Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Robert Swan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Robert, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us 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.

After about 15 years in the medical field, I was getting frustrated with the focus on money rather than on helping people. So with a friend, I decided to open our own practice. Initially we wanted to focus on testosterone therapy. Both of us were testosterone patients, but had very impersonal experiences with online practices. We thought we could do it better, make it more personal. So, we did. Very quickly, we discovered a huge need for weight loss among our patients so branched out into that as well. I split away from my partner just over a year ago, taking the telemedicine side of the business with me, and have been focusing on that ever since.

Robert, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I had worked as a veterinary technician for almost ten years, tried to get into veterinary school and just wasn’t successful. I was kind of wallowing and trying to figure out what to do with my life when a college friend contacted me, and had just finished nursing school and was loving it. I said, what the heck, and applied. I found it to be my calling in life. I loved the science, and loved caring for people. I started out in emergency medicine, and fell in love with that field. After about 6 years of doing that, I decided to go to graduate school and pursue my advanced degree so I could become a provider, nurse practitioner. No i’m into my 18th year of practice as an RN and Nurse Practitioner. I love caring for people, solving problems, making connections. I would do this work for free. My company, Valen Vital Health, is founded on the principles that every human has value, and it is my duty to respect and uphold that value. We are a small, family run business, you’ll sometimes even get a follow up call from my mom. We want our patients to be an extended part of that family.

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

I believe that in order to survive the harsh environment of medical practice, you need to know why you are in it, and constantly remind yourself of that. The days are long, people are often unhappy, and in spite of wanting to save everyone, we can’t always be successful in that. We need to remember what is in the heart of the decision to practice medicine, and keep that “why” constantly close.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The E-Myth was a book that really helped me shift my thinking as a business owner. Almost everything in that book resonated with my experience. I had created another job instead of owning a business. I started out doing everything by the seat of my pants, reacting to issues instead of planning and creating a system up front. I highly recommend anyone who wants to start a business read this book and create systems. I like to reference the character in the movie “Tommy Boy” who kept all the critical business information in her head, and the bad guy was able to use that against her. Everything can’t exist inside the head of one person, otherwise, only one person can do all the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.valenvitalhealth.com
• Instagram: @valenvitalhealth
• Facebook: @valenvitalhealth

Image Credits

The drawings were done for us by Jason Green, a local Seattle artist.