Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cody Vandommele, owner of iMove Clinic, located in Hamilton, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
iMove Clinic is a multidisciplinary rehabilitation clinic that specializes in Neurokinetic Therapy, a technique used to find the most important muscle compensations in the body that are driving dysfunction and pain. We see people of all ages and backgrounds because pain does not discriminate.
Our movement patterns are a product of our daily habits, the environments we live in, and previous injuries/traumas we’ve experienced. These all produce muscular compensations in the body, which lead to wear and tear over time. Our job as practitioners is to balance these compensations to improve movement efficiency and quality of life.
Tell us about yourself
My journey to iMove Clinic stems back to my 1st year of undergraduate studies at Brock University, when I met my business partner. We struck a friendship, and both ended up pursuing physiotherapy. Fast forward 12 years later, we reconnected and developed iMove Clinic. I am motivated each day to help people, first and foremost. Like many other fields, we are in a people business, but we are often seeing people when they are not at their best. Whether in pain or struggling with the daily tasks of life, our patients are vulnerable. It’s our job to educate, restore function and empower patients in their recovery. Helping people move and feel better is incredibly gratifying.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner to date has been the growth we were able to achieve throughout the pandemic. Initially closed for three months at the onset of COVID-19, we came back strong and have steadily increased and outperformed our pre-pandemic clinic performance.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The most challenging aspect of being a business owner is the constant shifting of roles. As a business owner, you have to be very adaptable because your role is constantly changing. In one day, I am a practitioner, a manager, an administrator, among many other roles. Each role requires its own unique set of skills, and to be proficient in all of them, and adaptability is key. In addition to my work roles, I am also a husband and father so taking off the “owner cap” and spending quality time with my family is a big priority.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Specialize. Find something different or niche in your field that you are passionate about and master it. Separate yourself from the competition.
- Work with people that you trust. Without trust, success will be fleeting.
- Your clientele is your biggest marketing tool. We have never spent a lot on advertising but still grown through word of mouth.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://imoveclinic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imoveclinic.hamilton/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imoveclinic.physio/
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.
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