2015 was quite the year for me. I took a leap in going independent and cash based along with starting to teach seminars. I’ve learned a ton and since this time of year is when every other blog are doing “what I’ve learned in 2015”, I’ll just ride that band wagon and write mine.
Professional:
- Cashed Based Practice is possible
- Since I’ve started getting involved in the healthcare profession, I always wanted to eventually go cash based. With insurance reimbursements getting more complicated, lengthy and decreased, I noticed many insurance based clinics starts to steer their focus to volume/numbers and eventually lose quality. This is when quantity starts to trump quality and it should be the other way around. Now don’t get me wrong, you still need to hustle, market, you need to give quality care and its not easy. However, looking back last year I didn’t do so bad, earning more than last year where I was working in an insurance based company.
- Surround yourself with inspiring individuals
- I’ve surround myself with some incredible and inspiring individuals this year. Surrounded by this motivating environment improved many things in life: training, strength, clinical skills, movements, and business in a faster pace than before. You are who you surround with might hold some truth.
- You are your own brand.
- When starting a business, I think many are scared of their competition. However, don’t forget that there is only one YOU. Have a foundation, work on your strengths and weaknesses and be you. Life is not a competition, just become a better you than yesterday and slowly your uniqueness will come out.
Education:
- Teaching makes you better
- The more I teach, the better I become clinically and as a person. I posted a teaching = learning blog here
- Be open to new ideas and different ways of thinking but…
- We should always keep learning and embrace the new ideas that come along the way. Nevertheless, we should still be skeptical and analyze the information secondary to how easy it is to receive information now a days. With all the information out in the world, it is easy for us to become information ADD. There were times where I wanted to learn SO MANY THINGS that I would try to learn 5 different things in 1 month. The problem was, I would spread myself too thin and I don’t make much gains. This lead to a shut gun approach and constant experimentation with different techniques without a good system in place. I strongly believe having a good system that allows you to integrate many different modalities is key. Learn one system well, learned the rules, master the rules first and THEN make it your own. As John Cage once said: “Don’t try to create and analyze at the same time. They’re different processes.”
- Postural Restoration is a system
- I’ve heard about PRI for years now and was always interested in taking the course. However, claiming that everyone is a left AIC didn’t appeal to me. As I have taken a good amount of courses and discussed with colleagues this year, I realized PRI is much more than just Left AICs but a system that makes me see things from a different lens where SFMA, NKT, FRR may not see. And to be honest, its a damn good system.
Business:
- Market to a target audience
- I’ve followed some of Dr. Jarod Carter’s work regarding how to market for cash based practices. I’ve consulted with him 3 times for some advice and he was very precise and informative. As a cash based practice, you will learn how to market uniquely depending on your target audience. I went to BNI meetings, coffee dates, visit physicians offices, social media marketing, blogs etc. Many have worked; however, BNI meetings did not resonate with me. I attempted for 3 months realizing later that the referral network I was trying to create was not within that group. Instead, I started conducting more workshops to potential audience and going to health fair meetings which targeted my audience more precisely. This is not to say BNI meetings don’t work but also showing that you will never know until you try, fail and learn from the experiences.
- Balance with Family
- Compared to some colleagues, I don’t work nearly as many hours as they do. However, running a cash based practice, teaching for a University and teaching seminars on weekends eventually took away time from my family. Even when I was home, I wasn’t “present”. As a new father, I want to be more mindful and be efficient in order to spend more quality time with family.
- Be good to your current clients
- Gaining new patients are great, but make sure you give your best to your current clients. Gaining trust from them will eventually lead to a sustainable long term practice.
Personal:
- Father hood is the most rewarding thing
- Not going to lie, this has changed my outlook on life dramatically. Crazy how one person makes a difference huh?
- You can still make gains in your training
- My training volume has gone down significantly. My overall conditioning has decreased but I was able to have strength gains. With a help of a coach I was still able to achieve: a one arm one leg push up, be able to perform one arm push up 5 reps in a row both sides, press 1/2 body weight on one side, able to strict muscle up for the first time. Its been a slow progress but its doable. I’m currently in communication with my coach on how to be efficient with my workouts next year.
- Its when you are vulnerable is when growth happens
- This can be translated in many ways. When you fail, you grow. You are at your strongest when you are at your weakness. Sometimes during your vulnerable times, you can actually find your core strengths about yourself. Although it doesn’t feel great while you are going through the stumbles and failures, this is when your true self sometimes come out and shine.
Miscellaneous:
- Breathing and Gait still rules
- Basics, basics, basics. Many patients can benefit from breathing drills. As I understand more of the above, its all connected and you learn how to guide your breathe so you become more aware of the imbalances. Its not just about diaphragmatic breathing but improving awareness to your body that lacks flow.
- Awareness
- Feeding from #1. As I learn more about PRI its making me more “aware” of things which in turn helps me improve my movement variability and others. The more I help individuals become aware parts of their body they haven’t felt, the body starts to put itself back together. With all the technology, medication, etc are we just non-aware beings now?
- Take your chances
- I took chances this year to take steps forward to my goals and dreams. Becoming an entrepreneur is probably the best decision I have made. If you work more off hours, study off hours, you have this burning desire to become better, this is a thought. It is scary yet if you know you will regret if you’ve never tried, I encourage others to eventually go for it. It doesn’t have to be now, or soon but eventually. Be nervous yet don’t be afraid. Once you take that jump, regardless of the outcome you will see things many others haven’t. You got this :).
Lastly, I can’t thank enough for the groups and individuals that influenced me this year. The team at Catalyst SPORT (Dr. Kathy Dooley, Jason Kapnick, Joe Boffi, Fabian, Jackie, Talia, Isang Smith, Anna, Jake, Paul, Flex, Long, Coach Fury), Mejor Strength (Joe Gonzalez), Michael Jocson, Elana Behar, My wife and son and friends that supported me. I know without you all, I wouldn’t have able to do what I did this year.
Thats all folks. I’ve never been a good writer but when I meet some of my colleagues, they talked about my blogs here and there which is an unbelievable honor. I appreciate you all for reading and thank you for letting me share my thoughts and knowledge.
To a stronger 2016!!!
Written by: Kento Kamiyama PT, DPT
“Breathe to Unleash”
“Let your breathe move you”
well said. you’re inspiring. have a strong 2016, kento!