Physio business mentoring is about more than just listening. It’s about taking immediate actions that can enhance your life.
This article is a follow up to last week’s post on how to be a “Gun Physio” but first, I’d like to tell you a little tale about regret.
When I started working in the public sector in my second year out, I met a man who had been running his own practice for over 20 years.
He told me, quite clearly, that by running your own clinic you are likely to end up about 10% better off financially compared with working in the public health system.
This conversation set me back about 3 years.
What the naysayers will tell you
To a rational person, the sum of the opinions of many should outweigh that of the few.
It’s simple maths – but this is wrong on so many levels.
Firstly, there are thousands if not millions of people who are quite happy to tell you what you shouldn’t do.
Why you will fail. How you will fail. And why you shouldn't try. They do this for many reasons. Let's be honest though we don't go to Homer Simpson for physio business mentoring.
1. Personal Experience
They failed – they’ve been through the pain and they don’t want you to learn the same lessons that they did the hard way.
They’re trying to save you from regret.
This is unfortunate, as one of the keys to long term success is actually failure and the many great lessons this teaches.
2. Can’t see the vision
Not everyone thinks big picture.
Often people can’t see the dream you’re articulating or understand the vision.
To them it appears unrealistic, perhaps dangerous and downright foolish.
3. Concern for you
This is typical of family and a great example of this lies within the book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
The “poor dad” who wants his child to have safety, stability and predictability in their life will recommend this path, having fought through the turbulence of their own to achieve this for you.
4. Fear of failure
People who fear failure and the humiliation of this will project this same fear onto others.
Not everyone is a risk taker, some people will do everything they possibly can to avoid risk.
5. Envy
One of the seven deadly sins…
The truth is that some people don’t like to see others succeed. I think we’ve all been guilty of jealousy from time-to-time.
It’s in built within our ego’s actually.
The ego needs to feel separate and superior.
Some people don’t want others to chase their dreams because their potential success can be reflected on their own failures.
“Successful people don’t fear failure but understand that it’s necessary to learn and grow from.”
Robert Kiyosaki
The ‘Chip’ on my Shoulder
I went through the early part of my career feeling I wasn’t good enough.
I had had a terrible time on clinical placements and this had set me back significantly.
It meant I had a ‘chip’ on my shoulder.
As someone who grew up in a working class family to immigrant parents, the last thing I needed at age 21, was another ‘chip’ on my shoulder.
I remember being told how much you’d be taken advantage of by private hospitals (this was very true).
And also how unsupported you would be in a private practice (not-true, in my experience).
I remember being told firmly “never go into private practice as a new grad.”
Unfortunately, I listened to this.
Although, I wouldn’t necessarily say the path this created was something I regret; it was more the behaviour.
The fact that I listened.
Physio business mentoring – no regrets
We all find our own path.
Or for the more philosophically inclined, our path finds us.
My path enabled me to meet my now partner in the first week of my grad year; in a private hospital at that.
I also managed to find lots of jobs I would never do again (lol).
Sometimes we have to rule out other paths before committing firmly down our own.
This path took me to the UK and into private practice in Sports Medicine.
It brought me back home and I started my own business, which I’ve since sold.
And now I’m here.
Perhaps the advice above was actually good for me.
It helped forge me into the person who I am now, and who knows what would have happened had I not taken this route.
But there is one thing I am now unashamedly firm on:
You should never listen to people who try and tell you what you can’t do.
Never.
No successful person goes around telling others not to try.
Not to put the work in.
Or that the journey is too hard – “take a safer route”.
They encourage others.
They do their best work when you are at your lowest point in your journey.
Because they’ve been there, right where you are.
I’ve been there.
When the naysayers are winning and you’re embarrassed to show your face in public.
When all seems lost and you can’t find a way forward.
That’s why I exist.
And why I’ll be sitting here, waiting for your call.
