We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeffrey Weidmann a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jeffrey , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Starting your own business and your own healthcare practice presents many challenges. I had just one class on practice management in school, but it just barely scratched the surface and there were no other business management classes offered. So when it came to starting my own practice and business, I was learning almost everything on the fly. Experience and mistakes are great teachers, but mistakes can be very costly in business. Early on in my first business, a workers compensation audit resulted in me having to pay a significant amount of back taxes. I’ve been in practice for 23 years and have been running my own business for 19 years. I learned a lot in the early years and I continue to learn more and more every day.

Some advice that I could give to somebody just starting out, is to start surrounding yourself with knowledgeable advisors as part of your team in as many important areas that are relevant to your business. Having the right team of advisors can be the difference between you making it and not. Besides having a good managerial staff and accountant, my advisory team has grown over the years to include an advisor on time management, a bookkeeper, an attorney service that provides all different types of legal help, among others. Some other important advice is to come up with a thorough business plan.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started out working as an x-ray tech at an orthopedic hospital. It was during my first year working there, that I started experiencing severe sciatica out of nowhere. It was through my search for relief and answers, how I came across Acupuncture, as well as the power of the mind-body connection to pain. My interest was piqued and I decided to go back to school to study acupuncture and Chinese medicine. My background in western medicine and orthopedics really helps when I have patients coming in with different types of pain conditions. I can help my patients understand their conditions and their western medicine diagnostic reports, as well as make recommendations and give them referrals to a specialist when needed. Over the last 19 years, I have started two wellness centers offering, acupuncture, massage, therapy, skin, care, movement arts, and more.

I founded Slope Wellness 11 years ago, and it has grown into a highly regarded fixture in Park Slope. We have clients and patients that come from all five boroughs, even Long Island, New Jersey and upstate New York to see us.

Im most proud of the fact that we have such an amazing team of highly skilled professionals that are more like a family, and that we have built a wellness community here that continues to grow and thrive. we have been voted best of Brooklyn three out of the last four years.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think you need a passion for for your work where it doesn’t feel like work but something you love. I love helping people and when I do how great that makes me feel.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I think it’s important to get to know your team, and what their strengths and interests are. It could take some time, but usually you can find something unique that each staff member is good at. Then you can figure out ways to give them more responsibilities to help nurture that growth. When you’re able to do that, they will feel more invested in the business, and happier with their job, which definitely builds morale.

Contact Info:

• Website: Slopewellnessny.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Slopewellness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlopeWellnessNY
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SlopeWellnessNY
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/slope-wellness-brooklyn

Image Credits
Julie Goldstone