Ep. 48: The Mindset Shifts That Move You Through Fear and Into Entrepreneurial Action With Guest, Dr. Lorne Brown
Waiting until you feel ready to make your next move? Convinced you need more training before you can call yourself an expert? Think entrepreneurs are just naturally fearless? Join me as I talk with traditional Chinese medicine doctor, Dr. Lorne Brown, about the mindset shifts we need to make to move through fear and think like an entrepreneur. Lorne shares how he built a thriving practice by flipping conventional wisdom on its head, committing first to a meaningful challenge, then finding courage, building capability, and finally gaining confidence. You'll hear his adaptation of Dan Sullivan's "Four Cs" framework for tackling scary ventures, how he persisted in building trust with referral partners, even when the doors kept closing, and the real story behind building something meaningful when you have no idea what you're doing. We explore how to reframe rejection as valuable feedback, why your niche might need to choose you, and the inner work (cognitive, emotional and spiritual) required to become a clear vessel for inspired action. This conversation is for any practitioner who's been playing it safe, overthinking their next move, or struggling with the gap between wanting to grow and actually taking action. If you've ever felt paralyzed by not knowing enough or not being ready enough, this episode will shift how you think about courage, competence, and what it really takes to build something that matters. Links mentioned: The 4 Cs Challenge, a book by Dan Sullivan Dr. Lorne Brown's website www.lornebrown.com where you'll find his: Clinic - Acubalance Wellness Center Book - "Missing the Point: Why Acupuncturists Fail and What They Need to Know to Succeed" Educational Platform - Healthy Seminars Join us in The BRAVE OT Facebook group to keep the conversation going! Work with Me: If the gap between you and sustainable action in making your business look like your dream job, reach out. The ACTivate Vitality program is taking new participants in September and we are really good at creating the safe space and accountability you need to implement just what Lorne and I talk about in this podcast. Questions OTs are asking: How do I overcome fear of starting my own practice? What mindset do I need to be a successful healthcare entrepreneur? How do I build confidence in my business abilities? What's the difference between successful and struggling practitioners? How do I know when I'm ready to take the leap? Meet Jane Jane is an EMR with heart and also the sponsor of The BRAVE OT Podcast. I recently wrote a blog article on how I customized Jane's AI Scribe feature to write chart notes that are better quality and more occupationally focused than my notes have every been before. Read the blog here and, if you decide to sign up, be sure to use the code VITALITY for a one month grace period as listender of this podcast.
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Ep 47: The Messy Middle of Multiple Income Streams - My Behind-the-Scenes Business Reality
How do you define success in your business? Is offering a variety of services scattered and unfocused or a wise path to multiple income streams? Or maybe success isn't about money at all for you? I'm pulling back the curtain on my own current business reality, sharing the revenue proportions, time commitments, what energizes me versus what drains me, and the messy truth about having a podcast, online courses, a planner, private practice, and teaching gigs all under one roof. You'll hear about my ACTivate Vitality program that represents a third of my income but takes twice the marketing effort I wish it did, my Practical ACT for OTs course that sells itself, and how my planner and podcast make up less than 5% of my revenue but remain worthwhile. I'm also talking about the unexpected pathways between my offerings, and how I make data-driven decisions for sustainable growth in my business satisfaction, and why I've chosen flexibility over indiscriminate scaling. This episode is for any OT who's wondering whether they need to niche down or scale up in their business and those questioning how to define success in their own work and life. The branches of my business: ACTivate Vitality Personal Development Planner The BRAVE OT Podcast Practical ACT for OTs Course ACTivate Vitality Program Balance Works OT Join us in The BRAVE OT Facebook group to keep the conversation going! Thanks to Jane for supporting the podcast and providing an EMR OTs can trust. Book a Demo and use the code VITALITY at signup for a one month grace period. Questions OTs are asking: How do I create multiple income streams as an OT? What does a successful OT business really look like? How do I balance multiple projects without burning out? Is it better to niche down or diversify? How much money can you make as an entrepreneur OT?
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Ep. 46: Multi-Passionate OTs Creating Work They Love, One Layer at a Time with Guests, Áine O'Dea & Jen Trzeciak
Ever feel like you're the only OT who doesn't have their career path mapped out? Like you should have it more figured out by now or you thought you were on the right path and something's not right? Meet Áine and Jen, two multi-passionate OTs who've built thriving practices by embracing the messy, non-linear path of figuring it out as they go. From car crashes that changed everything to setting up businesses because "I don't really know what else to do," these two prove that sustainable, fulfilling OT careers don't require having it all planned out. What You'll Learn We explore how clinical supervision works as real professional development (not just another box to tick), practical ways to combat the isolation of solo practice, why starting with one client is enough to begin, and how to work with your ADHD brain instead of against it. Áine and Jen share the honest reality of career pivots, the power of getting help instead of doing everything yourself, and why the smallest therapeutic moments often create the biggest breakthroughs. This episode is for multi-passionate OTs feeling scattered, anyone considering private practice but overwhelmed by where to start, OTs feeling isolated in their current work, and those ready to stop apologizing for not having a traditional career path. Connect with Our Guests Áine O'Dea Radiance Consulting Website, LinkedIn and Instagram Jen Trzeciak Way Ahead Therapy Website, LinkedIn and Instagram Listen to the Irish Occupational Therapy Podcast Website and Instagram Private Practitioners Networking Summit: September 20th, Dublin Emails available on their respective social media profiles Join the Conversation Head over to The BRAVE OT Facebook group to continue this conversation about supervision, private practice, and owning our professional worth. We'd love to hear your thoughts! Explore the ACTivate Vitality Planner The personal development planner (made by me!) that blends science and soul to guide you towards a vibrant, authentic, values-driven life. Now is a great time for a new start! Check it out here. Change Your Relationship with Documentation Not only will you get to explore the tool that we have all been wishing for that magically makes great chart notes while you're busy working directly with your client, you can also use my code VITALITY for a one month grace period on your new Jane account. Book a demo today.
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Ep. 45: Burnout and Attuning to Your Inner Wisdom to Transform Your Business With Guest, Dr. Jess Reynolds
What happens when your business feels out of alignment with who you are and you’re brave enough to admit it? In this episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Jess Reynolds, a collaborator and traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and educator, to talk about what it really looks like to reimagine your life and work from the inside out. In this discussion we explore some of our lived and learned experiences including: How inner work shapes outer success—and why it’s often the part we skip The hidden spiritual and identity layers of burnout Why teaching can be the best way to learn (especially the stuff you most need yourself) Disrupting default ways of practicing to make room for deeper alignment The introvert table, mindfulness beyond meditation, and laundry piles as existential mirrors Whether you're an OT in private practice, an educator, or a healing professional trying to find your footing, this is a real conversation about being human in your work. I think you'll find AH-HAs in: Jess’s experience pivoting from teaching technique to teaching transformation The gap between what practitioners need and what they actually seek out in CE Why "just be yourself" isn’t always accessible—and how to honor your capacity The shift from pre-recorded courses to community-based learning Personal stories of burnout, grief, reinvention, and finding flow again Mentioned: Jess's Free Course https://aimonline.com/wellness-practice-essentials-page Jess's Business Course is now open! Check out Built to Last here Book a demo with the Jane App and be sure to use my code VITALITY at the time of signup for a one month grace period on your new account. Carlyn's ACTivate Vitality Group Coaching Program Keep the conversation going in The BRAVE OT Podcast Facebook Group Connect with Jess: Instagram: @drjessreynolds Website: https://aimonline.com/ Connect with Carlyn: Instagram: @balanceworksOT Podcast home: https://www.braveot.com 🎧 Subscribe to The BRAVE OT Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Ep. 42: Navigating Competition and Collaboration as OT Copywriters with Guests, Jenny Gill and Krista Frahm
In this episode, we hear from Jenny Gill and Krista Frahm, both occupational therapists and copywriters, as they discuss the dynamics of their professional relationship and the balance between collaboration and competition. They explore their individual journeys in the field, the importance of finding one's niche, and the challenges they faced when their paths intersected. The conversation delves into dealing with professional insecurities, the role of AI in copywriting, and practical advice for marketing occupational therapy services. You'll will gain insights into the value of collaboration, the nuances of creating effective marketing strategies, and the necessity of being courageous in business. Join us in conversation about this podcast episode in our new online community. It's in a Facebook Group called The BRAVE OT Podcast - Let's Discuss! Jenny and Krista have shared some free resources that will be linked in the group. Krista's free training about testimonials Jenny's 5 Copywriting Mistakes Made By OTs (and how to fix them) You can also follow both on Instagram: Jenny Gill Krista Frahm And check out their websites: https://www.kristafrahmagency.com/ https://jennygillcopywriting.com/ 🩵 And a big shoutout to our podcast sponsor, Jane.app. I'm grateful to be connected to this organization that feels deeply values-aligned. Did you know Jane won a 2025 Bronze Stevie Award for Customer Service Department of the Year – Computer Software! Out of 2,100+ entries from around the world, it's no surprize that Jane’s world-class support stood out. 🩵 If you're ready to check Jane out, head over and book a demo HERE and use my code VITALITY for a one month grace period on a new account.
The Brave OT Podcast with Carlyn Neek is all about empowering occupational therapists to step-up, level-up, blaze some trails, and maybe engage in a little conscious rebellion in service of the profession, our clients, our work, our businesses, and living our mission wholeheartedly. We are all about keeping it real, doing hard things, unhuslting, being curious, trying new things, growing through our challenges, and finding joy and fulfillment along the way. Really, we are OTing ourselves and each other.
All of the intro and outro music was graciously provided by Hal Curties, a local Calgary musician and someone who has contributed to my personal and professional growth in so many ways.
Ireland