I am Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.
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Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not good with business,” or “Starting a private practice is too risky”? These thoughts may feel valid, but they are often the work of self-limiting beliefs—those sneaky, deeply ingrained ideas that whisper, “You can’t do it.”
If you’ve dreamed of running a thriving physiatry practice but feel held back, you’re not alone. These beliefs don’t just limit your potential—they sabotage it. But here’s the good news: you can break free. Let’s dive into how to dismantle self-limiting beliefs and build the successful practice you deserve.
Step 1: Question Your Beliefs
Do you believe business success requires an MBA? Or that private practices are doomed to fail in today’s healthcare landscape? These “truths” may feel immovable, but they often crumble under scrutiny.
Take inspiration from Roger Bannister, who shattered the belief that a mile couldn’t be run in under four minutes. What beliefs about practice ownership are you holding onto simply because they feel familiar?
Action Plan:
• Write down your beliefs about starting a practice.
• Ask, “Is this belief helping me, or holding me back?”
• Replace limiting ideas with empowering ones, such as, “I can learn the business skills I need to succeed.”
Step 2: Take Inventory of Habits
Beliefs often show up in the form of habits. Maybe you avoid planning because you think, “I work better under pressure,” or procrastinate on marketing because you feel it’s “not your strength.”
Action Plan:
Create three lists:
1. Good habits: Actions that move you closer to your goals, like networking or learning new skills.
2. Bad habits: Behaviors like procrastination or neglecting financial planning.
3. Missing habits: New habits that could accelerate your success, such as consistent patient follow-ups or monthly budget reviews.
Habits shape your results, and results reshape your beliefs. Start aligning your habits with your vision.
Step 3: Celebrate Your Wins
Limiting beliefs love to overshadow your successes. But every time you’ve overcome a challenge, you’ve proven them wrong.
Action Plan:
• List three accomplishments that make you proud.
• Reflect on how those achievements disprove your self-doubt.
For example, if you believe you’re “bad at numbers” but recall successfully budgeting for a major life event, this proves you’re more capable than you think.
Step 4: Reframe Failure
Fear of failure stops more dreams than actual failure ever could. But what if failure wasn’t an ending, but a lesson?
Action Plan:
• Identify a recent setback.
• Ask, “What went wrong? What did I learn? How can I improve next time?”
Every misstep is an opportunity to grow. Your ability to adapt and learn is far more important than avoiding mistakes.
Step 5: Surround Yourself with Positivity
Building a successful practice is tough—but it’s even tougher if you’re surrounded by negativity. Who in your circle reinforces your doubts? Who inspires you to push through?
Action Plan:
• Seek mentors or colleagues who have successfully built practices.
• Limit time spent with people who discourage your ambitions.
Your environment shapes your mindset, and your mindset shapes your success.
Step 6: Take Small, Bold Steps
You don’t need to leap into practice ownership overnight. Small, consistent actions build momentum and confidence.
Action Plan:
• Take one small step today—research practice locations, attend a business workshop, or set a financial goal.
• Celebrate each step forward, no matter how small.
The act of moving forward—however incremental—reinforces the belief that you can succeed.
Your Call to Action
Your limiting beliefs may feel like immovable barriers, but they’re not. By questioning their validity, changing your habits, celebrating your wins, and surrounding yourself with positivity, you can create the profitable physiatry practice you’ve envisioned.
The first step is believing that change is possible. The second is taking action. Your patients are waiting, your dream practice is waiting, and the best version of yourself is waiting. Let’s build it—together.
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Once you’ve decided that you want to leave your current job to start your practice, you need an exit plan. Check out our blog post here for tips on developing an exit plan and starting your new independent practice.
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I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits. Please go to businessofrehab.com/contractnegotiations to pick up the free guide to help you negotiate the contract of your dreams.
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Attention, Physiatrists! Stop leaving money on the table. Sign up for the free video series: How To Build A Profitable Practice in 90 Days or Less: http://www.sixtytosuccess.com
