What Podiatrists Learn When They Step Away From the Clinic
Some of the biggest decisions in business aren’t made in boardrooms, clinics, or strategy sessions. They’re made when you finally step away, slow down, and give yourself permission to think.
In this episode, I’m joined by Alan and Sharon Cawthorne, owners of the Podiatry & Gait Clinic in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. Their story is one of career change, partnership, perspective, and making intentional decisions about how podiatry fits into life, not the other way around.
What started as an email Alan sent me after binge-listening to the podcast turned into a powerful conversation about growth, confidence, pricing, technology, burnout, and why sometimes clarity only shows up when you’re sitting at a beach bar with a drink in your hand.
From Burnout to a Career Pivot
Before podiatry, Alan and Sharon worked in high-pressure IT roles. Long hours, constant stress, and no real switch-off. Sound familiar?
A holiday in Portugal became the circuit breaker. Away from work, away from routine, they asked a simple but confronting question: Is this really how we want the rest of our working lives to look?
That moment led to a complete career change, returning to study as mature-age students and eventually building their own clinic. It wasn’t easy, financially or emotionally, but it was intentional.
Why Stepping Away Creates Better Decisions
One theme that kept resurfacing in our conversation was this: You don’t get clarity when you’re buried in the clinic.
Alan and Sharon noticed that many of their biggest decisions, whether it was changing direction, forming a partnership, investing in technology, or adjusting how they work, happened when they were away from the day-to-day noise.
Distance creates perspective. And perspective leads to better decisions.
This is something I constantly remind coaching clients. If you want better answers, you need better thinking space.
Confidence, Pricing, and Not Judging Patients
We spent a lot of time talking about money, confidence, and self-worth. Not from a sales angle, but from a sustainability one.
Alan shared how listening to the podcast helped shift his mindset around pricing, investing in the clinic, and understanding that charging properly isn’t greed. It’s a responsibility.
You don’t price just for today.
You price for future equipment, better technology, staff wellbeing, and your own quality of life.
We also discussed why judging patients based on appearance, assumptions, or what we think they can afford is a disservice to them. Our job is to educate, explain options clearly, and let patients decide.
Technology, Experience, and Visual Communication
Alan and Sharon talked openly about investing in gait analysis, 3D-printed orthotics, and modern diagnostic tools. Not because they’re flashy, but because they improve communication.
When patients can see what’s happening, trust increases. Compliance improves. Confidence grows for both the patient and the practitioner.
This isn’t about replacing clinical skills. It’s about supporting them.
Designing a Clinic (and a Life) That Feels Better
From clinic layout and feng shui to reducing working hours and building long weekends into their calendar, this episode highlights something important: Success isn’t just revenue.
It’s energy.
It’s sustainability.
It’s enjoying the work again.
10 Key Takeaways from This Episode
1. The best decisions are often made away from the clinic
2. Burnout isn’t a failure; it’s feedback
3. Pricing properly supports better patient care
4. Don’t judge what a patient can or can’t afford
5. Visual tools improve understanding and trust
6. Technology should support, not replace, clinical skill
7. Confidence grows through repetition and use
8. Investing in yourself isn’t optional; it’s essential
9. Not every patient is your patient, and that’s okay
10. A better business should create a better life
My Final Thoughts
If this episode resonated, it’s probably because you’re already sensing that something needs to change, even if you’re not sure what yet.
That’s where an outside perspective can help.
If you’d like to talk through your clinic, workload, pricing, or long-term direction, you’re welcome to reach out. No pressure. Just a conversation to help you think more clearly about what comes next.
You’ll find everything at www.tysonfranklin.com
And remember, sometimes the best decisions really are made at the beach bar: 🌴 + 🍹 = Clarity
No one wants a business coach; however, if you are looking, let’s talk.
A business owner I spoke with in early 2024 made an extra $40,000 by following my advice from a 30-minute FREE Zoom call. Think about it – You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Please use the link below to schedule your Zoom call.