After selling my practice in 2021, I expected the biggest challenge would be figuring out what to do next. What I didn't expect was how paralyzing complete freedom could become. When you can literally do anything, "anything" stops feeling exciting and starts feeling overwhelming. I've found myself constantly pulled toward something new and "sexier" than audiology.
During that period, in addition to hearing practice owners, I've worked with travel companies, investors, tech startups, life coaches, retail owners, surgeons — testing different waters, trying to find my next big thing. The variety was stimulating, but I never felt fully settled or aligned. I see this same pattern with practice owners all the time. Things get challenging, growth stagnates, or the day-to-day starts feeling repetitive.
Suddenly, that new specialty area looks appealing. Or maybe it's time to pivot entirely — become a consultant, launch a product, buy a franchise, try something completely different. The grass always looks greener when you're in the weeds of building something difficult. Through all my taste-testing and hand-wringing (and honestly, some harsh self-judgment about not being more grateful for having "good problems"), I finally landed on something crucial:
The discomfort of uncertainty is a signal to dig deeper. Instead of constantly seeking the next shiny opportunity, I needed to push through that discomfort and commit to building something truly aligned and impactful. For me, that meant focusing on work that helps people who help people, and hearing professionals and audiologists fit that bill.
It feels like an exponential return on my effort. Instead of impacting one patient at a time, I can help practitioners who each serve hundreds or thousands of patients.
The Real Challenge Isn't Finding Opportunities — It's Limiting Them
When you're running a practice that's hitting roadblocks or plateaus, the challenge is the same: How do you push through the inevitable discomfort of building something meaningful instead of constantly looking for an easier path? Here's what I learned from both my post-sale wandering and years of working with practice owners struggling with the same dynamic:
The discomfort you're feeling isn't a bug, it's a feature. Building something aligned and impactful is supposed to be challenging. The uncertainty, the slow progress, the moments when you question everything are evidence you're on a path that matters. Commitment creates clarity, not the other way around. I was waiting to feel certain before committing. But certainty comes from committing to something and working through the challenges, not from endless exploration. When you stop hedging and fully lean into building something meaningful, the path forward becomes clearer.
Consistent, committed actions compound exponentially. Every pivot costs momentum. Every "fresh start" resets your progress. But when you commit to building something aligned with your strengths and values, even small improvements compound over time into something significant.
What This Means for You
If you're feeling that pull toward making a change, pause for a moment. Ask yourself: Am I running toward something meaningful, or am I running away from the discomfort of building something difficult but important?
The answer isn't always to stay put. Sometimes a pivot is exactly what's needed. But more often than not, the breakthrough you're looking for is on the other side of pushing through the current challenge, not around it. Your patients need practitioners who are fully committed to mastering their craft and building sustainable practices. The world needs more people who are willing to do difficult, meaningful work rather than constantly chasing the next opportunity.
You need the satisfaction that comes from building something that truly reflects your values and maximizes your impact. The discomfort you're feeling might not be a problem to solve. It might be the price of admission to work that actually matters.
