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096 - Jonathan Small FEAR & Comfort Zones

Podiatry Legends Podcast

Release Date: 08/06/2020

404 - Why Relationships Matter More Than Marketing with Jonathan Shearer show art 404 - Why Relationships Matter More Than Marketing with Jonathan Shearer

Podiatry Legends Podcast

In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I sit down with UK podiatrist and clinic owner Jonathan Shearer to discuss how networking and relationship-building have played a major role in growing his practice. Jonathan shares his journey from working in the NHS to building a successful private clinic, along with practical insights into community engagement, collaboration with other health professionals, and why long-term thinking beats short-term marketing tactics. This conversation is ideal for podiatrists and health professionals who want to grow their clinics in a way that feels...

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403 - Life Decisions Made at the Beach Bar with Alan and Sharon Cawthorne show art 403 - Life Decisions Made at the Beach Bar with Alan and Sharon Cawthorne

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Alan and Sharon Cawthorne from Podiatry & Gait Clinic in Middlesbrough, UK, didn’t plan their biggest career decisions sitting up late at night, stressing about life. They happened on holidays, in a relaxed environment, often at a beach bar. In this episode, we talk about career change, pricing confidence, investing in technology, reducing burnout, and designing a clinic and lifestyle that feels sustainable long-term. This is a conversation about perspective. About stepping back to move forward. And about why sometimes the most valuable thinking happens when you’re not trying to be...

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In this bonus episode, I share ten practical ways to get more out of conferences and professional events in 2026. With so many events coming up, this is the perfect time to stop treating conferences as something you squeeze in between clinic days and start using them as genuine growth opportunities. I cover everything from how to prepare properly before an event, why being fully present matters more than taking endless notes, and how relationships formed at conferences often deliver more long-term value than the presentations themselves. We also look at why leaving early, working during...

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401 - Is 3D Printing the Future of Orthotics in Podiatry Clinics with Kieran Carew show art 401 - Is 3D Printing the Future of Orthotics in Podiatry Clinics with Kieran Carew

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3D printing is no longer a future concept in podiatry. It’s already reshaping how clinics think about orthotics, turnaround times, and control over their systems. In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I’m joined by returning guest Kieran Carew from , to unpack what’s really happening with 3D printed orthotics inside podiatry clinics. Kieran brings a unique perspective, combining decades of experience in orthotics with a background in engineering and biomechanics. We explore the practical realities of bringing 3D printing in-house, including setup, training, calibration, CAD...

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400- PAID OFF: Why Financial Literacy Matters for Podiatrists with Andrew Jacobs show art 400- PAID OFF: Why Financial Literacy Matters for Podiatrists with Andrew Jacobs

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To celebrate this 400th episode, I’m joined by Andrew Jacobs, an osteopath turned mortgage broker who specialises in working with allied health professionals. Andrew is also the author of Paid Off and Healthy Money, two books written specifically to improve financial literacy among health practitioners. In this episode, we explore why so many podiatrists feel uncomfortable talking about money, despite financial stress being one of the biggest contributors to burnout and career dissatisfaction. Andrew explains how understanding basic financial concepts, such as cash flow, debt, lending...

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399 - Dont Just Set Goals, Solve Problems: A Better Way to Plan for 2026 show art 399 - Dont Just Set Goals, Solve Problems: A Better Way to Plan for 2026

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In this final episode of my four-part December solo series, I share why traditional goal-setting often fails podiatry business owners and what to do instead. If you’ve ever set goals in December only to forget them by February, you’re not alone. The problem isn’t always motivation; it’s that most goals are too vague, too shallow, or completely disconnected from the real issues holding you back. Rather than chasing surface-level growth targets, I encourage you to shift to problem-first thinking. Because while a goal gives you direction, a problem gives you focus. When you start solving...

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398 - Designing A Better Work Week show art 398 - Designing A Better Work Week

Podiatry Legends Podcast

Small Changes that Make A Big Impact As podiatrists, we’re often guilty of letting the week run us, rather than intentionally designing our schedules to work for us. Patients pile in, admin creeps into every gap, and before we know it, another week (or year) has flown by in a blur. In this solo episode, I discuss why so many podiatry business owners feel overworked and scattered, and how a few small changes can transform your weekly rhythm, energy, and impact. The main culprits behind a chaotic week? Overcommitment – Saying yes to everything, leaving no time to breathe Lack of...

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397 - Reignite Your Why Rediscovering Purpose in Podiatry Before the New Year show art 397 - Reignite Your Why Rediscovering Purpose in Podiatry Before the New Year

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As 2025 winds down, now’s the perfect time to pause and ask yourself one powerful question: Why did I get into podiatry in the first place? In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I invite you to step back from the day-to-day and reconnect with the deeper why behind your work. Because when your podiatry business starts to feel heavy, uninspired, or off-track, it’s rarely a patient problem, staffing issue or business problem; it’s usually a purpose problem. Before You Launch Into 2026... If you rush into the new year without reconnecting to your purpose, you’ll likely...

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396 - Embracing the Plateau: What to Do When Growth Stalls in Your Podiatry Practice or Career show art 396 - Embracing the Plateau: What to Do When Growth Stalls in Your Podiatry Practice or Career

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Every podiatrist hits a plateau at some point in their career; when growth stalls, motivation dips, and business feels flat. But a plateau isn’t failure; it is feedback. In this short solo episode, I share how to shift your mindset, avoid impulsive changes, and use a plateau as an opportunity to reset, refocus, and rebuild momentum. I also explore three types of plateaus, REVENUE, MOTIVATION & TEAM, and offer strategies to overcome each one. If you’re ready to move from “stuck” to strategic, this one’s for you. Are you looking for a one-on-one business coach? A business owner I...

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395 - The Social Media Blueprint for Podiatrists with Paul Macaulay show art 395 - The Social Media Blueprint for Podiatrists with Paul Macaulay

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In this episode of the Podiatry Legends Podcast, I talk with Paul Macaulay, better known online as Paul the Podiatrist. Paul is a UK-trained musculoskeletal podiatrist now living and practising in Singapore, and over the past three years, he has built an impressive 500,000+ followers across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. If you’re sitting on the sidelines thinking “social media isn’t for me,” Paul’s story will change the way you look at marketing forever. Content creation isn’t about becoming an influencer; it’s about building trust, attracting ideal patients, and...

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More Episodes

Jonathan Small is a UK based podiatrist, and today we discuss why many podiatrists fear stepping out of their comfort zones, not realising that this avoidance is forgoing their long-term career and business success.    

It's not normal to say, "I want to make myself uncomfortable", but when you're making decisions about your podiatry business that you think is making you happy now, will this decision still make you happy in years to come? 

Setting Your Fees

Moving out of your comfort zone is not just about acquiring new skills or trying new things. Are you setting your fees within your comfort zone? And are you aware that the fees you set NOW may affect what you can and cannot do in the future?

If you're telling yourself that you're happy with the fees that you've set, you've already settled back into your comfort zone. Your fees should always make you slightly uncomfortable. 

Desensitisation

You will overcome your fear by doing what makes you uncomfortable repeatedly. The more often you do it, the more comfortable you'll become, and eventually, you'll be desensitised. 

It's all about repeating the process. 

Avoiding Danger

Most people stay in their comfort zone because they want to avoid danger, it's in our DNA to keep safe, but most of the things we're trying to avoid will not kill us and are completely safe. 

"If you're not sure about doing something, find someone that has already done it and learn from them or be inspired". 

Green & Growing 

You have a choice to be green and growing or ripe and rotting, and growth only comes by getting out of your comfort zone. 

Growth is where the good stuff is. 

Marketing & Sales

Saying you're not into marketing and sales is an excuse. Be honest with yourself and admit it makes you uncomfortable. So, it's not that you're not into marketing and sales, it's just that you have not yet acquired the skills. 

"You need to understand that you're not going to get it right straight away. There's a whole journey to get to your destination".

10 Habits of Happy People

  1. More family and friends time
  2. Don't respond to negativity
  3. Do work that brings joy
  4. Read and write more
  5. Give without expecting to get
  6. Stay teachable
  7. Forgive first
  8. Show gratitude
  9. Speak the truth
  10. No sense of entitlement

Final Tip

If you step out of your comfort zone in your personal life, it will reflect in your business life. Take up a new hobby, start something new that is going to give me some pain. It will have a knock-on effect. 

Jonathan's previous episodes:

Ep 006: Work Smart, Not Harder

Ep 044: Podiatry Success Is A Mindset

Ep 081: Don't Live In The Land of Low Fees

If you have any questions about this episode, please send me an email at tf@tysonfranklin.com, or you can connect with Jonathan at Health First Foot & Gait Clinic.

Podiatry Business Coaching & Mentoring

If you want to own and operate a Thriving Podiatry Business, there are four vital pieces to the business puzzle.  

  • Marketing - You need a well thought out marketing strategy, not just more tactics. 
  • Systems - You need systems that will support your marketing strategy and your team.
  • Team - You need to develop a team culture that makes your work-life balance easier, not harder. 
  • Diary - Your diary needs to be structured in a way that maximises patient numbers and increases daily profits. 

You have two choices: There's the slow approach, where you learn by trial and error and do everything yourself, or you can fast-track your education and business success with one-on-one business coaching and mentoring, or group coaching

If you want to know more, please email me at tf@tysonfranklin.com, and we can set up a Zoom Call and have a quick chat to see if I can be of assistance.