Business Strategy for Clinics: Creative Ways to Think Like an Outsider

Step #1: Disrupt your industry

• Action: Before diving into any new business venture (regardless of the industry), take a moment to ask yourself two essential questions: Why this? And why now? These are the same questions behind every strong business strategy.
• Why it helps: Your concept needs to stand out. Even if you’re entering a time-honored industry like winemaking, what will make your venture different? What unique products or experiences will you offer that can't be found elsewhere? And why is now the right moment to step into an already competitive space? Answering these questions early helps you build a foundation for sustainable business growth, one that feels authentic, not reactive.
• Optional pro tip: Don’t shy away from being an industry disruptor. Different doesn’t mean wrong; it often means innovative. Too many businesses simply mirror what’s already been done. While cookie-cutter models may be easy to launch, they rarely last 5 years. The most successful business growth strategies come from entrepreneurs who observe what works elsewhere and adapt it thoughtfully for their own industry.

Step #2: Hire the best by treating them the best

• Action: You NEED the strongest team you can assemble. I can’t emphasize this enough. Imagine what you can do with the best people in the industry, not to mention less turnover, stronger team culture, better work environment and teamwork. The list is infinite.
• Why it helps: Pay your team well. Start-up budgets are tight, but compensation is the last place you should cut corners. Do your research—check platforms like LinkedIn to see what competitors are offering, and then aim higher. Look at Germany, the economic superpower controlling the Euro: employees receive a minimum of five weeks paid vacation, and the results speak for themselves—fewer sick days, greater productivity, and higher employee satisfaction. We’ve got the research, this isn’t up for debate. These are universal lessons in business strategy.
• Optional pro tip: If you can’t afford to pay someone your city’s livable wage to do a task, then you can’t afford to have someone other than yourself do that task yet.

Step #3: Business doesn’t mean war: build connections that grow your business

• Action: You don’t need to see other companies in your industry as rivals to be eliminated. If your business is truly unique, then you're not competing, you're creating your own lane. Genuine innovation sets you apart, not against.
• Why it helps: Reach out to fellow industry leaders for advice or even just to make connections. You might be surprised how much more willing people are to root for you when they have a personal connection to you, even those you share a client base with.
• Optional pro tip: Don’t be afraid to go old-school. Host an industry happy hour or surprise their office with a pie delivery. Yes, really. I promise that if you send their office a cake or pie, they will remember you ten years from now. Then, when you need a favour in ten years, you can pull them out of your back pocket.

💡 Online groups can be a great source of real-world advice and support from other clinic owners and practitioners. Try something like the Jane Community group, it’s an easy place to swap ideas, ask questions, and pick up tips from people who get clinic life.

Step #4: Don’t let your ego get in the way

• Action: Sometimes, your toughest obstacle is yourself. There’s nothing like pouring in sleepless nights, sweat, and rivers of tears, then finally writing yourself a cheque that proves it was all worth it. You’ve spent so long hoping your small business wasn’t a mistake, and now you have the proof. That feeling is incredibly validating. But be warned, you might just catch the entrepreneurial bug.
• Why it helps: Now you have the means to start setting up a second location. Maybe you’re creating a 5-year plan to set up 5 new locations in various cities. DO NOT even think about opening more locations until you have comparable data. You have no idea how to predict what August is like, whilst you’ve never been open during August before. Once you finally hit full capacity (or reach the plateau you are happy with), wait at least one year from then. Careful pacing like this protects long-term business growth and keeps expansion sustainable.

Step #5: Think like an outsider

• Action: If you’re the world’s best bartender and you are creating a drink list for your new highly anticipated restaurant, are you creating this menu to impress fellow bartenders or actually make sales? This applies to all industries. Don’t design your service from the lens of the practitioner, design it from the lens of the client. What do they want to see? What do they feel is missing at other establishments? Understanding your client experience is one of the most practical business strategies you can master. Give the people what they want.
• Why it helps: It never hurts to survey your target audience. Ask people who fit your ideal client profile what would genuinely improve their experience. Better yet, become a client yourself. Try out a range of other businesses in your industry, and take note of what worked, what didn’t, and what you wish they did better.
• Optional pro tip: Industry experience isn’t a requirement for success. Fresh perspectives often change industries for the better. In fact, approaching an industry as an outsider can be an advantage. Your vision is less likely to be shaped by outdated norms or internal bias, giving you the clarity to see what others overlook.

🎧 The full story behind Andrea’s approach

You can listen to the whole conversation on Radio Front Desk, where Andrea gets deeper into what it means to think like an outsider, take smart risks, and create something truly original that clients remember.

Find more from Andrea Valliere and her team at RoadToHanaVancouver.com