You built the practice. So why does it feel like it’s breaking you?
You’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated. You’re just done.
Done with the constant pressure.
Done with waking up tired and going to bed wired.
Done with carrying the business on your back while wondering, “Is this really what success looks like?”
Burnout for practice owners is more than fatigue. It’s a full-body, full-soul message. A warning sign. And most of us miss it until something cracks.
I missed it too.
I was working harder than ever, making less, and questioning everything. I couldn’t sleep. I wasn’t present with my family. And I was so buried in the day-to-day that I didn’t even realize how disengaged I had become. Then one weekend, while I was away, my office literally caught fire and burned down.
That was my wake-up call. But you don’t need flames to see the smoke.
Burnout isn’t the end. It’s the message you’ve been ignoring.
In a recent video, I shared what burnout really means for practice owners. It’s not about weakness or failure. It’s your business trying to get your attention.
Here’s what I believe burnout is telling you:
- You’ve outgrown the operator role, but haven’t stepped into leadership
- You’re stuck in energy-draining tasks that no longer serve you
- You’ve been conditioned to believe that grinding equals success
The truth is, burnout comes when you’ve built something that depends on you, instead of something that frees you. It shows up when you’re so immersed in your business that you can’t step back and actually lead.
Why working harder isn’t the answer anymore
For too long, I believed that the way out was just to push harder. I stayed in the treatment room. Took on the admin. Did more instead of stepping back.
But burnout doesn’t go away with more effort.
It lifts when you make a fundamental shift:
- Stop believing that you are the business
- Start seeing yourself as the curator, not the creator
- Build systems that free you instead of trap you
- Train and empower a team that doesn’t need constant babysitting
Your team doesn’t need a hero. They need clarity, vision, and support.
They need you out of the weeds, focused on direction, growth, and sustainability.
This is your turning point, not your breaking point
The full video dives deeper into this. It’s not a tactic. It’s a reset.
A moment to get honest about what’s working and what’s not.
A reflection on how burnout sneaks in and what it’s really trying to teach you.
This is the work that most owners avoid. But the ones who embrace it are the ones who create practices that run without them. Lives with margin. Teams that grow. And freedom that actually feels like freedom.
If you’re feeling the signs—fatigue, resentment, disconnection—this is your call to listen. You don’t need to burn it all down. But you do need to rebuild the way you show up as an owner.
Watch the full message and take one step closer to a business that supports your life instead of swallowing it.
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Are you ready for a coach? Join the hundreds of physical therapy owners who are building the practice of their dreams with the support, guidance and direction of a Practice Freedom U Coach. Take the first step towards creating a business that sets you free by scheduling a Discovery Call
