Have you ever wondered as a young child what would have happened as a young child what would’ve happened if you had no vision for your life? What if you simply wandered aimlessly and left everything to chance, not having a plan for what you wanted to do next? What if you quit at something you wanted to do simply because it was too hard or things didn’t turn out as expected? If that was the case, more than likely, you wouldn’t be reading this article as a healthcare professional interested in entrepreneurship.
It turns out that many of us as healthcare professionals have a strong vision for our lives. We dreamed early on of pursuing higher education. We had a desire to build careers in healthcare so we could serve others, earn a good income, and work autonomously. That was our implicit vision for our professional lives, and we put in the hard work to make that vision a reality.
Before applying to our graduate programs, we knew how difficult and competitive it would be to get accepted. We understood the importance of studying hard and making sacrifices to pursue our hopes and dreams. Failure was never an option—we used every resource available to excel on exams and pass our courses with good grades. Whether it was grueling study sessions, test preparation, or learning a new skill, we never gave up. When it came time to take our licensing board exams, we prepared diligently and remained focused. We had that "can-do" attitude, refusing to let challenges or setbacks stand in the way of our dreams.
Most of us can relate to this journey, and many healthcare professionals have gone through similar experiences to reach success. We didn’t become licensed professionals and respected members of society by wandering aimlessly or through sheer luck. We had a deliberate plan, and we were committed to seeing it through.
Well, here’s the good news—running a business is no different. Successful businesses have a vision for what they want to achieve, just like the plan you had for your own life. From the beginning, leaders set a vision for their companies that helps guide their decision making. Successful entrepreneurs also embrace what’s known as a growth mindset—a concept coined by psychologist Carol Dweck in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
Dweck explains that a growth mindset is all about believing that intelligence, abilities, and talents can be developed through effort. It’s the mindset that sees challenges as opportunities to grow. On the flip side, a fixed mindset assumes these traits are set in stone—something you’re either born with or not.
Let’s look at an example. As a healthcare entrepreneur, basic finance skills are crucial for managing your business’s budget and reviewing financial statements. If you have a fixed mindset, you might think, “I’ve never been good with numbers, so there’s no way I can handle the financial side of running a business.”
But with a growth mindset, you’d likely say, “Finance isn’t my strength yet, but I can learn and keep practicing until I get the hang of it.”
See the difference? A growth mindset opens the door to new skills and possibilities, while a fixed mindset closes it before you even start.
This is the same “can-do” attitude that got you through organic chemistry in college or helped you prepare for the MCAT. You didn’t think, “This is too hard; I’m not cut out for this.” Instead, you tackled the challenge with determination, believing that with effort, you could overcome it. That’s the growth mindset needed for business success—and the good news is, you already have it!
The next step is setting a vision for your business, just like you did for your professional life. Start by asking yourself why you want to open a business. Is it because your peers in healthcare are doing it, or is there an expectation that healthcare professionals should eventually transition to business ownership? Or is it because you want to earn more income and have decision-making autonomy? There are no wrong answers here, but it’s important to understand your true motives and be aware of the responsibilities and challenges that come with being a business owner.
If you’re truly determined to become a healthcare entrepreneur, the next step is to set a clear vision for your business. What do you want to achieve with your services? What needs are you addressing in your community? What personal values do you want your practice to reflect? How will you stand out from your competitors?
When my wife, Richelle, and I co-founded American Pediatric Dental Group—a multi-location dental service organization in South Florida specializing in pediatric dentistry—we faced intense competition. There were thirteen pediatric dentists within a 3-mile radius of our first practice! But our vision was clear: we were going to serve a segment of the population that was overlooked and underserved—patients with special needs and those on Medicaid. We not only wanted to provide access to care for these patients, but we aimed to deliver an incredible experience—a “wow” experience—for every child, regardless of their medical condition or insurance status. We never wavered from that vision, and it remains the foundation of our company today.
Because we stuck to our vision, our business grew quickly—from one office to seven locations, all built from the ground up, with multi-million-dollar revenues and profitability within ten years. Our model was so successful that other pediatric dentists in South Florida began accepting Medicaid and treating patients with special needs—something that was rarely done when we started in 2010.
I share this not to brag, but to highlight how critical it is to set a vision that’s genuine and unique to you. That’s why taking the time to reflect on your personal values, what you want to accomplish, and why you’re pursuing entrepreneurship is so important for your success. And once you set that vision, commit to honoring it—this is where having a growth mindset becomes essential.
Your vision might be bold, and it might not succeed right away. When we first opened our business, we nearly went bankrupt. We built a large office in a saturated area, solely based on our vision of serving a neglected population. On day one, we opened our doors and… crickets. Our start was so slow, we were burning through cash and thought we’d go under. But we didn’t quit. We believed in our vision and worked tirelessly to raise awareness about our services. Eventually, the community took notice, and before long, we could barely keep up with demand. If we had given up and decided to do what everyone else was doing, we wouldn’t have experienced the success we did, nor would we have helped transform children’s dental care in our community.
So, I encourage you to find your passion. What sets your soul on fire? What do you want to offer your patients that your colleagues aren’t? How will your values and vision shape your practice? Knowing what you want to accomplish—and why—will be key to your professional success. Godspeed.
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