Jo took control of her podiatry clinic and achieved a record quarter in under 12 months

Where Jo started

Jo was running a growing podiatry clinic but had no real business knowledge. She found herself in a 'hamster wheel of doom', working excessive hours including early mornings and weekends, yet taking very little money home. She managed a muddled team of about 13 people on various associate contracts, some of which were financially unsustainable, with one associate taking 70% of income while Jo covered 30% of costs.

Jo was overwhelmed wearing every hat in the business with no clear control, struggling to keep things afloat while sacrificing her personal life and well-being. Despite working tirelessly, she felt lonely and unable to enjoy the business she had built, seeing minimal personal or financial benefit and facing burnout.

What changed with Thrive

Jo first attended a talk by Katie Bell which resonated deeply, then joined Thrive's Growth Live event in March and committed to changing her business with her husband's support. Thrive coaching began with foundational work, notably the 'know your numbers' pillar to help Jo understand her clinic's finances for the first time, despite her lack of confidence with maths.

With clearer financial understanding, Jo made tough decisions such as ending a toxic associate contract that was financially unsustainable. She then focused on building a strong employed team, offering key staff employment contracts which strengthened her workforce and improved clinic culture.

Jo also started engaging with a support network within Thrive, which helped reduce her isolation and gave her emotional and practical support. Over time, she reduced her clinical days from almost full-time to two days a week, allowing more time to focus on business leadership and personal balance.

The results

• Transitioned from overwhelming workload to running the business instead of it running her
• Reduced clinical days to two per week, gaining more control and better work-life balance
• Built a strong employed team, replacing confusing, unsustainable associate contracts
• Regularly reviews and understands business numbers, improving financial oversight
• Won a significant regional prize with her team, allowing celebration and team bonding