Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joshua Yokel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Joshua, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
I graduated from Physical Therapy school in May 2018. Six months into my first job out of school I was asked if I wanted to assist in the growth of a new clinic. I had no idea what I was doing, but I said yes and jumped at the opportunity. I realized I wasn’t getting the mentorship I craved in this position so I left that job a few months later. Not long after, I had an opportunity to move to Baltimore, MD to assist in the growth of another brand new clinic. I had never been to Maryland, but I said yes and moved north. This one went differently and despite a global pandemic, I was able to grow this clinic to two full-time therapists with the need to hire a third. The opportunity to learn from other business owners, perform in a growth role, and gain experience doing for others what I wanted to do for myself really assured me that I was ready to venture out on my own. At that time, my fiance and I decided to move back to my hometown Greenville, SC and that’s when I started things up. The biggest challenge setting up my own practice was taking the leap to actually do it. I thought about it for a long time, and even though all my experiences definitely helped me – if I had to do anything differently, I probably would have done it sooner. That being said, my biggest piece of advice for a young professional who is considering starting their own practice, is to find someone who is doing what you want to be doing and absorb as much as you can from them. Also don’t be afraid to ask questions, there are plenty of people out there who are willing to help you succeed.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born and raised in Greenville SC. I received my Bachelors in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina and then my Doctor of Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina. I got into Physical Therapy because of injuries I dealt with growing up playing competitive soccer. I had my first knee surgery as a senior in high school, which didn’t go well and required 2 more surgeries my sophomore year of college. I found myself lost in my future plans and depressed, but I had an awesome PT, Laura, who helped motivate and push me back to normal and is ultimately the reason I chose to become a Physical Therapist.
I now provide Sports and Performance Physical Therapy services in Greenville, SC and remotely. I provide an optimal environment for athletes and active people to rehab injuries and get back to what they love doing. I see all my patients 1 on 1, which has become rare in our field, so I’m proud to give my patient’s my full attention and time. I combine a mix of hands-on treatment with exercise, while really focusing on educating my patients on how to take care of their bodies and minds. Pain is complex, so getting to the root cause of someone’s symptoms and treating that, rather than just the symptoms themselves, is always the goal. I think the biggest thing that sets me apart from other providers is my ability to adapt my treatment style to the patient in front of me. Not everyone has the same experiences and expectations and therefore can’t be treated the same way.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
I’m fairly new to this, but so far this is what is helping me grow and establish myself and my business:
Be present and accommodating. Talk to as many people as you can and remember their names. Become a part of the community you want to serve. Absorb as much information as possible. Be genuine and willing to help. Lastly – don’t be afraid to tell people what you’re able to do for them and how you can help them.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
This is something I have thought about often. The short answer is yes, I’d choose the same thing. I absolutely love what I’m doing when I’m treating athletes and have never been more driven to build a successful business. However, I’d be avoiding some hard truths about this industry if I didn’t admit to sometimes having second thoughts. It can be a mentally and physically demanding profession – and when you factor in our poor debt-to-income ratio, it can be demoralizing. It’s tough to advance financially as a Physical Therapist, and the declining insurance reimbursements aren’t helping. If I had continued working for someone else, I’d likely be looking for a change. But, the rewards of owning my own business and helping people on my own terms outweigh the negatives.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.peak3sportspt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peak3sportspt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083618520279
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-yokel-0a26a264/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJdbDfoMXuzsR-9RmYHq__Q
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@peak3sportspt