Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Carolyn Latham, owner of Verity Physical Therapy & Wellness, located in San Anselmo, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a physical therapist. I see sports and orthopedic patients and specialize in pelvic floor physical therapy. I bridge the gap between the sports world and the pelvic floor world. There are so many athletes out there who have low back or hip pain who would benefit from seeing a sports PT who has extended knowledge on the pelvic floor and how it integrates with the entire core complex.
My soulmate customer is the person who wants to move their body for health and stay pain and injury free. That could mean someone who has incredibly ambitious goals for running races or someone who wants to walk a mile every evening. I think the movement is so important for physical and mental well-being. My customer is the person who wants to move and be healthy doing it!
Tell us about yourself
I am an athlete myself. I LOVE running and being out on trails and in nature. I didn't get into physical therapy in the "traditional" way. I didn't get injured in high school and then see a PT and decide. I kinda fell into it. I was an Exercise Science major in college, and physical therapy graduate school was the natural next step. I grew to love it as I went through school. I LOVE learning about the human body and how things work. The human body is a spectacularly intricate place, and it is amazing how everything comes together to "work."
I am motivated to do what I do because I love moving my body, and I love helping other people move their bodies. I also LOVE educating people and enlightening people about how amazing the human body is! I am also motivated by the fact that I get to help people get out of pain by using my hands-on skills and by teaching them how to move properly. It is so fun to have people perform movements and see their faces light up when they can do it without pain.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my biggest accomplishment is - having the courage to restart. I was self-employed for a number of years before the pandemic, but then I had to stop that and get full-time employed because of the pandemic rules. I was content in that job and made good money, but I wasn't happy. I was just content. I knew if I made the leap back to being self-employed, I would be more fulfilled and be able to see the patients who really filled my soul, but I was scared. I had self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Finally, the time came, and I made the leap and haven't looked back.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I think the hardest thing about being a business owner is having faith in yourself and remembering how much value you bring to your area of expertise. I have to remind myself that I went to a very expensive school for 3.5 years after undergrad and that I have been practicing for ten years and have gone to countless continuing education courses. I have very valuable knowledge that I should not discount or devalue. Fighting away the imposter syndrome is so important but can be so hard. The world we live in now makes it easy to compare yourself and think you aren't doing enough. "Comparison is the death of joy!" I must do my best to remember that I have great skills, and people value that!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Just start. Don't worry about having your website perfect or the perfect business cards or everything set before you get going. Just go! You will learn and adjust as you grow. Worrying about your website being perfect before you go is going to stall you for so long because websites are NEVER perfect! Haha.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://veritypt.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verityptw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verity_ptw/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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