Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jody Thatcher Bullard, owner, and president of Thrive Physical Therapy, located in Boise, ID, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Thrive Physical Therapy is a full-service outpatient orthopedic clinic serving Boise, Idaho, and surrounding areas. Our patients range in age from 8-108 and are active, engaged patients who want to thrive.
Tell us about yourself
Initially, I started this business because I wanted Boise to have a PT clinic that was well-run, efficient, high quality, and beautiful. Additionally, I was trying to start a family when I opened, and I could foresee that working for someone else as a working mother would be challenging.
The things that motivate me each day to do what I do are knowing how much we are helping the patients in our community. And knowing that I'm providing a safe, respectful and beautiful environment that fosters healing and a supportive work environment for my employees.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Building a great team. I could not do any of this on this scale alone. The team that I've assembled is super committed to our values and mission. It shows in the quality care that we are able to deliver. I'm also very proud that we have survived and thrived during the pandemic. I was able to keep all of my employees fully employed with no employee cases of COVID! We even completed an expansion into the adjacent suite in 2021. I hired an additional physical therapist and now have more administrative staff. It's been a busy but very rewarding couple of years.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I am never really "off" of work. Even when I'm not doing actual work - I am thinking about the business, planning, creating, and strategizing. Also, unexpected things like staff illnesses, pandemics, and staff turnover always seem to occur when you aren't ready for it. I've decided to step away from seeing patients so that I can be ready and available to handle all of the unexpected things that inevitably come up in a small business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Trust your instincts when it comes to hiring. If you don't want to sit and talk to the candidate for hours and hours or have them over to your house for dinner - don't hire them!
- Consult with industry experts in your field to make sure you are doing everything you can to set your business up in the best way. For example, I belong to the Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. This resource has been super valuable as a small business owner.
- Make sure that you are well supported in your personal life. Are you married, do you have kids, are your family members on board? They might have to sacrifice at times when you have to show up to keep things running, and you don't want resentments to start or fester.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Being a small business owner is a lot like being a parent. The hours can be long at times, and some problems seem insurmountable. But, in the end, it is your baby, and you get to choose how it grows. It's a huge responsibility, but it is also highly rewarding.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thriveptpilates.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3rFL1Pr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveptboise/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrive-physical-therapy-idaho/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.