These transcripts are AI-generated, and spelling may not be 100% accurate (especially for names, places, and methodologies).
and we as a business owner
you are isolated unless you find some kind of community
so being able to have a safe space to go to
to share
we had a really shit month and I’m struggling
and this feels really hard
I can put it in this space
so we’ve got a WhatsApp group
and we get together on teams or zoom or something
at least once a month
and chat and the other chats that go on between the people now
because it’s just created this community
where we can be open and honest
and let your guard down and not have to take everything
you know you’re not sharing it all with your staff
when things aren’t going well
but you also have
a space that straight away as soon as something goes well
we’re just posting it in that WhatsApp group
and everyone else is getting that same boost
from hearing about someone else doing well
Hello everybody and welcome to The Healthy Business Lab Podcast
where we interview
awesome business owners in and around the allied health space
to get their insights and learning
and today I’m super excited to welcome back to our podcast
Sara Woodroffe from Simply Stronger
Sara great to have you back on again yeah
thanks Craig it is great to be back
yeah and so
for those that are new listeners or popping in for the first time
Sara we interviewed back in Episode 6
and we talked very specifically about experience within her practice
there but from our couple of conversations we had
I realised that I wanted to chat further around the networking
and the collaborations
and the whole collegiate approach to running a business
especially in the allied health space
and so again wanting to share different and varied stories
and this will sort of be coming in around
sort of coaches and collaborators sort of series that
we’re doing as well so again
for those
that’s where the conversation will evolve to a bit as well
but I love for you Sara
to be able to just share that bit of a background again
cause even since we last spoke
your practice there has evolved a little bit
yeah it has
so we at Simply Stronger we’re in Melbourne
I’m so a small private practice over in Caulfield North
when it first started out
it was just me
it grew into a space where I started hiring my first and then second
and on and on for the last eight or so years
and we’re now in a space where I work fully behind the scenes
a little bit of dropping in when people are away sick
holidays things like that
which is fun
but most of the time I’m working on the business and I
have just hired 3 newbies this year
which will bring us to five EPs outside of myself
which is the biggest we have ever gotten to and a very exciting time
yeah, that evolution that we were talking about
we’re just talking of a little bit there before of again
the evolution you’ve been able to
work on the business more than in the business
and as you’ve sort of grown again
find the right size in the mix and that works for you
but that’s big changes when we talk a lot in percentage terms
when we look at business numbers and growth and dollar side of things
and going from when we last spoke to three
to netting out up to now five
you know that’s a chunky increase in that evolution
isn’t it yeah
it absolutely is
it’s all come about from being able to have that time to work
on the business
so even for the last 12 months that I was working in the business
I was only doing about 10 hours of client time over the week
but it had gotten to the point for me and my headspace
I really struggled to switch out of business owner mode
so when I was with the clients
it really wasn’t I didn’t feel it was the most effective sessions
everyone was still very happy
they certainly didn’t complain and if I said to them
I didn’t think it was the most effective
they’re like no no it’s still amazing and that’s right
that’s just many many years of experience
you know how to work with people yeah
but from that time
when I decided to step away from seeing clients and as I like to say
promote myself to full time business ownership
I knew that what I wanted to do was surround myself
with people who had done that more intentionally than I had
so I kind of fell into business where it was if I have 10 clients
I can pay my rent and then it just grew and grew from there
so being able to have the space to go out and spend time with people who
did it from the outset and knew what they were trying to do
I started with some local practices
so other EP colleagues that I knew
that would be nice and welcoming and
what was always really interesting is
you would get there after just sending a message saying
so I’d just love to come and see your clinic
sit down have a chat
and so I’d get there and they would be like
now what can I do for you
so it was always a presumption that I needed help
and at the time I didn’t
what I wanted was to build a network of people that I could rely on
if I did need help
and the insights that I gained in that space was just fascinating
so it started around Melbourne
I did a road trip up to New South Wales
I went as far north as Newcastle
I spent a fair bit of time travelling around Sydney
meeting a bunch of people
I went to Brisbane I went to Perth and met up with an EP that you know
and that’s how we connected
yeah 100%
I gotta touch up on that a little bit later
but yeah that’s awesome
yup, been to South Australia
and from that I’ve been to about 25 different EP practices
some are multi disciplinary
but a lot of them have a stand alone
and it’s fascinating to see how vastly different they are
there were no two practices that are the same
but to be able to go into that space and see
okay so you do this differently to how we do
I wonder if we can take an adaptation of that
and see what that looks like in our space
I love that and you touch upon a number of different aspects there
which is hundred percent why we needed to get you back on
for another chat and it was this again
a whole idea of just insights learning
being curious and that’s why I love what you’ve shared there of okay
I just need to learn more
it’s not necessary because we’re doing badly
and again
that some people may have had a presumption or a we need something
we’re looking at it
so it’s just notice some general curiosity to go to well
how do we evolve
and the like
and so I guess what I’m curious about as well is just that
those initial insights that you got
how did they I said shape or
just point you in the direction to then go
yeah no
I just need to do this more
I need to have the more conversation
what were the those couple of early conversations
how is there anything that sticks out that made you go
yes this is why I need to be doing this more
there’s a few distinct things
so there were people that I had listened to on podcasts that I met
so I already had insights of they were doing certain things
one of them they run a program called the Onero Program that is for
bone density and I was curious as to the logistics
of how they actually run that program
I didn’t think it was
going to be something that was going to fit in our space
with the franchising model that they have
or the licensing model that they have for that program
you need a number of
squat racks available and we don’t have that
we’re a different build
but I was curious to see so in that clinic when I asked to
come and see them and spend some time
we recorded a podcast as well
and they invited me to come and work out of their clinic for the day
so I got to sit in a room with the rest of their EPs
work on my stuff while they were working on theirs
jump into different sessions
see how they run things which was really open not every clinic
but I also haven’t asked to do that in a lot of clinics yeah
but it’s been you’ve got on both sides
you’ve got EP’s that now feel more comfortable being open with me
and asking questions of me and of others
because of this sense of community
and you’ve got me being able to ask people more pertinent questions
so we personally had a block on being able to introduce prepaid packs into
Simply Stronger in my mind
it was that I would be discounting my service and we’re not expensive
we’re definitely on the cheap side
so I felt weird and so I went
to a colleague who I knew ran them and I said alright
sell me on packs what do I need to know
I said this is my block and he turns to me and goes
you’re an idiot you charge what you want for a block
and then anyone who pays one at a time pays a premium
it’s exactly the same situation
just different language and it was telling me yes
that all makes sense okay
love that
it’s two great examples and I’ll jump into that one
because obviously I’ve been a financial background as well
100% I love the guidance and
the sort of thoughts that you had again
all quite often it is just a shifting perception shifting mindset
and it’s interesting that’s all it takes sometimes
is to look at something from a different view
that somebody’s got to point something out
and if that’s the right light bulb at that time it lands if not
it might just percolate in the background for however long
but by having those conversations
that’s what’s led to that
even just seeing you here
for those that are watching on the video version
you can see the light bulb
you going back to that time and having
the recounting that process of then going yeah
actually it is just shifting
it’s a premium
they get a premium for not paying me what I actually need
in a block stage yep
so I love that yeah
one of the other ones that we had was
it’s on the financial side of things
but I was always and
I’ve been in and around EP for
20 years this year so
the way that I would manage my language with clients
and have them aware of what the treatment plan is
and the progress they’re making and all that sort of stuff
felt to me like it came quite intuitively
what the reality is that clearly I’d learnt it
I don’t know when
but it was something that wasn’t coming as naturally to my staff
and another podcast I’ve listened to
they talked about using an actual document
that they hand to the client in their second session
this is the treatment plan
we built based on the language we used in the last session
so I went and I spoke with them and talked about that
they sent me a draft of what they use
we then developed it to be what’s more appropriate for us
and we use that on a regular basis
and that continuity of care for the clients has increased
just by putting a different process in place
it was something that for me felt intuitive
innate didn’t have to think about it and for others
it is a learned skill and it was a learned skill for me
I just didn’t realise when you’re in it
going back to being in the business
on the business as a business owner
usually
we become a business owner because we are quick to pick things up
and we have ideas and we know how to piece thoughts together
and just make things happen
and it’s sometimes unpacking those dots
that all just comes intuitively to us
100% that the team members don’t necessarily have that yet
and again not to say that they won’t
but it is that notion of going
what are the in what are those steps that actually led to that
and what I find interesting for what you’ve sort of shared
there as well again
it’s just the opening up the lens and shining the light on that
then again makes you step back makes you step out
step into the owner’s mindset as well
which is everything is sort of touching upon here for me
sort of just goes back to
how do we work on the mindset and the connection and collaboration
and then goes hey
how do I now think about this
and how does that ripple effect then flow out
yeah that’s got me just thinking and processing around that
and again
what I’m hearing from these conversations that you’ve been having
it is at the end of the day
it’s been hard to lift the hood and go deeper at the end of the day
and again we can we
we listen to podcast like this and they’re great
you know there’s insights that are shared
and people will get light bulb moments from those things
and I know I’ve experienced that so many times
whether it’s with a podcast
whether it’s with books and the like
you’ll open it up and you’ll get those information
some of those will be deep insights that you can dig straight into
because it’s so intuitive
but but from having these conversations and with the networks that
you’ve built is you’ve been able to go that layer deeper
and really just unpack that
is that a fair comment yeah
absolutely and the other thing
I think
that comes from that space is the confidence to make those changes
right
I’ve built a community of 25 clinics that I can drop a question to
at any point and have a conversation about thinking about this
what have you tried what haven’t you tried and things like that
that just gives you that confidence in that space
to try things that are new
but also to think a little bit differently
it was one of the things that really prompted me was that
I knew I had blocks like I was talking about before
but I also knew that I was surrounded by my own thoughts
and unless I get out there and talk to other people
I’m just going to be in a bubble of my own influences already
so, none of my staff are necessarily going to push those boundaries
from a business perspective
and think oh Sara
have you thought about doing packs before things like that
they’re busy in the reeds doing the work that they need to be doing
it’s up to me to go out and broaden my own perspective yeah
I love that on just thinking of the world of AI that
we’re coming into and the algorithms and I see they’re going yeah
we hundred percent get caught in our own sort of algorithm tunnel
and the like and so been out of jump out there
and it turns back to you’re touching about a little bit earlier there
the pertinent questions
it’s been out of ask good questions
and what are the prompts
that are leading us to open the horizons a little bit
so yeah I love that little share and I’d love you to
talk a little bit more about the group and you said been out of
tap somebody on the shoulder from a group of 25 people
I know
you’ve got a couple of different ways that you’re now networking and
you know that evolution of doing that roadshow things have evolved
talk to me about that
how that
roadshow then culminated it and evolved into where it is today
yep so, after particularly after New South Wales and South Australia trips
there were a few women who were keen to put together a network
so I knew the other women that were going to fit into that space
cause I’d actually met them
and knew their personalities
so there’s a group of about half a dozen of us
that wanted to have a space where we could chat as women
and one of the female business owners because one of the blocks that
I found when I met with a lot of these women
was talking about the finances
and we as a business owner
you are isolated unless you find some kind of community
so being able to have a safe space to go
to share we had a really shit month and I’m struggling
and this feels really hard
if I take that home to my partner
he then freaks out or at least is worried so
so true yeah
100% I don’t want to do that but I can put it in this space
so we’ve got a WhatsApp group
and we get together on teams or zoom or something
at least once a month
and chat and the other chats that go on between the people now
because it’s just created this community
where we can be open and honest
and let your guard down and not have to take everything
you’re not sharing it all with your staff when things aren’t going well
but you also have
a space that straight away as soon as something goes well
we’re just posting it in that WhatsApp group
and everyone else is getting that same boost
from hearing about someone else doing well
so good again
just the having those business besties
I know I’ve got a group of those at 100% as well
the Profit First community that I’m a part of
it is 100% a very similar space
it’s that people know what you’re going through
very similar businesses and you can have those people to lean on
and people have done it before
seen it before or at least just get it
at the end of the day that’s awesome
so I’m sort of I’m curious
you talked about catching up say once a month or so
is that a very sort of structured approach as to now
or is it still just a very laid back
what’s happening this month for people
how does it work for you
the idea was for it to be quite structured
it has ended up being much more what is going on for everyone
and just a space to come and share and have a chat
every now and again
there’ll be different perspectives that we want to talk about but
for the most part there’s been a lot of growth
going on in everyone’s businesses this year
so it’s been centred around hiring and training new people
and what that growth looks like
for some people they’re taking on a second space and
and all sorts so yeah
it’s the idea was to have a topic each time
and work from there and then go through everything else
and that really dropped off very quickly
I just became a natural evolution
because business and small business is all about that
isn’t it
everything changes and you can have the best laid plans but again
that it sounds like a wonderful space
that it conversations and meeting the group where they’re at
which is at the end of the day
that’s what everybody’s going to get there
yeah and what’s really interesting about this group is
they’re actually quite different businesses
so we’ve got sole traders
we’ve got one business that’s in the Northern Territory that’s
a partnership between a physio and an EP
you know one in South Australia
like they’re all over the place and they’re all quite different
one’s a fully on the road mostly aged care business
which is quite different to the rest of us
and we we have different insights to be able to give each other
rather than all being from a similar space
but from that whole road trip
I think
one of the things that is really important to take away from that
is that sense of community
I’ve had people
particularly in Melbourne because that’s where I’m located
when I’ve suggested going there and like
oh yeah I guess you’re far enough away that it’s not competition
whereas for me I don’t see anyone as competition
there is enough clients for everyone
but we all do things differently
and if you can take off that hat
that tells you that everyone around you is competition
you’ll start to realise the support that you can get from this space
and that’s huge yeah
the other thing that came out of this
so it’s one of the reasons why I started networking
with the group in Melbourne
was I wanted to build a networking group
that also provided professional development
I was aware after several years in business
and we run PDS on a Friday afternoon once a month that again
it was a bit of a bubble people were hearing from me
and while I have a lot to share and that’s fantastic
being able to get outsider
advice on different things and different insights would be really
really useful and as a small business
so
we were talking about a business that was three to four practitioners
I wanted to look for other businesses
that were around the same sort of size
that we’re going to benefit from a free service
so what we do is once a quarter
we run it in the middle month of the quarter
so it’s easier for all the business owners
cause the other two months tend to be a bit busier
either on a Friday evening or a Saturday afternoon
depending on the practice
we go to a different practice each quarter
they run a two hour professional development session for us
and then we all go out to dinner at the pub
so good
so not just I’m excited about pubs
but that’s not the case but
the idea of having
different types of networks
that you’ve got there and again for
specific areas that
you know can be leveraged
you can learn from you get insights
but even what you’re saying before
getting out of your own little tunnel and the own vision
how could I how do I get these different perspectives in
and how is that going to benefit my team
and the growth of them as individuals
which only benefits the business
and again that
whole collegiate approach to then
knowing more about the other practices in your local area too
can only help the wider community in your local area
which again tying back to competition
very much a similar mindset there that the abundance mindset is well
how do we have a bigger impact
well if we serve the people that fit us better
yep then that is only better for everybody
and if everybody does that
everyone’s uniqueness
will evolve to being
the right fit for the right people at the right time absolutely
so we have about eight or nine different private practices in there
and we’ve got a couple of my ex employees
one who works in community
one works in hospital
and so they bring a different perspective to the space as well
and then we’ve got two or three of them that are within 5 Ks of my practice
that anyone else would see as competition
but instead we know as you said
we know more about their practice
I know who I can refer to them
who is going to get a better service
because that’s what fits that client
and if we want the whole industry to grow
that’s what’s going to work and there are like we’ve had
clients who have they work great here
but they tell me about a family member or someone else
and I think actually
I think they’re going to suit this other practice more
that doesn’t mean that this first person’s going to leave at any point
because you’ve provided them with a service that they need
100% for me that only enhances that kind of
you know if I’m seeing someone and I said
oh yeah that person you should probably go to there for this is
it’s like that just reinforces
the expertise of the person that I’m working with
at the end of the day oh wow
they’re across this this this and know that that might suit there
and again that they are a heart centred business
which is in alignment with where where I’m at
so again
it’s the whole kharma of things that it all ends up yeah
lifting all ships the rising tide at the end of the day
that’s the rising tide that’s all
I was just reviewing another podcast a little bit earlier there
and again I’ve used that term a few little times
but it’s so true and that’s again
part of what we’re trying to do here is have these conversations
because we want to lift the whole allied health space
and each of the individual modalities
within that to think in this way
and again
the vast majority of guests that we’ve had on like yourself
Sara is very much been the ones that seem to be doing
a lot of great things are ones that are connecting
they are collaborating
they are aware of what’s locally and beyond as well
which has been a great example today with our chat with you
what you’re doing in both spaces
so to sort of wrap this conversation up that you know
we could talk about collaborations and communities
what would you say the couple of the biggest takeaways and
the transformations in yourself
and even some of those that you’ve been
you know connected with
that you’ve seen the transformation you’ve seen from having this
rising tide effect impact
the many practices that it is impacting yeah
well okay
I think the biggest takeaway is
the confidence so for my staff here
their confidence t
go out there and network with other people
they had prior to this like that most of them had trained during Covid
so they hadn’t actually been trained to do any networking
and now they’ve got a wide group of people that
have different expertise and skill sets that they can draw on
and they’re more confident to put themselves out there
and ask those questions
I recently went to ESA had their
innovation to practice conference in Hobart
and while I was there
I had EPs from all over the country coming up to me
because they had seen me around
luckily I got to speak there as well around these concepts
and they wanted to be part of a community
they wanted to meet up and have a chat
and things like that and it’s that
confidence for everyone to feel like they are part of that community
that we’re not isolated for me
I feel like isolation in allied health is definitely our biggest issue
I think that’s when we find people leaving our industries
it’s because they have felt isolated
so the more little communities
it doesn’t all have to be all EPs unite and all allied
health get together you know
you gotta find your people
but getting into that finding your people and finding that community
and being able to have the people
you can bounce ideas off and share a shitty day
or share what has been amazing
and that really warms the heart
I love that and I think it’s a great way to take that in
again building confidence in anybody is just such a rewarding process
and love to obviously share that
if listeners out there that feel as though they’ve found
their people on their groups
especially with with what Sara’s shared
where is the best way for people to connect and contact you
yeah absolutely
you can hit me up on LinkedIn just Sara Woodroffe
you’ll find me there or via Simply Stronger
or you can find me on Instagram as well
I’ll respond to both of those
and go from there I love it well again
as you alluded to during the chat
that’s exactly how we got connected
was just by having conversations and via LinkedIn
and those types of things
so we’ll obviously drop
those links in the show notes
to make sure that people can find you and connect with you
and once again
thank you for sharing your insights learnings for a second time around
it’s just super super appreciated
happy to anytime thanks for having me
the more people that are part of the community
the better off it’s going to be
so keep sharing those insights
awesome
and that’s what we’re going to keep doing here at
The Healthy Business Lab Podcast
is to keep having amazing stories and chats like these
and so make sure you like subscribe to hear more from us here
over and out till the next time bye
thank you bye