Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alicia Allie, Clinic Director and Partner at Sol Physical Therapy, located in Tucson, AZ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sol Physical Therapy provides physical and occupational therapy to people of all ages, backgrounds, and activity levels. Sol was created when I noticed a change in the health care field: less time with patients, higher productivity standards, and less one-on-one patient-practitioner care. Our patients can expect unrivaled, one-on-one therapy time with our industry-leading practitioners.
Our experienced therapists have unique backgrounds and training, with varying specialties, including certified hand therapy, pelvic floor therapy, pediatric therapy, and general orthopedics. We pride ourselves on employing the very best therapists in their field to provide the very best care for our patients.
Tell us about yourself
I originally started down the path as a physical therapist in college. I was a Division 1 collegiate gymnast and sustained a career-ending elbow injury. I underwent reconstructive surgery and spent about a year in physical therapy. This motivated me to go into the field of physical therapy, and to this day, it helps me with a unique understanding of what many of my patients are going through.
Sol Physical Therapy was really the culmination of many years of working in the field and feeling like there was a missing space: both practitioners and patients were looking for a physical therapy experience that provided them with adequate one-on-one time. Hearing feedback from our therapists, who say they feel they are finally working in a clinic that supports them and their treatment of patients, combined with the feedback from our patients describing an experience in physical therapy much different than any other, really makes it worth it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We opened our doors just four months before the pandemic. I always feel proud that we not only made it through the toughest part of the pandemic but were able to grow from 1 location to 3 locations in that timeframe. It really speaks for how hard our staff has worked to build and grow this company.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing is that my "work brain" always wants to be on. If I am not answering calls, emails, or texts during off-hours, my brain is constantly thinking about the business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Surround yourself with people who support you! It could be people within your company that you can lean on when you need it or people outside the company who will provide you with advice and support.
- Make sure you remind yourself why you started down this road. When I am feeling stressed or discouraged, I often take time to read back to my early notes on what I wanted to do with this business, and it reminds me why I am here.
- Set boundaries. It is ok to set time aside when you don't answer your phone or are unavailable to your work world. It took me a long time to feel comfortable setting boundaries with work, and I still struggle with it often, but when I do set these boundaries, I feel so much more refreshed when I am at work.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sol-pt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolPhysicalTherapyAZ/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solphysicaltherapytucson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sol-physical-therapy/
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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