Is owning your own practice the only way to get the freedom you want?

“I guess I need to start my own practice,” Matt told me.  He sounded completely defeated.  He had just finished telling me how frustrated and bored he was at work.  He wasn’t getting paid enough, his loans were growing rather than shrinking, and worst of all he felt like he was going through the motions at work.

 I’ve had this same conversation with so many people over the years and I’ve said the same thing as Matt before.  

Here’s the thing, you’re not alone if you’ve ever thought that starting your own practice is the only way out.

Maybe you’re bored and don’t want to keep doing the same thing day in and day out.  Maybe you want more money, but the gradual incremental (and small) raises aren’t enough.  Maybe you want more freedom in your schedule and you want to control your schedule rather than your schedule controlling every aspect of your life.  Or maybe you dream of doing something more in the field, but can’t see how that’s possible.

But if you’re like Matt and me and so many other physical therapists, owning your own practice doesn’t sound appealing. It just sounds like the only way out. It is not that you couldn’t do it, but more so that you don’t have the desire to.  The headaches that go along with management don’t appeal to me. So, does that mean you’re destined to get up and work as a staff PT from 8-5 day after day after day?

Not at all.  We talk a lot about the Five Freedoms and getting to work where you want, when you want, with whom you want, for what you’re worth all while living your why.  And while many don’t realize it, you don’t need to own a practice to get there.  

Owning your own practice can be great (that’s why we recommend the Private Practice Blueprint Course), but it isn’t for everyone. So what else is there to do?

Let’s see, there’s teaching in a DPT program, teaching online and in person continuing education, consulting in professional and collegiate sports, leading businesses, and developing systems for healthcare professionals.  And those are just what I do, the list goes on even longer.

That’s the thing, there are so many options out there and so many choices if you have the courage and consistency to get them.

I don’t use myself as an example to boast, but rather to say that if I can do it so can you.  I constantly hear about how burnt out our profession is and how you can’t make the money you thought you would.  I’m telling you that people are doing just that and you can be one of those people.

The biggest barrier I see when coaching is that people don’t believe they can do it. Sure, other people have done it, but those people must have had something different. A leg up somehow (smarter, an inside track, money, etc.) But if we truly want our ideal career, we need to recognize that we can do it.

But here's the thing: while believing that you can do it is the first step, it is not enough. You also need to have the right voices around you. Voices that will encourage you. Voices that will positively challenge you. Voices that will help make the impossible somehow possible. Unfortunately our profession (and the world for that matter) is quick to point out why flexibility is impossible as a PT, why you can’t make more money, and why you can’t have your dream career.

If you don’t have those voices around you, come join us for free at the Professional Rebellion. And If you’re  ready to take actionable steps toward your ideal career rather than wait and hope things get better, join us in the Discover, Create Launch Course. We will show you the step-by-step process to Discover your ideal, Create your path, and take career-changing action to Launch your ideal.