Hello everyone, and welcome back! It's been a while since my last episode, and I want to thank you for your patience. I took a little break, which wasn't planned, but it was necessary. I traveled overseas with my daughter to help her settle into her new life as she embarks on her soccer career. I had every intention of recording while I was there, but finding a quiet spot was a challenge. So, here we are today, back together.

Today, I want to share a personal story about a time when I found it hard to lean into change. It was a moment that stretched over a period, and I had to overcome some serious internal resistance. Let me take you back to 2006 when I started my first practice in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. I registered the business just a month before my first child was born. We were living in Sydney then, and I would travel back and forth with my baby. Fast forward to now, and we've just celebrated her 18th birthday. She's the daughter I recently took overseas.

The story I want to share begins about ten years into running my practice. My husband and I were at home in Wagga when I came across a quote that changed everything: "If you don't change where you are going, you will end up where you are going." This resonated deeply with us, and we decided to move to Tasmania, where I grew up. My husband loves Tasmania, even though I'm not a fan of cold weather. We made the move, and I started my second practice.

Deciding to open a second practice wasn't easy. I did it for two main reasons. First, my husband had been a stay-at-home dad, and we needed to increase our income. Second, a dear friend encouraged me to start a hand therapy practice in Tasmania. So, I registered the new business, found a location, and hired Belinda, a wonderful therapist who became an integral part of the practice.

I remember signing the lease for the new location and feeling a sense of dread. It was unlike me, and I didn't want to admit it to my husband, who was so supportive. But I had to push through. I realised I needed to change my mindset about growth and hard work. I had to untie the idea that growth meant working longer hours and being away from my family. I wanted to have an impact on my clients and my family, so I had to find smarter ways to work.

I took a fresh start approach with the new practice. I wanted it to feel less clinical and more homely, aligning with my personal values. Belinda and I worked together to create a welcoming environment. I also learned the importance of sharing my vision with her, which helped us work towards the same goals.

One of the most significant shifts came when I attended a retreat. I thought it would be about fixing business issues, but it turned out to be about me as a person. I had to align my personal vision with my business vision, which made it easier to embrace the changes I was facing.

I also learned to break tasks into smaller steps and celebrate each achievement, no matter how small. Belinda and I celebrated painting the clinic walls with wine and cheese, and we marked other milestones along the way. These celebrations lightened the load and kept us motivated.

I wanted to share these insights with you because we often don't talk about the struggles in our industry. It's easy to share wins, but harder to admit when things feel off. I hope my story and the strategies that helped me can be useful to you if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

Thank you for listening today. I'm grateful for the journey and the lessons learned. The practice has become incredibly successful, and I'm proud of the heart and soul we've maintained. If you're ever feeling stuck, remember that change is possible, and sometimes, leaning in is the best way forward.

Here is the link to the retreat I mentioned. It is a great reset and foundation building retreat for anyone wanting to pause and work some things out, get unstuck and work out the steps forward for the impact you want to make.

https://theconnectionco.com.au/events/healthy-practice-retreat/