Table of Contents
Starting your own practice is exciting — but let’s not sugarcoat it: it’s risky. You’ve finally broken away from the hospital system or private equity treadmill. You’ve got a vision. A dream. Maybe even a lease.
But that’s when the real pressure hits.
What if I told you that most early mistakes aren’t clinical — they’re strategic?
In this post (and the corresponding podcast episode), we’re going to dive into the 3 most common mistakes that can quietly kill your momentum — and what you should do instead.
Mistake #1: Hiring for Convenience, Not for Culture
You’re drowning in logistics. Phones are ringing. Patients are trickling in. So you panic-hire the first person who can “do the job.”
Sound familiar?
Here’s the problem: bad hires cost you way more than you think. It’s not just the salary. It’s lost time, energy, team morale, and sometimes even patient trust.
I have always believed that the most important thing is “what your momma taught ya” – I can teach you how to answer phone calls, how to refract, and more. I can’t teach you ethics, work culture, and genuine hardworking.
What to do instead:
- Hire slow. Fire fast.
- Build a clear list of what you need and what kind of personality fits your culture.
- Look for people who are adaptable, positive, and invested — not just technically competent.
Mistake #2: Assuming Patients Will Just “Show Up”
Many doctors believe that once they open their doors, patients will appear. “I’m a great doctor. I trained at Princeton Medical School. That should be enough, right?” –
Nope.
This isn’t Grey’s Anatomy. This is business. And in business, obscurity is the real enemy.
By the way, I know Princeton Med does not exist. I chose it as to not offend anyone.
Here’s what I see work:
- Build your Google Business Profile before you open.
- Ask for reviews starting with patient #1.
- Post on social media (yes, even if you hate it). Check out my YouTube and TikTok. You are already on my blog!
- Build referral relationships intentionally, not randomly.
Bonus tip: Create simple, searchable content — blogs, reels, short Q&As — to start educating and building trust online. You’re not chasing followers. You’re building local authority.
Mistake #3: Treating Yourself Like an Employee, Not an Owner
This one’s deep — and it’s subtle.
New owners often fall into the trap of thinking, “I’ll just replace my associate salary with ownership.” So they end up building a job — not a business.
They overextend on rent, buy too much equipment, work too many clinical hours, and avoid delegation because it’s “faster if I just do it.”
What to do instead:
- Build systems, not dependencies.
- Track your time — and identify the tasks only you should do.
- Delegate early. It hurts at first. Then it pays dividends.
This is where mindset really matters. Owners invest in growth. Employees look for comfort. If you want your practice to scale, you need to stop doing $20/hour tasks and start thinking like a CEO.
The Overarching Theme: Ownership Requires Strategy, Not Just Hustle
Every one of these mistakes boils down to one thing: reactive decision-making.
- Hiring reactively
- Marketing reactively
- Working reactively
Ownership is a long game. It’s not just about surviving your first year — it’s about laying the groundwork for year 5, 10, 15.
And here’s the good news:
Every mistake above is avoidable. You don’t need a Harvard MBA. You just need awareness, mentorship, and a willingness to learn.
Real Talk: I Made All These Mistakes — And I Still Made It Work
My first year in practice? It was a rollercoaster. I overspent on some tech. I under-hired at first. I didn’t market as consistently as I should have.
But each of those mistakes was a tuition payment — not a death sentence.
By year two, I’d corrected course. And now, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
So if you’re on the fence, or already in the trenches — I see you. I’ve been there. And this community exists so you don’t have to figure it all out the hard way.
Next Up: Location Isn’t Everything — It’s the Only Thing.
(We’ll cover how choosing the right zip code can double your growth — or sink your vision.)
Want each post in your inbox as we go? Join the email list or follow the podcast wherever you listen.
