We recently connected with Dr. Geoff Dold, DPT and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Geoff , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Deciding to work for myself and open my own business was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. It all started right before I got married. My wife and I were living in San Diego, but we decided to move back home to the Bay Area after the wedding to be closer to family.
At the time, I had been practicing as a physical therapist for three years and was getting more serious about eventually working for myself. I decided that now was as good a time as any to just go for it. I quit my job right before the wedding so I could fully enjoy the big day and our honeymoon.
The risk for me was simple: in the next five years, I just wanted to get my business to the point where I was making as much as I had while working for someone else and if I can’t do that I’ll go find another job. I had no business experience, but I knew that if I committed to getting better one day at a time, I would become successful in due time.
Although this is the toughest thing I’ve ever done, the lifestyle trade-off has made it an obvious decision. I’m making less money than I did before, but I now have total autonomy in how I practice physical therapy. I have complete control over my schedule and get to prioritize time with my family and friends. To me, that’s more valuable than financial success, and I’m confident the financial side will come.
Starting my own business has definitely been the biggest risk I’ve ever taken, but also the easiest decision I’ve ever made.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My career in the rehabilitation field began in college when I worked in the UC Davis athletic training room. I’ve always enjoyed being around sports and athletes, which eventually led me to earn my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
I spent over five years working in a standard, insurance-based outpatient physical therapy clinic. During that time, it became clear to me that there had to be a better way to help people take care of their bodies. The current healthcare system focuses too much on treating symptoms instead of addressing root causes; it’s a reactive approach to medicine. That frustrated me, because so many of the people I worked with could have avoided injuries and surgeries with a more proactive approach.
I believe that instead of waiting until we’re injured, we should be actively taking care of ourselves every day through simple, sustainable habits. During COVID, I came up with the phrase “Move Simply, More Often”, and I decided to build my business around that idea.
At the start of 2023, I launched Move Simply with a mission to help busy adults take care of themselves now so they can keep training and doing the things they love for the rest of their lives. There’s so much information online that it can be overwhelming and confusing. I aim to simplify self-care by helping people build healthy habits that actually last.
I’m extremely proud of the work I’m doing because it’s fulfilling. My clients regularly tell me how much they appreciate the support and guidance I’ve given them, and that’s one of the best feelings in the world.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I was at the lowest point in my life when I graduated college. I had a 2.8 GPA, had just gotten out of a toxic relationship, was the unhealthiest I had ever been, and I wanted to go to physical therapy school—but I wasn’t a competitive candidate. So, I went back to community college to retake some prerequisite courses and started preparing to apply to doctoral programs.
Then one weekend, I went to a concert with a friend and ended up getting a DUI. I spent the night in jail, and in the days that followed, I wasn’t sure if that mistake would completely derail my goal of getting into PT school. It was a moment of serious reflection.
I spent a lot of time alone figuring out how I could use that experience as fuel instead of letting it define me. I re-committed to my goal and decided I would give it everything I had. The following year, I was accepted into a DPT program. From day one, I was locked in. It was tough, but I embraced the challenge and was just grateful for the opportunity.
I graduated with high honors, and I truly couldn’t have found a better career for myself. I’m proud of how I was able to bounce back from that period of my life and turn it into something positive. Those experiences gave me a grounded, humble perspective that I carry into everything I do today.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
If I had to start over, I would absolutely choose the same profession again. Physical therapy has given me a career that I’m good at, enjoy doing every day, and find deeply fulfilling. I love the hands-on nature of the work and the fact that I get to move around instead of sitting at a desk all day.
The problem-solving aspect of helping people through pain and injury keeps me constantly engaged, and the human body continues to fascinate me. I genuinely enjoy studying and improving my craft. But the best part of my job is the relationships I build. I get to connect with people in a meaningful way and play a role in helping them achieve their goals.
It’s hard to put into words how powerful it is when someone tells me that I’ve changed their life. That moment of genuine gratitude; it’s unlike anything else. It reminds me why I do what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://move-simply.com
- Instagram: @move.simply
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geoff.dold
- Linkedin: Geoffrey Dold
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@movesimply510
