Chiropractic Paths: Dr. Andy Pawlovich on Building a Clinic and Balancing Life

When Andy Pawlovich first adjusted a patient's spine as a bright-eyed new chiropractor,  he didn't just realign vertebrae; he set his life on an entrepreneurial trajectory that many only dream of. Our latest episode peels back the curtain on Andy's riveting journey from a novice chiropractor to a seasoned clinic owner, revealing the personal growth and business acumen that have been his companions every step of the way. 

With a candidness that's as refreshing as it is rare, Andy shares the early sparks of enthusiasm for chiropractic care and how embracing professional business advice revolutionized his clinic, enhancing both operations and patient engagement.

Venture further into Andy's world, where you'll find a harmonious blend of professional dedication and a deeply valued personal life. This episode illuminates the indispensable role played by Andy's wife, Nicole, whose involvement in the clinic extends from financial wizardry to the digital dance of social media strategy. Theirs is a partnership that serves as a blueprint for success, proving that when two forces unite in business and in life, the result can be nothing short of extraordinary. 

Join us as we uncover the subtleties of leading a team with kindness yet firmness, and the art of nurturing a thriving practice without sacrificing the joys of family life.

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A Huge Thank You to our sponsor,  Just for You Day Spa and Wellness. Just For You is Canada’s Premier Day Spa with 5 locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The award winning luxury spa features Lia Reese Cosmetics and Iconic Betty Jewelry that you can also purchase online. Visit www.justforyoudayspa.com to book your service or to purchase a gift card! 

Chapters

• 0:40 Entrepreneurial Journey of a Chiropractor
• 14:18 Entrepreneurship and Spousal Support

Transcript

Shauna Foster: 0:41

Winning will help you learn the hard lessons the easy way, with guidance from celebrated entrepreneurs and business leaders. It's fun, it's informative, it's Winning.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 0:52

Hello, welcome to Winning. I'm your host, Mackenzie Kilshaw. Today's guest is Andy Pawlovich. How are you?

Andy Pawlovich : 0:59

Good, good, nice to see you.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 1:01

Yeah, you too. It's great to have Andy on. He's actually a chiropractor, which I know well because he was my chiropractor, I think, for 20 plus years. We figured out one time. He started in 1997. And he's been committed to helping patients achieve their health objectives through natural chiropractic care. In November 2014, he opened his own clinic in Stonebridge and now, after nearly a decade, he's looking to expand by welcoming a new associate. So we're going to talk a lot about that. Andy, that's just kind of a brief bio of you. Do you want to tell the audience who you are?

Andy Pawlovich : 1:41

Who am I? Well, I'm a husband to Nicole, I'm a father to Sophia, Allie and Joey, and, yeah, that's the most important thing in my life. But other than that, it was always a dream of mine to become a chiropractor. I wouldn't say always, but grade seven was the pivotal moment where I injured my pitching arm throwing too many curveballs. And my arm was just hanging there and my dad took me. He just started seeing a chiropractor. I had no idea what one was. He took me to his chiropractor and instantly it resonated with me. They were doctors. They're helping people with sports injuries. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, it was a busy place and, like I said, it just instantly clicked with me. So I figured, if I wasn't going to be a professional athlete, that this might be the next best thing. I can help athletes or help whoever, and so from then onward that was my goal was to become a chiropractor.

Andy Pawlovich : 2:50

So you know, lots of you know I graduated 27 years ago, in April. So life has flown by, but basically I've always been an owner in my chiropractic business. 11 years of the 27 I was in a multi-doctor office but primarily came out of school, opened my own doors at the age of 24, which is crazy, scary and uh, and I didn't know what I didn't know. So ignorance is bliss. And here we are today. Ten years ago, pretty much decided to go back into solo practice and open up college chiropractic.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 3:42

So you okay, let's just back up here a little bit. You're 24, you graduate, you're a chiropractor, you're like, I'm just gonna open my own clinic. Were you scared? Or, like you said, ignorance is bliss. You just didn't know any different, or what was your thoughts? Do you remember back then?

Andy Pawlovich : 4:03

I do. I was reflecting on that. I was brazenly competent coming out of school because I had a unique situation where I was classically trained in a certain technique approach when I was going to school in Bloomington, Minnesota, and this technique approach was not taught at school, but it was by the doctor I interned with and whatnot. It's called the Gonstead technique. Some people may or may not have heard of it, but it's a unique approach. It's been used, you know, widely throughout the profession, but I was trained by one of the greats, but I was trained by one of the greats in the profession with regards to the Gonstead technique.

Andy Pawlovich : 4:51

So, yeah, and I came back to Saskatoon and nobody was practicing this. So I felt this was a niche and I didn't want to join an office where they weren't practicing this way and I thought maybe they want to change me for what I was doing. In retrospect I don't know if that was the right decision or not. It's the one I made, but I could have definitely used some more business sense and help along the way, that's for sure. And taking on all of that risk debt responsibility at such a young age, you know, would need to be scrutinized once again, for sure. I don't know if I'd recommend that.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 5:39

You know what. It's something that I mean we'll never know because it's past tense now, but I totally understand what you mean. When I first started, actually, I opened my store right around the time that you opened your clinic and I remember thinking I have a Commerce degree so I know all the business stuff, plus I have 10 years of work experience, so I know the practical stuff, so I'm set, and then I opened my doors and realized I had no idea what I was doing and asked for a lot of help right, asked for professionals, help with like a bookkeeper and accountant and lawyer and all that. Asked other friends with businesses. But I kind of was the opposite of you and I don't even know if I was really prepared. So I don't know that there is a good answer. I mean, clearly, where you are now, it's worked out well for you.

Andy Pawlovich : 6:29

Yes, yes. And what I figured out right in the onset was that I did need help and I hired a business, a chiropractic consulting group, and the first thing they did was change my clinic hours of when I was seeing patients because I thought I needed to be 7-11 and that was so draining and it was difficult to be in any kind of flow and whatnot. So they concentrated my hours and it was so liberating once we did that and, yeah, you know, schedule patients in in more concentrated time so that you can be more present and be in flow, and yeah, that was the biggest, biggest takeaway initially, for sure it's so smart because you're hiring someone that knows what they're doing, because they've got the experience of working with other people and they can give you that guidance.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 7:34

And a lot of people are like, oh, it's another cost, but to me that's an investment. You made an investment into your business and it helps you out a lot 100% yeah, and I'm still doing it to this day. Yeah, even 27 years later.

Andy Pawlovich : 7:55

Yep, absolutely. That's awesome Because you know they hold you accountable. Um, they ask the tough questions to make you focus on things that you aren't, you don't even think about or, um, you don't want to think about, right, oh yeah. Yeah, it's definitely important, and it does give you that confidence as well, that just to bounce something off somebody and say I'm thinking of doing this or I am doing this, and they're saying that's a good idea or not.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 8:24

Or not. Yeah, sometimes the or not is actually the better, right, because most of the time when you, when you have an idea and you bounce it off your friends or your wife or whatever, they're like that's a great idea and you kind of already know. But the questionable ones are, you're like I think this would work, but I'm not sure those are the really ones. You need to get checked out, aren't they?

Andy Pawlovich : 8:46

Yeah, and the thing is is with now bringing on you know this is the next phase exciting time bringing on a new graduate and an associate. So he had just finished his internship with me and literally met his graduated last week in terms of his educational requirements. You know how is this going to play out.

Andy Pawlovich : 9:06

I've been in solo practice for 10 years where it's all me right, or at least I'm the I wouldn't say me my gosh, um, but just the, the practicing chiropractor, um, but uh, you know how are we going to do, how is this all going to play out. So that's what, um, the current business coaching consultant is going to help us with and see how we can, you know, make this kind of associateship work and, you know, serve more people.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 9:40

Yeah, so you're on your own. And then you joined a group which I know because that's when I started coming to you. So my cousin and you were friends and I was one of those people that had chronic headaches and had to um, had to go to a chiropractor recommended you, I started seeing you. I think half my family started seeing you, but at that time you were in a clinic with quite a few doctors, massage therapists, whatnot. What made you decide to go back to having your own business again.

Andy Pawlovich : 10:16

Yeah, great question. I reflected a bit on that myself and it was just more the situation. I think that when I joined that office, it was the right thing to do. I was in solo practice for a bit. My best friend and I were practicing for a short time together and we decided not to do that anymore, and that was very smart, um, and then, um, I was starting to become overwhelmed with everything. I was getting pulled in all these different directions in 2003 and I let. I built this office on 8th street and I decided to walk away from it and join this other clinic with you. You know, multiple doctors and whatnot and at that time that was the right move for Nicole and myself. We were getting married that year. I was going to Roset own twice a week as a satellite office and this just was the right thing at the moment, you know.

Andy Pawlovich : 11:19

And then you fast forward 10, 11 years. We had moved to Stonebridge neighborhood, uh, and then they were starting to build this, uh, the Stonebridge center where the Sobeys is and whatnot. It was just starting to develop and I was driving by this place every day, tilting my head, going, wow, would that be an amazing place to practice. I've never practiced in a location where you were supremely visible. I thought that would be neat. This is an analogy I like to use.

Andy Pawlovich : 11:59

Practicing with multiple doctors is like living in an apartment with a whole bunch of roommates versus solo practice. Solo practice is like living in a mansion by yourself, and there's advantages and disadvantages to both of those scenarios, and I loved my roommates in my old office, so it wasn't that. It was just I felt like I wanted to do practice more of a way that might represent Andy Pawlovich more than anything else, and so I did learn was that there were a lot of positives from that, but also the situation change. There was still the guy I had to look at in the mirror. That needed a lot of changing as well. So and over the past 10 years, a lot of that has happened, for sure.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 13:03

That's awesome. I mean, I like your analogy of the roommates because it's very much what it is. But definitely your life circumstances really do push you towards where you need to be at that time. Right, like you said, you're getting married at that time. Like you said you're getting married at that time, moving in with your roommates or having that business with other people really was the best because it took a lot off of your plate. But then down the line, more experience, different life situation, like you say, you drive by you see the spot, you think, oh, this would be awesome, I can really make it here. Your life at that time really pushed you back into that solo like solo entrepreneurship, which is awesome yep what were the biggest challenges when you went back to having your own practice?

Andy Pawlovich : 13:58

Um, well, the overhead really. Um, that's a big challenge, right? So there's the mansion.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 14:07

Yeah, somebody's got to pay for that.

Andy Pawlovich : 14:09

Yeah, you're going back into a significant amount of debt in order to start this place all over again, kind of from scratch. Thankfully, I had an existing practice to bring over. If I didn't, yes, oh my goodness, just it wouldn't have made it 100%, so I needed. You know it was. That was a big challenge. And then also, you know, you go through the economic times. If you can reflect over the past 10 years, there was a big, you could say a boom, but that's when it was difficult to find people to work, and maybe still is. Yep 100%.

Andy Pawlovich : 14:56

You know those kinds of things. So there were some staffing challenges. Um, again, uh, I'm a nice guy and sometimes nice guys aren't the best managers or bosses, so there were some circumstances along that way where I wasn't being maybe assertive enough or inspecting what you expect, and so there's a lot of that. But right now I'm really happy that way I've got a wonderful and I've had a lot of great people working with me and right now things are great. And then, of course, Nicole she's like the Swiss army knife. My wife she does can do everything in the office except for what I do. She's just, she's great backup. She can answer the phone, she can train staff, she's our bookkeeper, she's our social media person. So I couldn't have done any of this without her. That's for darn sure. So having a supportive spouse is it's everything.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 16:09

Oh for sure, especially supportive and the fact that she can actually help you, that's huge.

Andy Pawlovich : 16:14

Exactly and that we can work together yeah that's huge.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 16:18

Yeah well, and I remember when I first started coming to you she was the receptionist. So I've seen Nicole. I mean, I've known Nicole as long as I've known you and um, if you've never been to Andy's office and seen Nicole, you literally walk in there and she like lights up the room. She's so just genuine and personable and I think, especially for a business like yours, when you're dealing with um patients, that is such an asset that really can be hard to find, like you said. So the fact that you have her, I think that's your little hidden weapon.

Andy Pawlovich : 16:53

Well, that's how we met. Actually, she worked at the dry cleaners and I thought she was hitting on me, but she was just like, is who's nice? And I'm just like, wow, you know. And uh, it turns out and I go, I really want to hire this gal, and it took me to uh marry her for that to happen. So well.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 17:17

It worked out well both ways, for your personal life and your business. Yeah, but having great employees really does make all the difference. Okay, so you have the unique technique that you learned that you practice. Is there other strategies or other things that you've done to differentiate yourself from others? Because I feel like chiropractic care is so personal, which I think you do a great job at that. You're a very personal person, but how do you set yourself apart?

Andy Pawlovich : 18:19

Great question. I, you know I'm and I thought about this too like I like to cook. Why do I like to cook? Well, I want to make people happy. I want them to enjoy their experience, and so when people come to our office, I want this to be a place of solace. I want this to you know them to walk in the doors and feel like this is where they should and need to be, and so the whole experience from when they walk in the door to when they get on the table to when they leave, is positive, healing experience, and we often get that as feedback.

Andy Pawlovich : 19:10

And then, like the other thing is, there's a lot of fear around chiropractic. We see it every day. There's videos out there that are terrifying just in the sense of the reason why they're on YouTube, and people are now watching these for entertainment or whatever. And I always say well, there's a reason why they're on there and it's not the way I practice, and a lot of people don't practice. So it's putting people at ease. They come in.

Andy Pawlovich : 19:46

I learned that they're apprehensive or scared, and so we need to address that, and usually just having a human conversation, being genuine and authentic, starts to put them at ease. And then I'll say you know, we often hear I go. My goal is at the end of this, your first visit is for you to go. Oh, that's's what I was scared of, and that's often what it was. And then, and then we go from there. But they're always in charge. I'm always going to tell them what I'm going to do.

Andy Pawlovich : 20:15

Um, I have now a percussing type instrument called arthur stem I've been using for well over 10 years to tell the kids. It's called a tickle gun, but basically it's something that is very effective, very gentle people like love, subtle and effective. So, um, yeah, I guess it's. It's just understanding that this is something new for a lot of people and that, um, I'm going to meet them where they're at, not where I'm at, and we'll go through this together. And you know I'm not going to force anything on anybody, it's just let's just figure out what you want and how we can achieve that.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 21:01

Yeah, and being a patient of yours, I can say I was one of those people I remember first going I think I was like 19 or 20 years old and being like I don't want my neck cracked like freaked me out, to be honest with you, and you really were great at putting me at ease and the gun, as I used to call it but it's not, it wasn't a crack per se and it really was a great experience and I had zero fears after I went to see you. And I think part of that too is you explain things as you were doing it. So it was kind of I knew what to expect then and why you were doing it. I understood it and that I mean not that I was knowledgeable enough, but just having that little bit of education I think really was what helped me, and I think you're unique in that because I moved away from Saskatoon. I have a great chiropractor here too, but I did see a few other people in the middle of the move who didn't do that, and even someone that was going to a chiropractor for a long time. You kind of get uneasy.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 22:06

So I can say for you as a patient you're really fantastic at putting people at ease and making sure that they know what you're doing and understand it, which is great. Okay, I want to talk a little bit. I call people like you. You kind of have a double career because you're a chiropractor, really, but you're also a business owner. So how do you prioritize or make sure that your patients care and that you're physically there, obviously, to see the patients, but also that the operational side is is running smoothly and I know you have Nicole as your your kind of secret there, so that the operational side is running smoothly and I know you have Nicole as your kind of secret there. But how did you set that out to make sure that you can spend time with your patients and you don't have to worry about everything else?

Andy Pawlovich : 23:03

Right, having systems and procedures, basically Having a manual, you know, basically Having a manual. Am I a manual maker? No, I was basically told to do this because you need to have this so that it's replicable and whatnot. And so in the training process and just having that in place, you know, there's three parts of the chiropractic practice. There's the technician, which is me, the chiropractor doing performing chiropractic. That's the easiest part, that's easy. Then there's the manager okay, so you're managing your staff, your business and whatnot, and the systems, procedures, accounting and all that kind of stuff, and who does what, where's everybody's seat on the bus. And then there's the entrepreneur okay, and that's where you are out and about in the community or making decisions with you know. Just you know with your team, as to what's going to be best for the business and the practice, for it to be profitable. Businesses, number one thing that has to happen is you have to make a profit or else you won't exist.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 24:26

Yes.

Andy Pawlovich : 24:26

Flat out right, yep, and so it's providing that service. So that it's, you know it all works. So there's a lot of different. There's those three different hats but, like I say, the easiest one is the now is the technician component of things. But yeah, you got to piece through this. What can I do myself, what can I delegate? And you know, and that's where those decisions come in, you know. And hiring a coach, your accountants, your other professionals, your lawyers, those kinds of things, drop contracts for bringing in associates, those kinds of things. So there's all these different moving parts and it's sure nice to have, like I say, have Nicole, who is able to undertake that, but other people that don't have that luxury have to. You know you've got to hire somebody to undertake that. But other people that don't have that that luxury have to, you know, you got to hire somebody to do it. It's really tough to do it all yourself. You can burn yourself out.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 25:37

A hundred percent. You literally like music to my ears when I hear you talk about systems and procedures and manuals. I'm a firm believer that every business it doesn't matter if you have three people employed with you or 300, you have to have things set out and customer service. For me, that's one of my passions, for sure. But it's true. When everybody's trained the same way and everyone knows what they're doing, then if a patient of yours comes in, it doesn't matter whether it's Nicole or one of your other staff members. They're getting that same experience and that's what makes people be loyal to you and that's what makes people keep coming back right and telling their friends and recommending you. And that's how, as you said, you need to make money. That's really one of the best ways for you to make money is having that consistency.

Andy Pawlovich : 26:30

Right, exactly yeah, representing the brand right.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 26:34

Yes.

Andy Pawlovich : 26:37

Yeah.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 26:38

Yeah, and if you don't know how to do it, you pay someone to do it, or your guidance, so that you know it's done. And the best is to do it when you first start. But if you're already in business, you can start now. Right, it's not a lost cause.

Andy Pawlovich : 27:04

Right, exactly, you know. And another concept that one of my business coaches said is, you know, is, whatever your activity you're doing, is this dollar per hour work for dollar per minute work. So in my, in my practice, I I'm fortunate when I'm adjusting people and that's my widget um, I'm doing dollar per minute work where, you know, am I? You know, am I going to? You know, I'm not um cleaning the toilets or something, um well, anywhere, quite honestly, but uh, and I'm not saying that it's snobby, it's just no, but it's not worth your time, because you're not making money doing it.

Andy Pawlovich : 27:52

Yeah, exactly, making money doing it. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Um, but you know, otherwise I can go out and do something I'm passionate about, like cooking or playing sports or something like that. I'm not making any money at that, but I'm getting my needs met.

Andy Pawlovich : 28:07

Uh, yes that way um, you know, dopamine being secreted, those kinds of things dopamine and serotonin versus doing some work that someone would gladly do if you hired them to do it. So, as a business person, understand what your widget is. That comes from the book Jim Collins' Good to Great. Your widget is that comes from the book Jim Collins, good to Great and the hedgehog principle of what is your driving force behind your business. You can get kind of distracted, get all these things people want you to do, but mine is the chiropractic adjustment and anything that takes me away from doing that is just a distraction.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 28:56

I couldn't agree more. Yeah, and if you actually sit down. I'm a big fan of time audits and I know lots of people are like what the heck is a time audit. But if you actually sit down and write out everything that you do in a day and everything that has to be done in your business in a day and how much time is spent on that, and if you take that what I mean for you patience like you have to see the patience right. Well, now with your new associate which we're going to talk about, you have that help, but you have to see them. So what things can someone else in your office do to take that load off of you? And if you try to do everything, you will get overwhelmed and you will burn out. It's not will I or won't I. It's when will you? It's going to happen for sure.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 29:49

You kind of mentioned community a little bit and you are very involved in the community. You do a lot of um, um, volunteer things and raising money and Andy and I have talked about this before I did Swinging With The Stars. We were on the same year. We both raised a really great amount of money and we danced on stage in front of like a thousand people. I still don't know how we did that. It was fun, but crazy as well.

Andy Pawlovich : 30:17

It was awesome. Yeah, I was so glad to do that with you as well, I know that was cool.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 30:24

Well, considering we knew each other for so long, we started businesses around the same time. It was such an honor to be able to do it the same year. But I know you do community because you're that kind of person and it's out of the goodness of your heart. But how has that also helped you in your business and you know working with others in the health industry? I know you do too. So how has that community aspect really been a success for you?

Andy Pawlovich : 30:54

Well, you know, it's kind of the circle of life. Things come full circle, karma, all those kinds of things. You know, when you go from a, like I say, a server's mindset, people I guess maybe recognize or see that you know what you're all about, I guess, and you can. It's just being genuine and authentic and people are appreciate that. I think I know I do. So you know, when you're doing something for others, um, you know that just kind of shows who you are versus. You know mine, I'm only doing things that you know what's in it for me, that kind of thing, you know people can sniff that out pretty quickly. So, and you know, Saskatoon and community is that's what I love about this town, is there's a lot of people like that who you know, you know, have all ridiculous amount of volunteerism in the city with all of the things that have been, all of the events that have been brought here because of people who volunteer. So, yeah, you know, I've been involved with my church, I do for the Chiropractic Association, I'll do some of the PR stuff with the news. They've come up with a great program called the Toasty Toes Sock Campaign and our office has jumped all over that and I often go down and speak in regards to that with the Salvation Army, to that with the Salvation Army, and we continue to raise and collect socks for the needy every November so they can get distributed for Christmas time.

Andy Pawlovich : 32:46

Part of the NSBA, part of the Chamber of Commerce. I'm the past president of the 722 Breakfast Club, a group of entrepreneurs, so shout out to them. If there's some entrepreneurs that think they want to join a very, I would say, casual yet wonderful networking group called the 722 Breakfast Club, just Google that and we can chat. Yeah, I guess I'm more. And then I play rec hockey and recreational baseball and that's where I'm getting some of my needs met there. And then my kids are girls, are involved in dance and my son's involved in hockey, and I always want to be a part of that as well.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 33:42

Yeah, it's awesome and volunteering and doing all these things like your SOX program, it's a lot of work, but that intrinsic feeling and what you get from it is 100% worth it, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, it is very rewarding, um, and so let's talk about that, because I'm sure that was a big decision. Um, so maybe, why? Why now, after 10 years, are you doing it? And also, how is that going to help you to expand and grow?

Andy Pawlovich : 34:25

Well, um, so I've been in solo practice for a while and that's what I was designed, designing things to do. I just turned 51, and it's been difficult to take time off. Really, I love to travel, I like to experience new things, and it's been very difficult over the past 10 years to go and do something like that. When I was in the prior office, it was a lot easier to do something like that. So there's, you know, the give and take of all of this. And so, adding the right person to the office.

Andy Pawlovich : 35:13

He interned with me and observed for six months as well as worked on a lot of things. You know, he's highly motivated and he's excited and he's brand new and that's exciting and I enjoyed mentoring him him he's the second intern that I've had, uh, and so I feel, you know, he's ready for the next step and at the very least, um, you know, I, I think you know we, the, the practice has the ability to grow, um, and that's the goal. But because we want him to build his practice and I want to maintain mine at the very least, and so for the next, you know for sure, six months is going to be some growing pains with all of that I understand that it's not like, oh okay, I got a new doctor, see, you see in two weeks, kind of thing, yeah, um, but uh, I am excited at just the change, um, and you know, having a bit more time, some freedom spend with nicole and my family and experiencing a few other things where I just, you know know it was just I couldn't do it.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 36:36

Yeah.

Andy Pawlovich : 36:37

Well, you're right back now.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 36:38

Yeah, you're right back now where, at this point in your life, this is the best move for you and when you are your business like you really are your business, because if you're gone, people can't come to your clinic and then you don't have any income back to profit, right? So this is a great way for you to be able to have those life experiences but still have your business thriving. It's awesome. Andy, do you have a most important lesson that you've learned along the way?

Andy Pawlovich : 37:16

Hmm, along the way, most important lesson that I've learned along the way, I just, I think, being yourself, being genuine, being authentic, you know, I guess, believing in yourself. When I opened this office, my, when I was going to open this office, my parents sat me down and said are you sure you want to do this? And I said, wow, yes, I do. I just feel like I have to, for various different reasons, and it's just basically investing in yourself. There's no better investment than investing in yourself, I guess, to be one of them and believing in yourself. And it's not easy, it wasn't easy, it's not going to be easy. Nothing ever is easy. Nothing good is ever easy. It wasn't easy, it's not going to be easy, nope, nothing ever is easy.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 38:18

Nothing good is ever easy, nope.

Andy Pawlovich : 38:20

No, and. But then you look back and go, man, like I've gotten pretty much everything I dreamt, dreamt about, in a sense everything down to my golden retriever and my beautiful wife and three beautiful kids. Yeah, so I'm blessed and I need to be often more grateful for that. I guess. So authentic, genuine, be grateful.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 38:55

I love that. I love that. Is there anything you wish you had known? Or maybe you could tell your 24 year old self when you first started out?

Andy Pawlovich : 39:04

That really would be an important thing to know yeah, I think, being open to possibility that practice with somebody else, I don't know, if I had, I wouldn't. I wouldn't recommend a 24 year old coming out of school and hanging a shingle.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 39:35

Yeah, I get you.

Andy Pawlovich : 39:37

Like I said, I had 10 years of experience, so I still didn't know what I was doing. So, yeah, exactly for you know you could you know some of my colleagues. They did the same thing, but they had a partner or a spouse or something like that uh, to offload the responsibility, the financial and the managerial and entrepreneurial responsibility. So, yeah, that would be probably the biggest one is analyze your risk. Maybe have some outside parties analyze that risk as well. Thankfully, I had very good parental support as well, and so shout out to my parents for that as well.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 40:23

That's great advice. I know people are going to want to know more about you and your clinic and I can be your first person to recommend you always if you're looking for a chiropractor, go see Andy.

Andy Pawlovich : 40:38

But where is the best place for them to find you? Well, our website is pawlovichchiropractic. ca, or you can just Google us. I think that's the best place to start. I think our website kind of tells the story and represents what we're all about as well as what you've heard today. I think that would be your best. The old internet would be your best place to start.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 41:03

That's great and we will tag you in our social media posts so people can go onto our Instagram and Facebook and find links to you as well. So thank you, Andy, for being on. I really appreciate it and for everyone listening. We'll see you on the next episode. Thanks for listening to Winning. Be sure to subscribe to get all of our new episodes. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post about it on social media and leave a rating and review wherever you listen to Winning it. To catch all of the latest from us, you can follow winning podcast on Instagram @ winning_ podcast, Facebook @W inningP odcast and on Twitter @winning pod. Winning was created and is produced by me Mackenzie Kilshaw music created by Summer Firby editing. Editing by Seth Armstrong. Special thanks to Shauna Foster for voicing our opening and, of course, a huge thank you to this episode's guest. Thanks again for listening and I'll see you on the next episode.