Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephen Dunn, co-owner of CORE Therapy And Pilates, located in Westlake Hills, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am in the health and wellness industry, focusing on helping people move from pain and limitations to an active lifestyle. I am a Physical Therapist, Pilates, and Gyrotonic Instructor. I help people after injury or surgery get back to living their best lives. My ideal client is one that has sustained an injury to the spine, shoulder, or leg and is looking for a holistic plan to get back to normal.
Tell us about yourself
I graduated from Physical Therapy school in 1998 and then lost my job after only ten weeks of working. The balanced budget act decided to target medicare, and that really hurt the therapy industry. After a cross-country move and two bad jobs, I opened my first business in 2001 in an attempt to have more control over my career. This was a great shift in thinking like a business owner versus being an employee. Being able to serve the patient the way they need has been the driving force behind being a business owner for 21 years.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment has been helping many people get back to walking without a limp, exercising again, or playing golf with the family without back pain. These have been the things that happen every single week that kept me coming back for more. Now I have trained two other physical therapists to continue treating patients holistically and keep the brand moving forward. This is my current biggest accomplishment because now we are serving the community on a larger scale.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about being a business owner in the medical field is having an insurance company or the government (Medicare) determine my worth and what I can charge. Helping patients is the easy part; getting them to know who we are in a competitive landscape is the hardest part.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get really good at something that solves a big problem for someone else.
- Understand who your ideal client is and what they need.
- Develop a strong team of A players who want to be on the same bus that you are driving.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://therapyandpilates.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TherapyAndPilates
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coretherapypilates/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TherapyPilates
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3v4rLwz
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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