The idea for this episode came from a comment in my Facebook group, the Podiatry Business Owners Club. A practice owner mentioned that when new podiatrists joined their team, it wasn’t necessarily the recent graduates who were apprehensive about trying something different. Sometimes it was podiatrists who had already been practising for five, six or seven years.
That got me thinking. What happens along the way that makes us more reluctant to become beginners again?
In this solo episode, I explore 12 reasons I believe podiatrists can become comfortable playing it safe.
1. Fear of Looking Incompetent
We spend years developing our clinical knowledge and becoming experts at what we do.
Trying something completely new suddenly puts us back at the beginning.
Whether it’s public speaking, creating videos, starting a podcast, learning AI or embracing new technology, being the least knowledgeable person in the room can feel uncomfortable.
But you only improve by starting. My early YouTube videos certainly weren’t fantastic, but they’re much better today because I kept making them, and I know there is still a lot more improvement ahead of me.
2. Fear of Wasting Money
Most new ideas involve some level of investment. It could be new equipment, a marketing campaign, staff training, software, employing someone or engaging a business coach.
The question becomes: What if I spend this money and it doesn’t work?
Not every experiment will work, but sometimes you have to test an idea before you can determine whether it works for your practice.
3. Fear of Patient Rejection
What will patients think? Will they think it’s too expensive? Will they question why their previous podiatrist never recommended it?
When you’re introducing something unfamiliar, confidence matters. If you understand what you’re offering and can confidently explain why you recommend it, patients are far more likely to listen.
4. Fear of Colleague Criticism
Podiatrists sometimes worry about what other podiatrists will think.
- Will they think I’m chasing money?
- Am I marketing too much?
- Am I trying to stand out?
I saw this when treatments such as foot mobilisation, dry needling and shockwave were first being adopted. Somebody always has to be early.
Eventually, once enough people see something working, the bandwagon starts rolling.
5. Success Feels Comfortable Enough
Your practice isn’t failing; the bills are getting paid, your staff are getting paid, and patients continue coming through the door.
Everything is okay. And that’s precisely where the danger can begin. When things are comfortable enough, change starts to feel optional.
6. Identity Conflict
Most podiatrists entered the profession to become clinicians, not necessarily business owners, marketers, leaders, employers or content creators.
Then one day you look around and realise you’ve got multiple podiatrists and a whole team working for you.
Your identity has changed. Some of the things required to grow your practice might not initially feel like “what a podiatrist does”, but your responsibilities evolve as your business evolves.
7. Fear of Technology
AI is the obvious current example.
Some people think they’re too old to learn it. Others think it’s too complicated, or that by the time they understand it, everything will have changed anyway.
I’m 60, and I love technology. As far as I’m concerned, age has very little to do with it; it’s more about attitude.
Everything is hard until it becomes easy.
8. Perfectionism
Healthcare attracts perfectionists.
“I’ll launch it when it’s perfect.”
That’s why some websites never launch, newsletters never get sent, videos never get recorded, and books never get published.
When I wrote It’s No Secret There’s Money in Podiatry, another author who had successfully written 12 books gave me great advice: just send it to the publisher because it’s never going to be perfect.
This philosophy also applies to your website, newsletter or next video. Just get it out there and then start improving it.
9. Fear of Success
This one sounds strange. What if it actually works?
What if your marketing is incredibly successful and suddenly you need another podiatrist? Bigger premises? Better systems? More support staff?
Growth can create new problems, but it also creates fantastic opportunities. Don’t let imaginary problems created by future success keep you from taking action today.
10. “We’ve Always Done It This Way”
This is one of the most expensive sentences in business.
Successful practices question things. They question their appointment systems, recalls, pricing, marketing, technology and patient communication.
Tradition can be useful, but it shouldn’t automatically beat innovation.
11. Waiting for Permission
Sometimes we’re simply waiting for someone we respect to tell us:
It’s okay to do things differently.
So I’ll give you permission… “It’s okay”.
Go out there and try something different. If you’re doing exactly the same thing as every other podiatrist in your community, how are patients supposed to know what makes you different?
12. Your Comfort Zone Isn’t Actually Comfortable
This is the great irony.
Practice owners complain about long hours, staff shortages, inconsistent referrals, low profits, and stress, yet keep doing the same things because they’re familiar.
Familiarity feels safer than the unknown, even when the familiar isn’t producing the results you want.
Your comfort zone might not actually be very comfortable.
It’s Okay to Become a Beginner Again
Every successful treatment you’ve ever offered was once something you had never done before.
- You learnt biomechanics.
- You learnt nail surgery.
- You learnt shockwave.
- You learnt laser.
- You learnt orthotic therapy.
So why should learning marketing, AI, leadership, public speaking or business skills be any different?
The skill isn’t necessarily the obstacle. Sometimes the obstacle is believing you’re allowed to be a beginner again.
You’re allowed to feel uncomfortable.
You’re allowed not to know everything.
And you’re allowed to try something new.
Please, Connect With Me
I’d love to hear what you think about this episode and whether you’ve ever caught yourself playing it safe.
You can contact me at tf@tysonfranklin.com or tyson@podiatrylegends.com.
And if you’ve enjoyed the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you left a review on your favourite podcast platform. Reviews help other podiatrists discover the podcast and let me know you’re enjoying what I’m putting together each week.