Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Meredith Castin, owner of The Non-Clinical PT, located in Fayetteville, AR, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I run a business for physical, occupational, and speech-language pathology professionals who wish to leave direct patient care. My business provides products, courses, and training to help these clinicians land non-clinical roles in healthcare where they can use their skills in totally new ways.

Tell us about yourself

I never meant to run a business. In fact, I felt like a total black sheep when I realized that I didn't enjoy patient care and wanted a change. I wound up finding my path as a clinical content writer and PRN rehab liaison, and others began to reach out to me for advice on doing the same. I had no idea so many people felt like I did. As I coached more and more people, I realized there was a true need for formalized resources and training.

I created The Non-Clinical PT to provide a blend of free, premium, and 1-1 resources for people who want to breathe new life into their careers. Every day, I am motivated by the successes my students have found...and I continue to find inspiration when I hear of my students moving into roles that are typically reserved for other healthcare professionals. I love being part of this true movement of bringing more opportunities to rehab clinicians.

Rehab therapy can be a very thankless type of work. As with any field that is primarily women, we are expected to give, give, give—but true career growth is rare. You often face glass ceilings in terms of professional growth, salary, and thought leadership.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment, by far, is completely changing our industry in a positive way. My business has transformed how rehab clinicians see themselves. I used to hear "I'm just a physical therapist" or "I can't do anything else except patient care" on a regular basis. There was a lot of shame around leaving patient care, and people tended to really beat themselves up for "not being able to hack it" as therapists. And that's not even true! Not everyone is cut out for the emotional and physical work of treating patients all day, every day. Some of us can make a much bigger impact when we step away and use our skills in totally fresh ways.

I think the way I feel I've "made it" is that I rarely hear those statements anymore. People don't seem to devalue themselves and their skills as they did when I started back in 2017. These days, the conversations are around how we can improve healthcare on the whole. We can step into UX or product management roles in the tech space. We can work in public health. We can go into marketing or research. There is just so much we can do to fix the problems plaguing healthcare rather than staying in jobs that don't suit us simply because we feel there aren't any other options.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I think one of the hardest things about being a business owner—specifically a solopreneur—will always be the feeling of isolation. It can be tough to have no coworkers or colleagues. Also, every decision (good or bad) is your responsibility. So, you have nobody to blame but yourself if something doesn't work as planned.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Start by solving a problem. If you're not truly making life easier for others somehow by solving a problem for them, it's much harder to stand out, build trust and loyalty, and eventually monetize.
  2. Do your entire business about serving others from day one. When you put others first, they can tell you care, and you're not just about making money. People will trust you because they know you have their best interests in mind, and the money will follow when you determine how to best continue meeting these people's needs.
  3. If you're running an online business, grow your email list from day one.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I was told several times that I don't have the right personality to run a business. I tend to be a bit of a pushover, and I also am really enthusiastic and almost hyper at times. I don't have what anyone would call an "overly professional" demeanor. I found my home in the online space, and I have been more successful than I could have possibly imagined.

Do NOT let anyone tell you whether you can succeed or not. You can do anything you want if you find a true problem to solve and you have a burning desire to help solve it for others. Be yourself, and don't try to be someone you're not. People like authenticity! Trust me, if I can do this, anyone can!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thenonclinicalpt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNonClinicalPT/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenonclinicalpt/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nonclinicalpt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-non-clinical-pt/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.