Leaving "Good" for What is Right

UNCAGED CLINICIAN
Blog

December 2, 2025

Followed His Calling Into Cash-Based Practice!

With Uncaged Clinician student Mitchell Hall

When you listen to enough stories from PTs who’ve launched their own practices, you start to notice a pattern: most weren’t running from something bad (although some do)... they were running toward something better.

That’s certainly true of our subject today, Mitchell Hall, PT, DPT, owner and founder of Rhythm Holistic Manual Therapy in Angola, Indiana.

Mitchell didn’t leave a toxic workplace. He didn’t burn out. He didn’t hate his team.

In fact—he loved them.

He left because the direction he felt called to pursue no longer lined up with the direction of the company he was helping lead.

And that distinction matters.

Mitchell began his PT career in a thriving Fort Wayne practice; one that grew from a single clinic with four therapists to over 20 clinicians across several locations.

He rose through the ranks quickly—from clinician, to clinic director, to regional director.

A dream for most.

However, Mitchell soon found the ascent to be what some wouldn't expect: unrewarding. But it wasn't the workload that got to him.

“If I had stayed employed by someone,” he said, “that was about as good as it was gonna get.”

So why walk away?

Mitchell credits the discover of the treatment technique fascial counterstrain - a technique focused on reducing trapped inflammation through highly specific manual work.

He immediately immersed himself in learning the skill and proceeded to watch patient after patient respond in ways he’d never seen before.

Fascial Counterstrain presented two challenges for him: 1) He rarely had time to utilize the approach to its full capacity, and 2) Patients were responding faster than what was desired by the clinic (one can probably guess what that meant).

Thus, the direction he felt called to go didn’t fully match the direction of the company.

And when you’re in leadership, you must be fully bought in. Your team deserves nothing less.

So Mitchell made a decision that many clinicians feel in their gut, but struggle to act on:

“My job here is finished. I can stay somewhere good, or I can follow where I’m being called.”

And with humility, faith, and intention… he stepped out.

Coming from a leadership role, Mitchell already had experience marketing, building relationships, connecting with referral sources, running workshops, and handling tough patient conversations.

But starting Rhythm Holistic Manual Therapy required something different.

He realized quickly that a cash-based business requires a new level of messaging clarity.

Even though he was in a regional director's role, running your own practice requires understanding revenue, finances, and client retention.

Perhaps the most challenging was the realization that leaving a leadership role means you are the final decision-maker

He could not lean on “someone above him” when things got tough.

Most importantly, Mitchell admits that he had the confidence, but he didn’t have an ego that would mislead him.

“I knew I could figure things out,” he said. “But I also knew that Rhythm deserved more than me just winging it.”

That mindset is what ultimately led him to join Uncaged University.

Mitchell admitted he came into our program familiar with things like avatars, mindset work, internal and external “why” statements, and emotional intelligence frameworks. His previous clinic invested heavily in leadership and communication training.

But this time, the experience hit differently.

Mitchell compared it to re-watching a beloved movie. You start noticing details you never saw the first time.

He went deeper. More introspective. More intentional.

He revisited foundational concepts—but through the lens of his business, his future, and his calling.

Along the way he clarified what Rhythm exists to do, and why his practice must exist.

He gained a better understanding as to who he wants to serve.

Considering how he wants his business to operate in 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years, he began to think about the kind of legacy he wants to build.

Mitchell took the approach of building the “foundation before the framing,” —something many clinicians skip when starting a practice.

Far too often entrepreneurs dive deep into marketing before ever considering what it is they actually do for customers, and why.

If you are someone who is on the fence about starting your own practice, Mitchell offers three solid tips for anyone feeling doubtful—or convinced they can “figure it out alone.”

1. Get objective counsel from someone who will tell you the truth.

Not hype. Not emotion. Someone who can clearly look at your situation without bias.

For Mitchell, that person was his wife—who, even at 38 weeks pregnant, was steady and objective about what was best for his long-term calling and career.

2. Seek input from multiple trusted voices.

Mentors. Coaches. Friends who understand business. People who know your heart, your goals, and your blind spots.

“You don’t need a yes or no,” he said. “You need the right questions to think about.”

3. Don’t assume leadership experience = readiness to run a business.

Even if you’ve been in management…
Even if you know marketing…
Even if you’ve led teams…

Running your own business is a different beast.

You are the marketer.
You are the operations team.
You are the financial department.
You are the customer service department.
You are the CEO.

And if you’re not prepared?
It will feel overwhelming fast.

Mitchell knew that. And that humility is why his practice is already gaining momentum.

Sitting down with Mitchell reminded me of an important truth: Good doesn't always equal Right.

You can love where you work… and still know it isn’t your long-term home.

You can be grateful for a job… and still feel called elsewhere.

You can be comfortable… and still crave growth.

Mitchell stepped away from good to pursue what was right.

And if you feel that tug too? His story is proof:

You don’t have to jump blindly.
You don’t have to do it alone.
But you do have to listen to that calling.

Frustration is normal and a part of the journey. But with the right tweaks, you can turn dead ends into thriving relationships and sustainable growth.

If you’d like more guidance on turning these tweaks into action, schedule a call with us and learn more about Uncaged University. Kevin and I would love to help you take your practice to the next level.

The new UNCAGED UNIVERSITY gives you the guidance and clarity to obtain your goals and your success.

You can even work through the program at your pace, fast or slow. Either way, you come out on top!

Want to learn more about UNCAGED UNIVERSITY? Schedule an UNCAGED UNIVERSITY Application call with us today!  OUR PROMISE TO YOU: NO HARD SELLING.

Details about UNCAGED UNIVERSITY can also be found here.

Also, be sure to check out our website for other resources!

Your Success is our success!

The UNCAGED team