Will Humphreys delivers a short, heartfelt message directed at physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology practice owners. He emphasizes the vital impact these owners have, acknowledges the isolation and holiday-family tradeoffs many experience, notes that he has sold his practice and now sees others still struggling, and recalls being shaped at 17 by emotional support from a therapist.
I wonder if you really understand the impact that you make as a leader in physical therapy or occupational therapy or speech. I wonder if you understand.
How vital it is that you do what you do as an owner. I know in our industry in particular, it really doesn't feel like that most days. And most days I know from personal experience, it can feel like we're on an island. As PT owners. I remember holidays in particular, Thanksgiving, Christmas, oftentimes not being able to be present with my family when that happened. And what I would share with you guys is that I have been in this space with PT owners now for a while, and it's honestly very sad for me to be on the other side, having sold my practice, and to see PT owners who are going through their day in and out, fighting for what they believe in, wanting to make a bigger impact for themselves and their patients and not having that experience only to find themselves during the holidays disconnected and having a hard time being able to be present and serve the people that they love. And that hits home for me because for years and years, that was my experience.
I won't get into that, but just wanted to let you know that for me, I really, this Thanksgiving, I just want everyone who decided to click on this video to know how important you are and the difference that you make as a patient. When I was 17, having a therapist emotionally support and connect me shaped my future forever.
And that was just one visit, right? Like one patient visit that she had every three times a week to come to my house. And I know all of you are out there doing that and oftentimes feel underappreciated. You might get the cookies from the patient, you might get the occasional thank you from an employee. But do you really know how powerful you are? That for you to be owning a physical therapy practice, which I was told by coaches, if you can run a PT practice successfully, that makes you an elite business owner. But for you to do that day in and day out, making a difference and an impact in the world, I just hope you know that the thousands of lives that you touch, your employees, your patients, your patients, families, your own family, I know what it's like to feel like to be on that island. And I just want to say thank you. I just want to say, as a previous and current patient, I'm always having surgeries. I just want to acknowledge each of you and want you to know that what you do matters and that who you are matters. And that whatever lessons you're learning right now, whatever difficulties you're going through in the holidays, if you have any, that it's okay, that it's all going to be all right, because at the end, you chose to do good. You chose to make a difference in this world and that karma is going to come back. But most importantly, just remember that in the end, as much as we love physical therapy, as much as we love owning a practice or hate owning a practice or leading a practice, that it doesn't matter in the sense that our family always matters most. That rubber ball that we juggle called work can bounce. So let it bounce, because that glass ball that we juggle called family can't. And so with any help that you can give this weekend to being with your family, to polish that glass ball, to be with them and enjoy what you do, I hope you know that there are people, many people, who feel your impact day to day. So Happy Thanksgiving.
