66. Is Your Traditional OT Business Model Leading to Burnout?

January 03, 2025

In this episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, we address the challenges of running a traditional OT (Occupational Therapy) business. Are you feeling overworked, stretched too thin, and unsure how to scale without sacrificing your time and energy? Discover how to transition to a smarter, more sustainable business model that aligns with your lifestyle goals. We'll share practical strategies to stop trading time for money, attract premium clients, and build a business that works for you. Not against you.

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Connect with Beki

Beki Eakins is a Business Mindset and Lifestyle Coach specialising in helping Occupational Therapists build freedom-based businesses. She has supported hundreds of OTs worldwide in creating innovative, scalable models that prioritise personal well-being and professional success.

Share this episode with a fellow OT who could benefit from these insights.

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Website: www.bekieakins.com
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Facebook Group: OT Freedom Community
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Links and Resources Mentioned:

Download the Free Mindset Meditation for OTs – Overcome limiting beliefs and foster self-confidence.
Tools for scaling your business:
- Kajabi – Simplify and automate your business systems.

Key Topics Discussed:

[00:00] Introduction: Meet Beki Eakins, Business Mindset and Lifestyle Coach for OTs.

[00:50] Why traditional OT business models often lead to burnout.

[02:35] Breaking free from the "time-for-money" trap.

[06:40] Designing a business around your ideal lifestyle.

[10:15] Attracting premium clients with tailored services.

[16:50] The role of online tools and automation in scaling your business.

[22:30] Ethical considerations for balancing accessibility and profitability.

[27:45] Real-life examples of successful OT business transformations.

About the Podcast

OT Yourself To Freedom Podcast helps occupational therapists create a life and business they love. Host Beki Eakins shares practical tips, strategies, and real-world stories to inspire your journey to freedom.

Episode Transcript

[00:00:00] Hi, I'm Beki Eakins, Business
[00:00:05] Mindset and Lifestyle Coach for Occupational Therapists. I focus
[00:00:10] on creating a freedom-based online business, helping OTs to
[00:00:15] package up their skills in unique and exciting offers that feel so good
[00:00:20] that they sell with ease in the online space. Since leaving the
[00:00:25] profession of OT, I have now worked with hundreds of clients online,
[00:00:30] helping them to create a life they feel inspired by. In this
[00:00:35] podcast, I will talk about the lifestyle goals, mindset, and strategy you
[00:00:40] need to create your own life of freedom.
[00:00:45] Hello, hello. So welcome to today's business model, which is
[00:00:50] really more geared for occupational therapists who are already running
[00:00:55] a business, already running an OT-based traditional
[00:01:00] type of business, basically. And not every time, but
[00:01:05] very often what we hear is that OTs feel like they're a
[00:01:10] victim of their own success. Um, services are in demand,
[00:01:15] of course, everybody wants OTs. Um, but your time
[00:01:20] is just stretched too thin and you're left wondering, is this
[00:01:25] really sustainable? So we're just speaking to those OTs today
[00:01:30] and we're going to explore how to break free
[00:01:35] from traditional OT services and to step into a business
[00:01:40] model, um, that works for you and not against you in terms of your
[00:01:45] time and your energy. Um, and we'll share some examples of how we've helped
[00:01:50] OTs. Um, like you to restructure your OT
[00:01:55] businesses and be able to scale the business. That's the important
[00:02:00] thing, and to find freedom while we're doing that. So,
[00:02:05] many OTs will fall into the traditional trap.
[00:02:10] Um, very often pay per session or pay for a
[00:02:15] small group of sessions. That's very often, um, the way that OTs
[00:02:20] work and it feels familiar and it feels safe, but it's not so
[00:02:25] easy to say. Um, and then you end up trading
[00:02:30] time for money. So your income is capped by the amount of hours that
[00:02:35] you can work unless you're going to hire staff to do that. And then we've got other
[00:02:40] problems. Burnout sets in as you struggle to meet the demand while
[00:02:45] maintaining quality. And yet you fear if you change the
[00:02:50] service, um, that people won't pay. And to a certain extent, some
[00:02:55] of that is true. Um, the same people are probably not going to
[00:03:00] always want to go from one service to another. But there will be other people out
[00:03:05] there, many other people, who will pay for a different model.
[00:03:10] Um, so many OTs will see that growth comes with hiring staff. Um,
[00:03:15] which, as we all know, has its own issues and stressors.
[00:03:20] Or the second way is you've got to work more hours. So, over the
[00:03:25] years, I've spent many, um, hours talking to OTs about their
[00:03:30] businesses. And if I ask them, do you want your business to grow?
[00:03:35] I'm very often met with, Oh my goodness, please. No, I can't cope with any
[00:03:40] more work. And what they're doing there is making a big
[00:03:45] assumption that to earn more, to grow your business, you've got to work more.
[00:03:50] And that doesn't have to be the case. That's not true. If you've got a
[00:03:55] smart business model. So I've worked with clients.
[00:04:00] who literally feel trapped by their own business, they created a business for freedom and choice and

66. Is Your Traditional OT Business Model Leading to Burnout?

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