Each quarter we interview one of our clients to get an insight into their business. This issue we spoke to John from Better Movement Clinic.

When did your business commence?

Better Movement Clinic started in 2013 as a sole trader Exercise Physiologist, progressed to a company in 2017 and now services both Toowoomba and Dalby.

What does your business do? What makes your business successful?

Better Movement Clinic is an interdisciplinary allied health clinic based in Toowoomba and Dalby, and we are passionate about movement, pain and food. Our vision is to create equality in access to health care no matter the geographic location, culture, or perceived barrier. We have several Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists, Dietitians, Remedial Massage Therapists and Exercise Scientists.

At Better Movement Clinic we create access to high quality, evidence based, innovative programs, techniques, and equipment to improve a client’s pain, health, and wellbeing. An example of this is our ICARE Rehabilitation. This enables access to robotic equipment allowing stroke, neurological and disability clients the capacity to learn to walk again or improve their gait.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

The team at Better Movement Clinic is its greatest achievement. We have been able to build a culture of creating access to health care no matter the barrier. The team at Better Movement Clinic live and breath to make movement medicine.

My personal greatest achievement is watching brand new team members being paid enough in their first job out of university to buy their first car and their first house.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting up a business?

Pay yourself on day one. One of my greatest inspirations is Simon Sinek and we all know “Leaders Eat Last” but it doesn’t have to literally mean eating nothing because you can’t afford anything other than lentils on toast. Your time and expertise is worth money, as much as your team members and contractors. Pay yourself something, it can be even the smallest token amount. It takes too long to break the habit, because you as the leader can always find a “better” place to reinvest the money. You built this business from passion, but you still need to eat and be comfortable.

How do you relax from the pressures of being in business?

Run and run and run, and then find something heavy to pick up and put back down again. Physical activity in any form is needed to keep mental health, stressors, and pressures in check. A bottle of wine at the end of a hard or bad day with my partner also helps.