You Can Have Anything… But Not Everything
In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I’m joined once again by Richard Chasen, his fifth appearance, and as always, the conversation goes deep.
We started with a simple idea… but one that hits harder the longer you think about it:
You can have anything you want, but you can’t have everything.
And that single concept opens up a much bigger discussion around priorities, business decisions, lifestyle choices, and what success actually looks like.
The Problem: Living Life by Default
Richard shared a powerful insight early on:
Most people live the life that happens… instead of the life they want.
And that’s something I see quite often in podiatry businesses. A clinic will grow without a clear plan, and before they know it, they’re hiring people who may or may not be a good fit for the business. Or, they hire too early, and wonder why there are no profits in the business.
Others, who are employed, stay stuck in jobs they don’t enjoy, not because they chose it…But because they never stopped to ask, “What do I actually want from my career?”
The Power of Intentional Planning
We spoke about the story of astronaut Chris Hadfield, who decided at age 9 that he wanted to go to space and then structured his entire life around that goal.
That’s intentional living.
Compare that to how many podiatrists approach their careers:
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“I might hire someone…”
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“I might open a second clinic…”
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“I’ll see how it goes…”
There’s no clear direction, and without direction, you slowly start to drift.
When to Hire (And Why Most Get It Wrong)
One of the biggest topics we covered was hiring.
A lot of podiatrists ask: “When should I employ someone?”
But the better question is: “Why do I want to employ someone?”
Because if your answer is:
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“I’m tired”
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“I’m busy”
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“I want more time off”
That’s not enough because hiring without structure leads to lower profits, poor training, and frustration for both the employer and the employee.
Instead, you need:
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A clear financial buffer
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A structured training plan
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Defined expectations
Otherwise, you’re not building a business, you’re creating problems.
The Truth About Money in Podiatry
We also tackled a controversial topic: “I care more about my patients than I do money.”
Here’s the reality: That mindset sounds noble… but it’s totally flawed, because if your business isn’t financially healthy:
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You can’t reinvest back into your business
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You can’t hire the right personnel.
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You can’t grow the business and eventually… You can’t help anyone
Money may not be your goal or driving force ot what got you into podiatry in the first place, but it’s an important fuel source if you want to make a positive change.
Work-Life Balance Isn’t What You Think
Richard made a great point about work-life balance. It’s not about working less; it’s about doing work you actually enjoy, because when you’re in flow, when time disappears, and you’re fully engaged, it doesn’t feel like work.
And that’s the real goal: Build a career you don’t need to escape from.
The Trade-Off Nobody Talks About
One of the most important parts of this conversation was about trade-offs: understanding that you cannot have everything all at once. And the sooner you accept that, the easier your decisions become.
If you want:
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A bigger business → you’ll sacrifice time
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More flexibility → you may sacrifice income
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Less stress → you may sacrifice growth
Ask Better Questions
If there’s one exercise to take from this episode, it’s this:
Ask yourself:
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What do I really want?
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Why do I want it?
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What am I willing to give up to get it?
Because clarity leads to better decisions. And better decisions lead to a better business and a better life.
If you enjoyed this episode of Podiatry Legends, please share it with a friend or fellow podiatrist. And if you haven’t already, consider leaving a rating and review on your favourite podcast platform.
It helps more podiatrists discover the show.
If you’re at a point where you’re questioning your next move, whether it’s hiring, scaling, or stepping back, it might be time for a conversation.
Head to www.tysonfranklin.com and schedule a Zoom call with me.