Building Skills. Empowering People.®

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Salim Janmohamed, managing director of Community Therapists, located in Burnaby, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Our mission is to empower our clients to function more fully in the settings that matter to them, fulfill important life roles, and return to the activities that give them purpose. We do this by providing innovative rehabilitation solutions that involve one or more of our professional team of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, counsellors, or kinesiologists.

Our services help people return to the things that matter in life, including work, school, sports, parenting, and being an active member of the community. We not only change people's lives but, in the process, save insurers, employers, and other healthcare funders a significant amount of the financial and social costs of disability and illness.

Tell us about yourself

As a young OT student, I gained a passion for Return to Work rehabilitation after completing a clinical placement at WCB (now known as WorkSafeBC) in the late 90s. Helping people return to work and get back to earning a living and being a part of a team has been so professionally rewarding for me, and it still is today.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think the sheer number of lives our organization has positively impacted is probably what I'm most proud of. As I no longer treat clients, this responsibility is the work of our fantastic clinical teams. We are also incredibly proud of the workplace culture we have created and the collection of systems, resources, and supports we have developed for clinicians to excel at helping clients and also grow professionally. Our model of mentorship and support has enabled us to retain and grow our team in an increasingly competitive environment.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Balancing home and family life with the demands of business can be hard. Still, I'm fortunate to be surrounded by a leadership team as talented as they are caring, which makes it all work. We support each other to take breaks away from our demanding work lives.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

I think begin with the end in mind. You want to build systems and processes that will work at scale. The other thing is always to think long term and avoid cutting corners. Someone once told me that problems don't age well, whatever they may be. So it's vital to be proactive in addressing issues, whatever they may be.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.communitytherapists.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Community-Therapists-525391797495966/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ctispeaks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/community-therapists-inc/

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.