Why Your Patients Need More Than Medical Care: The Functional Nutrition Solution Featuring Andrea Nakayama, EP 196

Tracy Cherpeski 7/23/25 Tracy Cherpeski 7/23/25

How to Buy Future Days Off Featuring Clint Harris, EP 195

Former medical sales professional Clint Harris discovered that financial independence alone wasn't enough - he needed time and location freedom too. After building 14 Airbnbs that replaced his income but kept him essentially on call, Clint pivoted to truly passive investments. Now a General Partner at Nomad Capital, he helps others break free from trading time for money through alternative investments like converting vacant big box stores into storage facilities.

Episode Highlights

The Three Pillars of Investment Success: Time, experience, and money - and how to partner with others when you only have one of the three

Why "Saving Your Way to Retirement" No Longer Works: The impact of inflation and fiscal policy on traditional retirement strategies

The Millennial Storage Boom: How 34% of the population is driving demand for climate-controlled storage as lifestyle extensions

Independence of Purpose: Moving beyond financial freedom to create time and location independence

The 2008 Wake-Up Call: Why market volatility at the wrong time can derail decades of traditional investing

Community Impact: How converting vacant buildings revitalizes small towns while generating returns

Vertical Integration Strategy: The importance of controlling every aspect of the investment process

Memorable Quotes

"Financial independence is really not what I was after. I'm looking for financial time and location independence."

"If you buy enough of them, you can break this cycle of trading your time for money and paying for other people's days off."

"Independence of purpose is where you go where you want, when you want, do what you want, you raise your kids the way that you want."

"Money can't buy happiness, but what it can buy is ease and options."

"Instead of you getting up and working and trading more of your time for dollars, you can put that money to work. And that money is getting up and out of bed and going to work on the days that you don't feel like it."

"The most important thing is start with the end goal in mind and work backwards. And the end goal in mind should be purpose, happiness, ability to have a positive impact on the people around you."

Closing Thoughts

Clint's story reminds us that true wealth isn't just about accumulating money - it's about designing a life that aligns with our values and gives us the freedom to focus on what matters most. Whether through storage facilities, multifamily properties, or other alternative investments, the key is finding partners who share your ethics and vision, then building assets that work for you instead of the other way around.

The conversation challenges us to examine our own relationship with work and money. Are we building toward independence of purpose, or are we trapped in the cycle of trading time for dollars? As Clint puts it, the goal isn't just to make money - it's to buy future days off and create a legacy that extends far beyond our bank accounts.

Bio:

Clint Harris has a 15-year background in medical device sales. Clint has always been in the business of innovation, and creative solutions. In addition to his work with Nomad, Clint owns a strong multifamily real estate portfolio and built a highly successful property management company from the ground up with an emphasis on streamlining automation and vertical integration. Clint’s core belief is that financial independence, when combined with location and time independence, creates independence of Purpose. He joined Nomad with the goal of sharing that vision with our investors daily.

Find Clint:

Truly Passive Income Podcast

YouTube

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Miranda Dorta 7/18/25 Miranda Dorta 7/18/25

The Clinical Mindset That's Killing Your Practice Growth – A Special Snack Episode, EP 194

Tracy Cherpeski reveals why healthcare providers struggle with the business side of practice ownership and shares practical strategies for overcoming the mental barriers that keep talented practitioners stuck. This candid conversation explores the disconnect between clinical training and business success, offering actionable mindset shifts that unlock breakthrough results.

Key Highlights:

The "hat switching" technique for separating patient care from business strategy

Why imposter syndrome affects even the most successful healthcare providers

How to maintain confidence during inevitable growth plateaus and setbacks

The practical approach to turning unlimited potential into achievable business goals

Why connecting with other practice owners accelerates your success

Memorable Quotes: "When you're seeing patients, you're not thinking about money. Please don't be thinking about money. But while you're on the business strategy side, you gotta track your KPIs, you gotta know your numbers."

"Most of us, even experts, are making educated guesses based on history... but sometimes we're still guessing and we're taking an informed leap of faith."

"98% of the people that we've worked with would still do what they do even if they didn't need to make money, because they love it, because they feel called to it."

This episode perfectly captures the authentic dynamic between Marina and Tracy while addressing the real challenges practice owners face when scaling their businesses. Whether you're just starting out or looking to break through a growth plateau, you'll find practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Miranda’s Bio:

Miranda Dorta, B.F.A. (she/her/hers) is the Manager of Operations and PR at Tracy Cherpeski International. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with expertise in writing and creative storytelling, Miranda brings her skills in operations, public relations, and communication strategies to the Thriving Practice community. Based in the City of Oaks, she joined the team in 2021 and has been instrumental in streamlining operations while managing the company's public presence since 2022.

Tracy’s Bio:

Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.

See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment

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Tracy Cherpeski 7/16/25 Tracy Cherpeski 7/16/25

How to Save and Spend Money Simultaneously (The Three-Cup Method) Featuring The Banking Bros, EP 193

Brothers Jonah and JDew from Banking Bros demystify infinite banking and reveal how business owners can leverage specially designed whole life insurance policies to create guaranteed cash flow, fund business needs, and retain top talent. Using their signature three-cup visual method, they explain how to save and spend money simultaneously while building wealth outside traditional market-dependent vehicles.

Key Highlights

How infinite banking works using the three-cup system: premiums, cash value, and death benefit

Why whole life insurance is the only insurance product that guarantees a payout

Practical business applications including employee retention strategies

Buy-sell agreement funding without market risk

Salary continuation and deferred compensation options for small businesses

Tax advantages and guaranteed growth features

Common misconceptions about life insurance and age/health requirements

Notable Topics Discussed

Employee retention strategies for small businesses competing with larger companies

Using infinite banking for equipment purchases and business investments

Cross-purchase and buy-sell agreement structures

The difference between term and whole life insurance for cash flow purposes

How to become your own banker and reduce third-party interest payments

Tax implications and guaranteed contract features

Memorable Quotes

"We are not talking about investment from us. We have a baseline of guarantee and consistency, a spot of certainty with cash flow privately used with no taxes."

"There are guarantees inside the contracts that we're utilizing for this cash flow structure, there are things that we can promise in the future to these people."

"You cannot make a decision of uncertainty until you have a guarantee and certainty place to start from."

"Cash flow does not care how old you are. Insurance does. Cash flow does not care if you're healthy. But insurance does."

Closing Thoughts

The Banking Bros offer a refreshing perspective on financial strategy that prioritizes certainty and control over speculation. Their approach to infinite banking provides business owners with practical tools for growth, employee retention, and wealth building that don't depend on market performance. This conversation is particularly valuable for small business owners looking for competitive advantages in talent retention and flexible funding solutions.

Guest Bios:

Jonah Dew - IBC Practitioner, Entrepreneur & Speaker Based in Greenville, SC, Jonah discovered infinite banking in 2016 and was immediately drawn to its ability to keep wealth within families while maintaining control. With a Business Administration degree and background in banking and insurance, he's passionate about helping others become good stewards of their wealth through this proven system.

Jeremiah "JDew" Dew - Speaker, Serial Entrepreneur & IBC Practitioner
After tackling his own debt challenges post-college, JDew discovered infinite banking in 2015, which tripled his net worth within two and a half years. As a father of four, he understands the real-world financial pressures families face. Together with his brother Jonah, he co-founded their educational platform to make infinite banking concepts accessible to everyone.

Find the Banking Bros:

Banking Bros Website

Cash Compound Website

YouTube

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Tracy Cherpeski 7/9/25 Tracy Cherpeski 7/9/25

The 5-Question Framework That Stops Second-Guessing (And Why Every Practice Leader Needs It), EP 192

In this solo episode, Tracy shares the exact Strategic Decision Framework that her most successful clients use to make confident business decisions without the sleepless nights. If you've ever found yourself second-guessing strategic choices or avoiding important decisions altogether, this episode reveals why practice leaders struggle with business decision-making and provides a simple but powerful 5-question filter that brings immediate clarity to any strategic choice.

Episode Highlights:

• Why clinical training actually works against you when making business decisions • The hidden cost most practice owners miss when evaluating opportunities • How to distinguish between strategic opportunities and shiny objects • The crucial question that separates reactive leaders from proactive ones • Why "not deciding" is still a decision with real consequences

Notable Quotes:

"Your clinical training taught you to make evidence-based decisions with clear protocols. But business decisions require you to act with incomplete information."

"Every yes is an automatic no to something else."

"Strategic thinking isn't a luxury when you're a practice owner—it's a necessity."

"When you make one good strategic decision, it eliminates dozens of smaller decisions down the road."

Ready to discover where your practice stands?

Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment to identify your current stage and biggest leverage points for sustainable growth. Strategic thinking starts with knowing exactly where you are in your leadership journey.

This episode is part of the Thriving Practice podcast series, focused on helping healthcare provider-owners build sustainable, profitable practices through strategic operations and leadership development.

Tracy’s Bio:

See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment

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Tracy Cherpeski 7/8/25 Tracy Cherpeski 7/8/25

From Isolation to Innovation: Building Healthcare Practices Through Community Support - A Special Snack Episode, EP 191

In this intimate snack episode, Miranda interviews Tracy about the power of community in healthcare practice management. Tracy shares why she believes the traditional approach of "going it alone" leads to burnout and how a community of practice model provides both practical business support and crucial emotional backing for healthcare entrepreneurs.

Key Highlights

The difference between community of practice and traditional networking - it's about taking off your masks and being raw

How isolation and solitude plague healthcare business owners, even those with great teams

The three-pronged challenge: full-time practitioner + practice owner + chief strategist roles

A real client story: discovering thousands in monthly losses due to double-billing text reminders

Why solo providers need creative business solutions while multi-provider practices need leadership focus

The value of 360-degree feedback systems for practice owners

How community support creates a sense of limitless possibility

Memorable Quotes

"When we feel as humans supported, we feel pretty limitless, like we can do anything."

"The blessing and curse of being a practice owner who's also a practitioner is pretty much working full time providing healthcare services and then the full time job as the practice owner."

"You get to take off your masks and just be yourself and be raw and talk about the hard stuff with other people who get it."

This episode reinforces why the Thriving Practice Community exists - to ensure healthcare providers have the support, systems, and community they need to build sustainable, thriving practices without sacrificing their well-being.

Miranda’s Bio:

Tracy’s Bio:

See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment

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Tracy Cherpeski 7/2/25 Tracy Cherpeski 7/2/25

Why 82% of Physical Therapists Quit - And How One Doctor Created the Solution Featuring Dr. Sarah Crawford, EP 190

Dr. Sarah Crawford, DPT, shares how she's revolutionizing healthcare delivery through Anchor Wellness Center - an innovative collaborative model that brings independent practitioners together under one roof. With 98% patient retention and 30% year-over-year growth for member practices, Sarah's approach proves that excellent care and profitable business aren't mutually exclusive.

Episode Overview

Key Highlights

The Healthcare Crisis: Only 18% of licensed physical therapists actually work in clinics due to system burnout and barriers to quality care

The Collaborative Advantage: Shared overhead, unified systems, and peer accountability create better outcomes for both providers and patients

Breaking the Poverty Mindset: Healthcare providers must value their expertise and charge accordingly - "if you don't make money, you have an incredibly expensive hobby"

The Entrepreneurship Reality: Building a practice will "crack you wide open" - embrace the vulnerability as essential growth

Systems vs. Solo Practice: Creating scalable businesses that can operate without the founder, not just "expensive lifestyle businesses"

Memorable Quotes

"The biggest barrier to healthcare is continuity of care - patients get bounced from provider to provider with too much time and space between them."

"Political correctness doesn't work in healthcare because it doesn't help people get better. If someone's had ineffective care, let them know it."

"Entrepreneurship cracks you wide open - all your vulnerabilities and insecurities are right at the forefront. You can surround yourself with people who help you grow, or you can resist it."

"You can't help anybody authentically if you haven't done your own work first."

"Love the hell out of people, including yourself. Sit into your own power and recognize that your zone of genius is a gift to the world."

Closing Thoughts

Sarah's model represents the future of healthcare - provider-centered care that actually centers the patient. By removing administrative burdens and creating true collaboration between practitioners, she's proving that the answer to our healthcare crisis isn't more regulations or bigger systems - it's empowering excellent providers to do what they do best. Her message is clear: bet on yourself, value your expertise, and don't apologize for building something profitable that genuinely serves people.

Bio:

Dr. Sarah Crawford, DPT, COMT, earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Miami in 2011. With over 14 years of experience in physical therapy and healthcare administration, she has served as office manager, clinical director, and partner for several independent practices before founding Anchor Wellness Center and Wave Physical Therapy and Pilates in 2019.

Dr. Crawford specializes in orthopedic manual therapy, chronic pain management, and Pilates-based rehabilitation. She was the first physical therapist certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling in Ohio and brings extensive training in neurological rehabilitation. Her comprehensive approach integrates neuromuscular, fascial, and musculoskeletal systems to optimize patient outcomes.

Driven by the recognition that traditional healthcare is reactive and fragmented, Dr. Crawford created the Anchor Wellness Center to support local healthcare entrepreneurs in a collaborative environment that ultimately improves patient care through true integration of services.

Find Dr. Sarah:

Instagram

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Tracy Cherpeski 6/25/25 Tracy Cherpeski 6/25/25

Building a Practice That Runs Without You Featuring Dr. Ruth Mannschreck, EP 189

When Dr. Ruth Mannschreck faced a life-changing situation that forced her to compress five full days of dentistry into just two and a half days, she discovered something remarkable: the systems that gave her life back were the exact same ones that made her practice incredibly valuable to potential buyers. In this episode, Ruth shares her five-step framework for transforming from a "cave dweller" practice owner who's involved in everything to a leader who's built a self-propelling business. We dive deep into creating intentional culture, the art of delegation beyond clinical tasks, and why the best time to start planning your exit is right now – whether you plan to sell in two years or twenty.

Episode Highlights

• The "handpiece rule" that transformed Ruth's delegation approach: If you don't need your license or specialized tools to do it, you shouldn't be doing it

• Culture as competitive advantage: How to turn vague core values into specific, observable behaviors your team can demonstrate and celebrate

• The "showtime" principle for creating consistent patient experiences, even when team members are having personal challenges

• Why "harmony" beats "balance": Understanding work-life integration as a dynamic dance rather than a static state

• Systems thinking for small practices: How to create communication flows that eliminate silos and keep everyone informed

• The psychology of millennial and Gen Z team management: Moving from "I know, so I'll tell you" leadership to outcome-focused delegation

• Exit planning as daily practice: Why building a sellable business improves your current quality of life and protects your team's future

• Differentiation beyond revenue: The multiple factors that make practices attractive to buyers, regardless of size

Memorable Quotes

"If you don't need a handpiece and you don't need your dental license to do it, you're not allowed to do it."

"I call them cave dwellers where we're off on our own and we cling to each other when we go to conventions every year, because we need to speak with someone, an adult, another person who's in the leadership role."

"No one wants to buy your job. If you are part of everything in running your business, you're selling them a job and that's not what they're looking for."

"Balance means you're static and I don't want people to be static. Harmony is one way, and then two measures later, it's in a whole different key, but it's still balanced."

"Pick one thing that makes your heart sing, that you are amazing at, that people come to you for, stick to that one thing that you do, and then surround yourself with experts to do all the other things."

"Start like today. Today's a good day to get your business ready to sell. Tomorrow, in 10 years, whatever it is, because you'll be a happier business owner when you're not doing everything yourself."

Resources Mentioned

• Free Resource: Visit workfewerhours.com for Ruth's checklist on building systems that give you your life back

Whether you're drowning in daily operations or already thinking about your exit strategy, this conversation offers a roadmap for building a practice that serves you instead of consuming you. The best part? Every step toward freedom is also a step toward creating something truly valuable – for you, your team, and your future buyers.

Bio:

Dr. Ruth Mannschreck, DDS is a business strategist who helps small business owners transform their practices into businesses they can step away from – and eventually sell. Drawing from her experience on both sides of buying and selling businesses, Ruth specializes in systems design, team building, and creating client experiences that work without the owner's constant involvement. She guides business owners from "business as usual" to "business designed for YOU," focusing on fewer working hours, stronger teams, and exit-ready operations. Ruth hosts the Team Led Business Success Podcast and has successfully built and sold her own dental practice using the systematic approach she now teaches.

Find Dr. Ruth:

See Where Your Practice Stands: Take our Practice Growth Readiness Assessment

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Tracy Cherpeski 6/20/25 Tracy Cherpeski 6/20/25

The 'Too Busy' Trap: Breaking Free from Practice Management Overwhelm – A Special Snack Episode, EP 188

In this candid snack episode, Miranda Dorta turns the microphone around to interview Tracy Cherpeski about her specialized consulting approach for healthcare practice owners. This unscripted conversation reveals the genuine dynamic between the hosts while exploring the unique challenges facing healthcare providers who own their practices. Tracy shares insights on identifying scalability readiness, overcoming time management struggles, and the evolution from one-on-one consulting to building the Thriving Practice Community.

Episode Overview

Key Highlights

• The Business Acumen Gap: Healthcare providers often lack the business training needed to successfully operate their practices, despite their extensive clinical expertise

• The "Too Busy" Pattern: Practice owners frequently get caught in cycles of handling tasks that could be delegated to practice managers or administrative staff

• Scalability Assessment: Practices need solid operational foundations—including clinical, front office, and back office operations manuals—before they're ready to scale

• Community-Driven Support: The Thriving Practice Community was launched to create a peer ecosystem where healthcare providers can crowdsource business solutions and build a social safety net

• Delegation Dynamics: Many practice owners hesitate to delegate not from a need for control, but from concern about overwhelming their already busy teams

Memorable Quotes

"In all the places for people to be struggling in their business, healthcare just really should not be one of them. It shouldn't be so hard."

"You provider owners are wearing two full time professional hats, maybe even kind of like a third one if you separate strategy from leadership."

"Just because you can doesn't mean that you should. Unless your entire staff is down with some stomach virus, you're not going to be doing your blood draws—your team is going to be doing that because that's what they're really good at."

"If we can smooth over the strategic aspect of it, the leadership aspect of it, the operational side and get it running like a well-oiled machine, then life is so much better and easier on the clinical side and outside of work."

"We wanted to take the focus off of me as the provider and build an ecosystem that's truly supportive, that creates that social safety net for people."

Miranda’s Bio:

Tracy’s Bio:

Connect With Us:

Practice Freedom U Website

Tracy Cherpeski 6/18/25 Tracy Cherpeski 6/18/25

Culture is Not a Workshop: How You Show Up Every Moment Matters Featuring Jennifer Raams, EP 187

Jennifer Raams, coach with Practice Freedom U, joins Tracy to discuss the critical role of emotional intelligence (EQ) in healthcare practice management. This conversation explores how self-awareness, stress management, and intentional leadership create thriving practices where both providers and patients flourish.

Episode Overview

Key Highlights

The Inner Game of Practice Management

Stressed practitioners create stressed practices - it shows up in patient interactions, team dynamics, and business performance

The importance of moving from reactive to responsive leadership through self-awareness

How clinical excellence skills can become business liabilities without proper emotional regulation

The Flourishing Zone Framework

Green zone: flourishing state where leaders show up intentionally

Red zone: defensive/attack mode that damages relationships and decision-making

Frozen zone: low energy state that leads to stagnation and burnout

Goal: Spend 80% of time in the green zone using practical tools and awareness

Leadership as Nervous System Regulation

Culture isn't built through workshops - it's created through how you show up moment by moment

The power of presence: being able to "read the room" and respond appropriately to team needs

Switching between clinical and business "hats" to maintain appropriate focus

Practical EQ Tools

Two key questions for fear-based thinking: "Where do I choose to put my attention?" and "Where do I have influence?"

The power of curiosity over defensiveness in difficult situations

Simple physical shifts (changing hands, standing/sitting) to interrupt triggered states

Memorable Quotes

"If you're not okay, your business is going to suffer, period."

"Culture is not a workshop - it's how you show up every single moment."

"The biggest stress contributor is when you feel you have no control and no influence."

"We only have this second. What am I choosing intentionally to do now about it?"

"When your people are flourishing, your business is thriving. There's no way around it."

"Every skill, every behavior is learned - it's a skill you can learn and also unlearn."

Key Takeaways

Start with self-awareness: Recognize your triggers, stress levels, and default responses before trying to manage others

Invest early in leadership development: Building culture, systems, and leadership teams takes time - don't wait until you're scaling

Focus on what you can control: When overwhelmed, return to the basics of where you put your attention and where you have influence

Make coaching a priority: Having a confidential sounding board accelerates growth and prevents costly mistakes

Think beyond the clinical hat: Practice owners must develop the ability to shift between provider and CEO mindsets

This episode emphasizes that sustainable practice success requires more than clinical expertise - it demands emotional intelligence, intentional leadership, and the courage to invest in personal development alongside business growth.

Bio:

Jennifer Raams is an entrepreneur and business coach who arrived in Hawaii with just a suitcase, a physical therapy diploma, and $2,000, ultimately building a thriving PT business that empowers leaders to scale with purpose. As a coach with Practice Freedom U, she specializes in leadership development, strategic growth, and succession planning. With 20 years of COO experience scaling a multi-clinic practice and leading high-performing teams, Jennifer helps practice owners gain clarity, confidence, and the tools to build thriving, sustainable businesses that leave a lasting impact.

Find Jennifer:

Jennifer’s Website

Connect With Us:

Tracy Cherpeski 6/11/25 Tracy Cherpeski 6/11/25

The $100K Blind Spot: Why Male Patients Are Quietly Leaving Your Practice, EP 186

During Mental Health Awareness Month and Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, we explore a critical business issue affecting healthcare practices nationwide. Male patients with undiagnosed PTSD and mental health challenges are creating hidden operational costs, revenue losses, and staff frustration—all while walking out feeling unheard and unlikely to return. This episode breaks down the business case for recognizing how men's mental health decline presents differently and provides actionable strategies to turn this challenge into a competitive advantage.

Note: We approach this topic from a business and operational perspective, deferring to clinical mental health professionals for diagnosis and treatment guidance.

Episode Overview

Note: We approach this topic from a business and operational perspective, deferring to clinical mental health professionals for diagnosis and treatment guidance.

Key Highlights

• The Hidden Financial Impact: Unrecognized men's mental health issues cost practices through incomplete care cycles, staff burnout, reputation damage, and missed referral opportunities

• Why Traditional Approaches Fail: Current assessment tools and communication strategies were developed primarily for women, creating systematic blind spots for male presentations

• Different Presentation Patterns: Men with PTSD show anger instead of sadness, risk-taking behaviors, work performance swings, and physical symptoms rather than traditional emotional indicators

• The Competitive Advantage: Practices that adapt first will capture a significantly underserved market segment and become go-to providers for entire families

• Strategic Implementation: Small, targeted modifications create maximum impact—environmental changes, communication training, enhanced screening, and referral network development

• Measurement Matters: Track engagement rates, referral completion, patient satisfaction by gender, and reputation metrics to ensure sustainable change

• Leadership Opportunity: Position your practice as a leader in comprehensive mental wellness during awareness months

Memorable Quotes

"You're looking at undiagnosed PTSD and mental health decline in men, and it's creating a cascade of operational problems that are costing you significantly."

"Your practice was designed around assessment tools and communication strategies developed primarily for women. This isn't anyone's fault—it's just the historical reality of healthcare development. But it's creating a systematic blind spot."

"The practices that thrive in the next decade are going to be the ones that can adapt their operations to meet patients where they are, not where we think they should be."

"Every patient who feels unheard, misunderstood, or inadequately treated represents lost revenue, missed opportunities, and potential reputation damage."

"Thriving practices aren't built on good intentions—they're built on strategic systems that deliver consistent results for both patients and providers."

Action Items for Listeners

✓ Assess your current intake forms for gender-neutral mental health screening ✓ Train staff to ask functional impact questions rather than emotional state questions
✓ Evaluate your waiting room environment and reading materials ✓ Build relationships with mental health providers specializing in men's mental health ✓ Implement tracking systems for male patient engagement and satisfaction ✓ Start with one strategic modification that aligns with your current resources

Tracy’s Bio:

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Tracy Cherpeski 6/6/25 Tracy Cherpeski 6/6/25

Subtract Before You Multiply: Your Growth Roadmap Essentials – A Special Snack Episode, EP 185

In this candid snack episode, Miranda Dorta puts Tracy Cherpeski in the interview seat to explore the essential roadmap from where healthcare practice owners are now to where they want to be. This unscripted conversation dives deep into the systems, strategies, and team-building approaches that create sustainable practice growth. Whether you're taking your first growth step or navigating complex expansion challenges, this episode provides the clarity and confidence needed to move forward strategically.

Episode Overview

Key Highlights

• Subtract Before You Multiply - Essential pre-growth evaluation to identify systems that won't scale and operational bottlenecks that need addressing

• Capacity Assessment - How to determine if your current systems can "rinse and repeat" with minimal intervention before expanding

• Sustainable Growth Rates - Understanding the difference between rapid growth (which sometimes just happens) and sustainable 30% year-over-year growth

• Values-Driven Decision Making - Distinguishing between growth opportunities that align with core values versus those that simply increase revenue

• The WAIT Method - Strategic pausing using the acronym "Why Am I Talking?" to ensure thoughtful leadership decisions

• Culture as Foundation - How practice culture extends far beyond pizza parties to include conflict resolution, team unity during challenges, and shared vision alignment

Memorable Quotes

"You need to subtract before you multiply. If you don't take care of your problems, they're gonna grow with you."

"The key is if the systems you have in place can basically rinse, repeat, with minimal intervention, you're probably in a really good place to expand."

"We call it a shiny object and we call that the SOS - the shiny object syndrome."

"Culture isn't a workshop that you attend. If you're the head of practice and you're the practice owner, you set the tone."

"When you come together for a common goal, which would be the vision and mission of the practice, when you have your team on board, that's everything. That really is everything."

Miranda’s Bio:

Tracy’s Bio:

Connect With Us:

Miranda Dorta 6/4/25 Miranda Dorta 6/4/25

Marketing by the Numbers: Why Data Beats Gut Instinct Every Time Featuring Justin Strong, EP 184

In this refreshing conversation, Justin Strong from Room 118 challenges everything you think you know about marketing. Moving away from the "throw spaghetti at the wall" approach that's given marketing a bad reputation, Justin advocates for a scientific, data-driven methodology that treats marketing like clinical diagnostics - complete with "x-rays" before making recommendations.

Episode Overview

Drawing from his analysis of over 4,000 dental practices through the Dental Marketing Index, Justin reveals why traditional marketing approaches often fail and how practice owners can make informed decisions based on hard data rather than gut feelings or sales pitches.

Key Topics Discussed

• The Marketing Trust Problem: Why marketing has earned its bad reputation and how to identify high-integrity marketers who prioritize results over profits

• The Dental Marketing Index: A comprehensive analysis of 4,000+ practices that reveals what actually correlates with success vs. what agencies typically sell

• Market Diagnostics: Why every marketing decision should start with understanding your local market demographics, competition, and patient behavior patterns

• The "Near Me" Revolution: How patient behavior has fundamentally shifted, with "dentist near me" becoming the most searched term and average patient lifetime dropping from 14-17 years to under 5 years

• The Sales Gap: Why great marketing often fails due to poor follow-through - missing online schedulers, unreturned calls, and inadequate patient experience systems

• Competition as Innovation Driver: How high-density markets like DC create exceptional patient experiences through competitive pressure

• The Science of Marketing: Moving from creative guesswork to measurable, forecastable strategies based on data analysis

Memorable Quotes

"Marketing's job should be to tell you, is this possible in your local market? If so, where is our best opportunity for success? And then it should give practical recommendations based on that."

"It's sort of like a patient walked in and said, I have a tooth. Therefore, I need you to pull this tooth. And your response is going to be, why don't we take a look at the tooth? How about that x-ray first?"

"All a brand is is the small bit of space you occupy in your patients' minds. What do they think when they think of your brand?"

"If you think they're doing it, they've been doing it for a while." (on data privacy and corporate surveillance)

"There is a way to reduce complexity... hire good people to solve problems. If you understand where you want to go as a practice owner... recognize what the challenges are you must overcome, and hire good people to solve those problems."

The Bottom Line

Marketing doesn't have to be a guessing game. When approached scientifically - with proper market analysis, competitive benchmarking, and data-driven decision making - it becomes a powerful tool for practice growth. The key is finding marketers who prioritize your success over their service offerings and who can provide the objective "map" you need to navigate from where you are to where you want to go.

Bio:

Justin Strong is the Founder and CEO of Room 118, Inc., a dental research and marketing agency focused on data-driven practice growth. With 25 years of experience in marketing and strategy, he's led multi-billion-dollar initiatives at Verizon Enterprise Solutions and McCann. Recognizing the gap in evidence-based dental marketing, Justin pioneered the Dental Marketing Index, analyzing 4,000+ practices to identify what actually drives results. He specializes in helping practice owners move from random marketing tactics to predictable, high-ROI strategies using Fortune 500-level data insights applied to local dental marketing.

Find Justin:

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Tracy Cherpeski 5/28/25 Tracy Cherpeski 5/28/25

Independent Practice Isn't Dead: How Physicians Can Thrive Outside Big Healthcare Featuring David T. Ford, EP 183

Tracy sits down with David Ford, CEO of CMA Physician Services, to challenge the notion that independent medical practices are becoming obsolete. David shares his passion for supporting private practitioners and unveils Medway, a new subscription-based service designed to lift administrative burdens off physicians' shoulders. Through compelling stories and practical insights, David makes the case that private practice may actually be the wave of the future, with more physicians seeking independence and control over their practice style. This conversation offers hope and practical guidance for healthcare providers considering or currently managing independent practices.

Episode Highlights:

CMA Physician Services' mission to help independent practices thrive through "the upside of coordination without the downside of consolidation"

How the soon-to-launch Medway service helps physicians outsource administrative burdens like payroll, benefits, and compliance

The story of a physician in California's high desert who can continue serving Medicare patients thanks to shared savings programs

Why private practice isn't dead - and may actually be making a comeback

The systemic challenges facing new physicians with student debt, and programs that help address these barriers

How lifting administrative burdens gives physicians more time for patients AND personal life

The importance of community-centered healthcare and treating social determinants of health

Memorable Quotes:

"Independent practice isn't dead, like you can do it." - David Ford

"You didn't do all that schooling to run payroll." - David Ford

"Why would you own your practice if you don't have control over your schedule and your time? What's the point?" - Tracy Cherpeski

"I think of it like standing on the beach and seeing the swell that's a half mile out... it's not a wave yet, but you can see a little bit of a swell out there." - David Ford on the trend of physicians returning to private practice

"It can be done... It probably can't be done the same way it was 50 or 60 years ago. You have to approach it a little differently... But it is very much still possible. You can do it. You can be successful and you can thrive, have your practice and still have the life you want to have." - David Ford

Bio:

David Ford serves as the CEO of CMA Physician Services, a subsidiary of the California Medical Association. A nationally recognized expert in health information technology, David previously led as Vice President of Health IT at CMA where he developed thought leadership in electronic health records, health information exchange, and telehealth. Prior to CMA, he was Executive Director of CalHIPSO, the nation's largest federally designated Regional Extension Center, where he helped thousands of safety net providers implement health IT systems to improve care delivery and participate in payment reform. David began his career in the California State Legislature, most recently as Chief of Staff to then-Assemblymember Ted Lieu. He holds a BA in Political Science from The American University in Washington, D.C.

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Tracy Cherpeski 5/23/25 Tracy Cherpeski 5/23/25

Leadership Hats: How Healthcare Providers Can Transform Clinical Confidence into Business Success – A Special Snack Episode, EP 182

In this enlightening "snack episode," host Miranda Dorta turns the mic around to interview Tracy Cherpeski about the critical connection between leadership approaches and healthcare practice success. Tracy reveals how healthcare providers often exhibit confidence in clinical settings but struggle with business leadership, sharing practical insights on adapting leadership styles while maintaining authenticity. She introduces the concept of "changing hats" to help practitioners mentally transition between clinical and leadership roles, and emphasizes that micromanagement isn't always negative when applied strategically. Tracy's most impactful leadership tip? The power of the pause—what she calls "WAIT" (Why Am I Talking?)—allowing leaders to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.

Episode Highlights:

The pattern Tracy observed in healthcare providers: confidence in clinical delegation but timidity in business leadership

How practitioners can transfer clinical skills to leadership while knowing which habits to "surgically remove"

The cognitive trick of "changing hats" to help the brain switch between clinical and leadership mindsets

Why micromanagement isn't always negative and when it might be necessary

The most powerful leadership adjustment: learning to pause before reacting

Memorable Quotes:

"Sometimes their business model is to hope for the best."

"Leadership doesn't mean knowing everything. It doesn't mean being in command or control of every single thing."

"Micromanagement - it's not a four-letter word, but it sounds like it could be."

"If you take your hands off, not abdicate your responsibility for success, but take your hands off and let them do their work, they will rise to the occasion."

"We call it WAIT. It's an acronym. Why Am I Talking?"

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Tracy Cherpeski 5/21/25 Tracy Cherpeski 5/21/25

Outpointing the Competition: Data-Driven Growth Strategies in Healthcare Featuring Asha Strazzero-Wild, EP 181

In this episode, we speak with Asha Strazzero-Wild, co-founder of Outpointe, a growth strategy and execution firm specializing in healthcare. Asha shares her fascinating journey from aspiring doctor to education and public health before founding Outpointe with business partner Kelly Wilder. Their firm helps healthcare organizations optimize resources and improve patient and provider experiences through data-driven strategies and tactical support. Drawing on their combined 50 years of experience, Asha and Kelly guide healthcare companies in prioritizing initiatives, aligning metrics, and executing effectively on their vision in an increasingly complex market.

Key Takeaways

Data-driven decision making is crucial for healthcare organizations to prioritize initiatives and allocate resources effectively

The importance of speaking the same language when defining metrics and success criteria before launching initiatives

Outpointe's proprietary Growth Readiness Outlook assessment helps organizations evaluate their readiness for growth across key areas including customer experience, financial work, sales and marketing, and workforce development

The value of intentionally seeking feedback from those implementing best practices in your industry to drive continuous improvement

Why focusing on your strengths is as important as addressing areas for improvement when building effective teams

The boxing inspiration behind the name "Outpointe" - strategically coming back round after round to outpoint your opponent (the market)

Memorable Quotes

"Everyone says 'I've got this great idea,' but actually operationalizing that and executing on it and being strategic about what you choose to do and not do is hard."

"At the end of the day, we're all working to help make healthcare better."

"Don't focus exclusively on what you need to do better. Don't forget to focus on what you do really well, and keep doing that really well."

"When you're thinking about how you are going to allow yourself to grow and evolve with the market and the market needs, it's really important. And it shouldn't be done in a vacuum."

Resources Mentioned

Book Recommendation: StrengthsFinder - for identifying your strengths and building effective teams

Bio:

Asha brings over 10 years of healthcare sector experience spanning public health, health technology, and corporate marketing. As co-founder of Outpointe, she helps healthcare organizations implement effective systems and processes for sustainable growth and successful innovation launches.

At The Advisory Board Company, Asha earned Pragmatic Marketing certifications and launched nearly a dozen successful analytics products. Later, as Senior Vice President of Integrated Sales and Marketing at a leading life sciences company, she drove effective marketing strategies that generated nearly $50 million in sales over three years. Her expertise includes managing multi-million-dollar budgets, integrating sales and marketing functions, and measuring marketing ROI.

Asha has overseen multiple acquisitions and product launches throughout her career. When not working, she enjoys spending time at the hockey rink with her son and leading community volunteer efforts in the Boston area.

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Tracy Cherpeski 5/14/25 Tracy Cherpeski 5/14/25

The Leadership Advantage: Small Wellness Initiatives With Big Impact, EP 180

In this episode, Tracy explores how independent healthcare practice owners can leverage small wellness initiatives as powerful demonstrations of leadership. Against the backdrop of unprecedented challenges in healthcare—from high turnover to political pressures—she reveals how intentional wellness practices create disproportionate returns for small practices. Unlike large healthcare systems, small practices have a "leadership proximity advantage" that makes even modest wellness initiatives more effective. Tracy shares practical, low-cost approaches that strengthen team culture, improve retention, and ultimately create more sustainable practices. The episode highlights how leadership presence, rather than elaborate programs, is the true foundation of practice wellbeing.

Episode Highlights:

Why small practices have a distinct advantage in implementing effective wellness initiatives

A simple 20-minute weekly wellness activity that costs nothing but delivers remarkable results

Five mindset practices that integrate wellness into everyday leadership

How to measure the ROI of wellness initiatives through reduced absenteeism and improved engagement

The critical connection between a leader's own sustainable energy and team wellness

Memorable Quotes:

"Culture isn't a workshop we attend. It's about the example we set."

"The most successful practice owners know that wellness isn't about implementing a program—it's about investing in your most valuable asset: your people."

"Small, consistent wellness actions may seem insignificant compared to the daily operations of your practice, but they can completely redirect your practice culture."

"The practices that consistently outperform, even in challenging times, aren't necessarily the ones with the most resources—they're the ones led by owners who understand that how they show up matters more than what they say."

"You can't pour from an empty cup. The foundation of any successful team wellness initiative is your own sustainable energy as a leader."

Free Resource Mentioned: Download the Energy Audit workbook at PracticeSuccess.co/resources

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Tracy Cherpeski 5/9/25 Tracy Cherpeski 5/9/25

Turning Vision into Action: Tracy’s Approach to Breaking Down Goals for Healthcare Practices – A Special Snack Episode, EP 179

In this candid, unscripted "snack episode," Tracy is interviewed by Miranda, our Manager of Operations and PR at Tracy Cherpeski International and the Thriving Practice Community. Tracy shares her practical planning process for helping healthcare practice owners transform their ideas into achievable quarterly goals. She explains how to plan effectively even during uncertainty and maintain enthusiasm while building a practice vision despite challenges.

Key Takeaways:

Tracy's planning process starts with clarity - connecting the what, why, and how of your goals

Emotional connection to goals makes it easier to put in the necessary effort

Beginning with clarity increases speed rather than haste

Break down long-term goals by working backward - from 12 months to 9, 6, 3 months, then to weekly and daily tasks

Breaking goals into smaller chunks prevents feeling overwhelmed

Celebrate daily accomplishments with a "ta-da list" to maintain positive energy and momentum

Look for subtle wins: improved feelings, better sleep, increased energy at work

Lack of patience is a major challenge for healthcare entrepreneurs who want solutions immediately

The importance of "slowing down to speed up" - surrendering to the process brings clarity

Finding your practice's unique edge goes beyond clinical expertise to what makes you stand out in a competitive market

Notable Quotes:

"When we're emotionally connected to a goal, then it's easier for us...to put in the effort and the labor that's required to make something come to fruition."

"Clarity actually helps us increase speed rather than like haste."

"Sometimes when we have big goals, it can feel so overwhelming that we don't even start."

"My coach who trained me taught me about the ta-da list at the end of each day, which is...don't diminish progress."

"When we use this beautiful tool called surrender and we trust the process, that slowing down brings us that clarity that helps us then move forward with more speed."

"What makes you stand out so that you don't feel like it's about competition...Seth Godin calls it Purple Cow. Right? Like, what is it about your practice that makes you unique? And it can't just be your clinical expertise. It's not enough."

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Tracy Cherpeski 5/7/25 Tracy Cherpeski 5/7/25

Systems That Serve: Fractional Administration as The Missing Piece in Your Practice Featuring Sarah Clark, EP 178

In this episode of Thriving Practice, Sarah Clark shares how her consulting work helps medical, dental, and chiropractic practices shift from operational chaos to sustainable calm through strategic process improvements and fractional administration that allow providers to prioritize patient care while achieving 30% better appointment punctuality.

Episode Overview

In this episode of Thriving Practice, I speak with Sarah Clark, founder of Sarah Clark Consulting, who helps medical, dental, and chiropractic practices transform operational chaos into sustainable calm. Sarah's approach combines fractional practice administration with process improvement strategies that allow providers to focus on patient care rather than administrative burdens. We explore how small, intentional changes in technology and workflow can dramatically improve both the patient experience and staff satisfaction. Sarah shares concrete examples of how simple solutions like automated appointment reminders have freed up staff time and improved patient punctuality by 30% in one practice. Her compassionate, results-driven methodology emphasizes that providers don't need to make sweeping changes all at once – even incremental improvements can lead to significant positive outcomes for practice efficiency and provider wellbeing.

Featured Quotes

"What I do is I help private medical, dental, chiropractor, anything in that field...turn their chaos into calm. And I sort of make a joke of, well, not all the way calm, more like calm-er. Because if it's really quiet and it's really calm, that's probably also like it's never really gonna happen that way."

"Burnout is not just taking care of the patients and dealing with that burden that gets put onto their shoulders, but having to run an office when a physician did not go to business school becomes really difficult...It's overwhelming. That's a full-time job."

"There are ways that you can do that and take some of the manual part of the stuff that leads up to that diagnosis...once the clients, once the business owners understand that it's okay to elevate something else off of you, to give it to somebody that has the experience and the time and the understanding to do it, it is, I mean, I have two clients that will just send me a text message about whatever it is and they used to say just handle it, now that just handle it is understood."

What You'll Learn

Listen for these key insights:

How the "Four P's" framework (People, Paperwork, Processes, and Patients) can transform your practice
Why technology adoption doesn't have to be overwhelming—and how small changes like automated appointment reminders can have outsized impacts
The surprising connection between provider burnout and patient experience
How fractional practice administration can provide expert support for practices that can't justify a full-time administrator
The critical importance of developing a strategic plan for your practice, including your eventual exit strategy
Why compassion isn't just good medicine—it's good business (with scientific evidence to back it up!)

Resources Mentioned

Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference - Book recommendation from Sarah about the impact of compassion on patient outcomes and provider burnout

Thriving Practice is hosted and executive produced by Tracy Cherpeski. Our mission is to help healthcare practitioners build sustainable, impactful businesses while maintaining their own wellbeing.

Bio:

Sarah Clark is the founder of Sarah Clark Consulting, where she helps medical, dental, and chiropractic practices transform operational chaos into sustainable calm. With a Master's degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University, Sarah built her career spanning both corporate healthcare with the NFL and independent medical practices.

This diverse background gives Sarah a unique perspective from nearly all roles in a medical office, allowing her to identify pain points and implement collaborative solutions. She specializes in helping independent practitioners who often wear multiple hats without adequate training for all their responsibilities.

Through fractional practice administration and process improvement, Sarah guides healthcare providers to become the best versions of themselves while improving operations and increasing profitability.

Sarah lives in Huntersville, North Carolina where she enjoys outdoor activities, RV travel, cooking, and kickboxing when she's not transforming healthcare practices.

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Tracy Cherpeski 4/30/25 Tracy Cherpeski 4/30/25

From Shoveling Water to Strategic Leadership Featuring TJ Slattery, EP 177

In this insightful episode, TJ Slattery of Crow's Nest Mindset Consulting shares strategies for healthcare practice owners who find themselves stuck "below deck" in their businesses. TJ explains how practitioners can transition from frantically managing day-to-day operations to gaining the strategic perspective needed for sustainable growth and leadership. Through practical advice and compelling metaphors, he offers a roadmap for escaping the "entrepreneurial island" that traps many healthcare business owners.

Episode Highlights:

The crow's nest metaphor: Why healthcare providers often find themselves "shoveling water below deck" instead of navigating strategically
The challenge of transitioning from clinical excellence (where "never let them see you sweat" is valued) to business leadership (where vulnerability and delegation are crucial)
Understanding your true hourly value and why tasks like "opening the mail" could be costing you thousands
Building a holistic performance model that aligns financial goals with marketing, operations, and leadership
Moving from "magical thinking" about growth to practical planning with measurable steps
The three mindset blocks that prevent effective delegation: martyrdom, "I alone can fix it," and guilt
How creating space for your team allows them to develop, flourish, and make your business stronger

Memorable Quotes:

"The death of every entrepreneur is you all become glorified managers. If you're doing this right, in a year from now, you're not the one getting your hands dirty - you're managing people and managing your managers."

"Would you pay a bookkeeper $1,200 an hour to go through your books? That's what you're doing when you handle those tasks yourself instead of delegating."

"Just because we can doesn't mean we should. How is a business owner to fulfill their mission and vision if they're not able to get up to that view and keep checking on it?"

"A lot of people, whatever their background or industry is, never let them see you sweat. That is a teachable mindset that you can maneuver over. That is something you can loosen up and get better at."

Guest Bio:

TJ Slattery is the Founder and Strategic Advisor at Crow's Nest Mindset Consulting, where he helps small business owners scale their enterprises and achieve greater freedom in both professional and personal spheres. With 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship and small business operations, TJ brings a unique blend of practical expertise and strategic insight to his clients.

A self-described "business plan tinkerer," TJ's approach stems from genuine curiosity and a collaborative drive to identify core challenges and implement effective solutions. His diverse background includes founding a pedicab service in Vail, running a handyman business in Denver, partnering in a London-based facilities management firm, and co-founding Zuni Street Brewing Company.

TJ holds a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Business Management from Miami University of Ohio and an MBA from the University of Denver. When not helping business owners climb to their own crow's nest for a better strategic view, this Denver resident with Midwestern roots enjoys music, gardening, home projects, traveling, skiing, and spending quality time with his dog, Bella.

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