174 3 Things I Got Wrong Building My Clinic (And What I’d Do Now)

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Welcome

If I could have my time again as a clinic owner, what would I do differently from day one?

That is the theme of today’s episode and I am not doing it alone. I invited Fiona onto the podcast. She is a strategic coach within Thrive, a Thrive member of just over three years, and a clinic owner with 25 years in business. Between us, we have 37 years of business experience, plenty of lessons, and yes, plenty of grey hairs on my side.

My job as a coach is to help you lean into what you are great at and stop trying to figure it all out by yourself. If you wanted to learn the piano, you would get a piano teacher. If you wanted to learn tennis or paddle, you would get lessons. Business is no different.

Episode summary

In this conversation, Fiona and I share what we would do differently if we were starting a brand new clinic again. We talk about the real reasons clinic owners hit a ceiling, how mindset and leadership can become the hidden bottleneck, and why getting brilliant at the basics is what creates sustainable growth.

We also get practical about rhythm and systems, hiring the right people, and why retention and lifetime value matter just as much as new patient numbers.

Key takeaways

• Work on your mindset as a leader. I see it again and again. You can become your own biggest bottleneck without realising it.
• Get out of your stress response. When I make decisions from urgency, scarcity, or overwhelm, I cannot access the clarity I need to lead well.
• Introduce rhythm and systems earlier. If something happens more than once, it needs a process behind it so it is repeatable and consistent.
• Lean into your strengths and get support for the rest. You do not have to be brilliant at everything and trying to be will hold the business back.
• Hire A players sooner and tolerate B and C players less. Hiring wrongly is expensive, not just financially but emotionally and operationally.
• Get brilliant at the basics. Before you chase more leads, make sure you are nailing communication, follow up, patient experience, and outcomes.
• Focus on retention and lifetime value. A small improvement in follow up rates can add tens of thousands of pounds over a year.
• Decide what growth means for you. Bigger is not the only goal. It might be more time, more money, fewer clinical hours, or more freedom.

Treat Your Business podcast is proudly sponsored by MBST, the groundbreaking technology revolutionising recovery and rehabilitation. Offering a non-invasive, drug-free solution for musculoskeletal conditions and nerve injuries, MBST works at a cellular level to stimulate regeneration. Expand your services and deliver long-term patient improvements without increasing your workload.

Learn more at mbstmedical.co.uk. 

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