! We dive into how he built a thriving cash-based practice in a government-sponsored healthcare system, the power of educating your patients (and the public!), and how he's juggling a clinic, an online community, physical products, and even getting into making shoes. It's a masterclass in niche-ing down and building something impactful.

This week, a few of you hit me up on Instagram and email asking about adding personal training to your PT services. It's a great question, and I've seen some folks in our mastermind crush it with this model. My take? Yes, training can be a killer addition, but you gotta do it right. I've seen too many PTs undervalue their time when they switch hats from "PT" to "trainer." Remember, an hour of your expert time is an hour of your expert time, whether you're rehabbing an injury or guiding someone through a killer workout. Don't sell yourself short.

Just got back from our PT Entrepreneur Mastermind event in Dallas, and man, it was a blast. We were out at the Lucky Spur Ranch, talk about Texas! But more importantly, being with 40 fired-up PT entrepreneurs, sharing, learning, and growing together was incredible. It’s tough to explain the energy of these events, but it’s like a con-ed course for your business brain, a bit of a headache, but you leave super motivated. I wanted to share my top five takeaways that I think can help any of you looking to build your practice.

Just got back from our killer Mastermind event in Dallas, still buzzing from that, and I'll do a full recap soon. But today, I wanted to share a quick one. My son Jack asked about the weather, and the app said "partly cloudy." I told him it was going to be "mostly sunny." Point is, how you frame things, your perspective, it changes everything. After spending two days with 40 incredibly positive, "mostly sunny" entrepreneurs, it really hits home. Choose the positive outlook; there's enough "partly cloudy" crap out there.

Doc Danny here with Yves Gege, my partner in crime at PT Biz. We're diving deep into the 5 stages we see cash practices go through: Proof of Concept, Survival, Success, Turning Pro, and Repeat & Refine. We're not just talking theory; we're using real examples from our mastermind members to show you what to focus on at each stage, common pitfalls, and how to keep moving forward. It's all about pattern recognition, and after coaching so many PTs, we've got a pretty good handle on what works (and what doesn't) as you grow.

Had a chat with a buddy who's scaling his chiro practices nationwide, and it got me thinking: growth versus excellence, or growth versus the lifestyle you actually want. His vision is huge, and that's awesome for him. But for me? I realized I want nothing to do with that level of scale. Our cash practice could be way bigger, but we've intentionally stayed smaller to focus on high quality, fewer headaches, and being the best, not the biggest. I still love seeing patients; it gives me personal satisfaction. Your business should support the life you want. Don't get caught in the "growth at all costs" trap if that's not your true goal.

Tonight we've got a heavy-hitting roundtable with Doug Kechijian from Resilient Performance Systems and Kelly Starrett from MobilityWod and San Francisco CrossFit. We're diving deep into the state of physical therapy, the debate around standardizing care, and where our profession is headed. It's less about business tactics today and more about the core of what we do: working with messy, multifactorial human beings. Is PT broken? Do we need more standardization, or does that stifle the critical thinking and individualized approach that gets real results? Let's get into it.

Today's a quick one, but it's something I wish someone had drilled into my head when I started: patience. We're all driven, right? We want success, and we want it fast. But here's the deal: we overestimate what we can do in a few months and massively underestimate what we can do in a few years. Building a business, especially a cash practice, is a marathon, not a sprint. Frustration will hit when things don't happen on your timeline. I've been there. Don't let ambition without patience derail you.

It's been a week of highs and lows. We sold 1,000 books, which is amazing, but also dealt with three pretty negative business situations. I'm getting real about how to handle these events without letting them crush your spirit, using frameworks like "The Obstacle is the Way" and "Extreme Ownership."

I had a great chat with Jerry Durham and it sparked a thought: do your employees know what a single new patient is actually worth to your practice? Most don't. I'm talking about why having this conversation with your team is crucial for aligning everyone on the importance of patient experience and revenue generation.

I got some wild direct mail from a PT business group, a FedEx envelope with a bag of peanuts inside. I'm breaking down their aggressive, scarcity-based marketing tactics so you can spot them and not get manipulated. There's a big difference between persuasion and using fear to get what you want.

With the launch of my book, I've seen overwhelming positivity, but also that 1% of negativity. I'm talking about how to handle the haters and negative feedback without letting it derail you. If what you're doing aligns with your core values and mission, you can't let someone else's opinion stop you.

I'm fired up because today's the day my book, "Fuck Insurance," comes out. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly why I wrote it: to give you a roadmap to escape the PT mills and insurance-driven bullshit. It's for every PT who feels stuck, burned out, and knows there has to be a better way to use their skills and build a life they love.

I'm giving a huge shout-out to my friend Clay Jones, who sold his truck to open his practice and just bought a new one he can easily afford. His story is a powerful example of what happens when you bet on yourself, invest in your business knowledge, and implement like a badass. It's proof that you don't need to be in a major city to crush it.

I'm pulling back the curtain on something that might surprise you: I'm more of an introvert than an extrovert. I'm talking about how I overcame the nerve-wracking fear of public speaking from literally puking before a workshop to confidently teaching thousands. If you're an introvert who thinks you can't be a forward-facing business owner, this one's for you.

I had a call with a practice owner who's crushing it but wants to wait until he gets "stuck" before getting more help. This is just like a patient saying they'll come back only when they get hurt again, even though we know the root problem isn't solved. I'm talking about why a proactive approach to your business is always better than a reactive one.

I'm sharing a game-changing, seven-part framework for telling compelling patient stories that connect with potential clients and boost your sales. Nobody wants to go to PT, but everyone wants a solution to their problem. A powerful story shows them you have that solution for people just like them.

I'm breaking down why having a 6 a.m. patient is a game-changer for my practice. It's all about "funnel times" and making your services as convenient as possible for your clients. If you're not available when they are, you're losing business to someone who is.

I get real about the struggle to shut down as an entrepreneur. I share four personal tips that helped me become more present with my family and friends, moving from being physically there but mentally elsewhere to truly engaged. It's about turning off the phone, focusing on others' experiences, paying attention to details, and ditching the comparison game.

Let's talk sales, but not in a sleazy way. Too many of us sell the process of PT the dry needling, the exercises, the jargon. I want you to start selling the solution. Think of it like my family's gnocchi: making it is a pain, but eating it is pure joy. Sell the joy, not the prep work, and watch your conversions and patient outcomes soar.