In this powerhouse episode of the Will Power Project, Will sits down with long-time collaborator and industry leader Nathan Shields (Founder of the Private Practice Owners Club). Nathan has navigated the entire entrepreneurial lifecycle—from grinding out paper notes at 4:00 AM in a single clinic to scaling, selling, and now coaching hundreds of other owners.

The conversation centers on a pivotal moment in Nathan's recent career: having to fill two hours of "dead air" at a high-stakes workshop with zero preparation. He reveals how decades of "business ownership tuition" allowed him to facilitate a masterclass off the cuff, proving that your past struggles are actually a well of wisdom waiting to be tapped.

In this episode, we break down:

The "Technician’s Trap": Why being a great therapist is often the biggest hurdle to becoming a great business owner.
The Price of Tuition: Reflecting on the "millions" lost to inefficiency and why hiring a coach is cheaper than letting life teach you the hard way.
Judgment vs. Effort: Relearning your value as your business grows from $1M to $3M and beyond.
The Courage to Confront: Why your growth velocity is directly proportional to your ability to have hard conversations.
A Message from the Future: What a 90-year-old version of yourself would say about your current business stress (Spoiler: It involves more grace and more moisturizer).

Connect with Nathan Shields

Podcast: Private Practice Owners Club (Over 350 episodes of industry-leading content).
Community: Join the Private Practice Owners Club Facebook Group.
Fractional CFO Program: Reach out to Nathan directly at nathan@ppoclub.com to learn about the Profit Intelligence Program and plug the revenue leaks in your practice.
Upcoming Event: Join the PPO Club Conference in San Antonio, October 15th–17th, 2026.

Send us Fan Mail

Virtual Rockstars specialize in helping support or replace all non-clinical roles.
Learn how a Virtual Rockstar can help scale your physical therapy practice.

Subscribe here to our completely free Stress-Free PT Newsletter for your weekly dose of joy.

Why Your Hardest Days Are Your Best Investments with Nathan Shields