Navigating Pregnancy and Birth - Lady Bird Physical Therapy

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rebecca Maidansky, Founder of Lady Bird Physical Therapy, located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

Lady Bird Physical Therapy is a pelvic floor physical therapy clinic specializing in perinatal health. Our customers are anyone trying to become pregnant, experiencing pregnancy pains, preparing for birth, or navigating postpartum recovery.

Tell us about yourself

I started my physical therapy career working in a sports PT setting with endurance athletes. While working with these athletes, I started to see how uncomfortable my colleagues were supporting athletes through pregnancy, and that didn't sit well with me. If roughly half the human population can become pregnant, how is this a population every healthcare provider isn't comfortable working with? I've always cared deeply about women's health and rights, and when I saw this gap, I felt like my life passion became crystal clear. Supporting people throughout their reproductive journey and making sure they feel heard, cared for, and supported is what motivates me every day. We know so much more than we used to about how to support a person through pregnancy and recovery. Telling people what to avoid perpetuates fear of movement, thus, pain and illness. Educating people about what they can do to support themselves through pregnancy helps foster health through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery for parents and babies.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is building a team of people who care as much about our patients as I do and enabling them to provide excellent care. Sustainable growth in healthcare is hard and requires constantly fighting against the status quo to see more patients and fit more people on a schedule. I'm so proud of building a team of people who care and a business that enables us to do better for every patient we see.

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

The hardest thing is navigating the conflicting priorities and choosing which one to prioritize and when. As a business owner, I consider my team and our patients my tied #1 priority. A supported, happy team can provide the best patient care. My #2 priority is the health of the business, so I can pay my team well and maintain our ability to serve our patients by keeping the lights on. But each of these priorities requires constant judgement calls balancing competing needs, and that can be tough.

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

1. Get clear on what matters to you. When I started Lady Bird PT, I knew what mattered to me was spending more time with my patients so I could support them better. As we grew, that was never a variable we were willing to mess with. Being clear on what mattered early on made so many decisions easier as time went on.
2. Know what growth means to you. In a world where everyone is always talking about the next big goal, it's easy to get swept into the rat race. More isn't always better. Knowing what growth means to you and choosing when you want to invest in what you have rather than expand your reach is key to maintaining a good service or product.
3. Pick the right team and cut ties when you need to. Businesses are made up of people, and your team is who you spend your time with, workshop your problems with, and serve your clients alongside. Finding the right people made my business what it is and makes me excited about continuing to work on it every day.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.ladybirdpt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladybirdpt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladybirdpt/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ladybirdpt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladybirdpt/

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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