What I Wished I Had Known

UNCAGED CLINICIAN
Blog

April 27, 2025

Numbers!

On a recent group call with some of our newer entrepreneur students, the question was asked: "What do you wish you had known when you started your practice?"

Man, what a fabulous question.

My first response was: "Wow. Where do I even begin?"

So many clinicians who are setting out to tackle something that they've never done, nor were ever taught how to, tell us: "I'm going to see how things go, figure out what I don't know, and then I'll get help."

I thought I would shed some light on some things that maybe they don't know; they just don't know it yet. Offer up a shortcut, if you will.

The major difference between those starting out today compared to back in 2013 is that there were no coaches or mentors out there to guide me.

New entrepreneurs today have a greater advantage!

There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Simply, follow the blueprint from someone who has done it already.

Even better, choose a guide who has lead hundreds of others to do what you are wanting to achieve!

Being a talented therapist does not equate to starting a practice. They are two different skill sets.

Yet, many fall into the trap of thinking that all it takes is establishing an LLC and launching a website; and then, because their patients loved them at the J.O.B., business simply starts rolling.

In last week's edition, UNCAGED CLINICIAN team member and guest writer, Sharon Wisnewski, talked about the importance of knowing the Extrinsic Why behind your practice.

Far too many clinicians starting their own practices do so with no real intention behind their launch.

In other words, the focus is on breaking free and being their own boss.

But, why?

Why does THEIR clinic have to exist? Why MUST it exist for the community?

Identifying this goes a long way in providing clarity, which happens to booster marketing and attracting clients.

Clarity is another thing that would have helped in many occasions.

Gatekeepers would have better understood why they needed to consider changing their referral habits, at least for certain patients.

A better understanding for myself would have meant approaching conversations with a different approach. Deeper questions to leads would have been asked leading to a higher conversion rate earlier at the on-set.

A better Game Plan.

This is two-fold. One, how I approached marketing efforts. Two, a game plan to demonstrate to clients.

What we know as treating clinicians is "doing therapy". One mistake made is thinking "I'll just keep doing the same thing, but it will be my business."

This thinking impacts both marketing and the selling to clients.

I avoided marketing at times simply because I didn't have a game plan to execute. Thus, I didn't want to risk the chance of being like a pair of clanging cymbals making a bunch of noise.

Having a clear game plan to show new clients the exact pathway to them achieving their goals - the steps that needed to be made, not just what the treatment would look like - would have given them more confidence in how I could help them. Thereby, resulting in less "drop offs".

Understanding the "Marketing Candyland" game would have been huge.

There is way too much to Candyland to put here in this edition. But, trust us. A full understanding of and nailing Marketing Candyland is a game changer.

Finally, Numbers; particularly as a cash-based practice.

A solo-preneur starting out doesn't need as many referral sources nor as many visits per week as what is used to in the corporate clinic setting.

Yet, it is easy to miss this for the mere fact that high numbers are what most clinicians are accustomed to seeing each day.

Had I realized that seeing the three visits in a morning grossed me more money than seeing a full day at the clinic, I would have jumped much sooner than waiting nearly a year and a half.

Going through all of the learning process served a greater purpose beyond my own clinic gaining traction.

It prepared me for what would become my passion: helping other clinicians achieve the same thing by becoming UNCAGED!

Unknown journeys are both exciting and scary.

Going down the wrong path exacerbates the scary, increases stress, along with a host of mental demons - imposter syndrome, comparison syndrome, self-fulfilling prophesies.

UNCAGED CLINICIAN is here for you.  There's no need to re-invent what has already been done many times over. 

Our Launchpad program is designed to help you form a firm business foundation so that you get started on the right foot.

For more insights and personalized guidance for becoming the entrepreneur you dream to me, visit uncagedclinician.com and schedule a free Growth Strategy Call with us.

Let's work together to break through the ceiling and unlock the full potential of your practice.

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

Your Success is our success!

The UNCAGED team