Be Optimistic: Interview with Dr. Sebastian Gonzales, Founder of Performance Place Sports Care

I recently went one on one with Dr. Sebastian Gonzales, founder of Performance Place Sports Care.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Sebastian: I'm a sports chiropractor and business owner. It's taken me 5 years of college and 3.5 years of postgraduate education to even be allowed to be in this business category. Knowing how to treat people and to do it well has been a continual learning experience that will not and should not ever end. 

Just like any business owner, I have lots of challenges. Ethical sales and getting new business is a weekly challenge. The thing about creating effective treatment plans is that people (clients) exit our services all the time, whether they’re “fixed” or they start feeling better immediately and don’t finish their rehab program. Unlike many businesses who do continual business with their customers (membership models), we assist with a problem and then release them back into their life. 

For that reason, we are continually on the hunt for new businesses/people to help them get out of pain and return to the active life they desire. It's a blessing and a curse. 

I’ve spent a lot of time helping other sports chiropractors in my field, and developing an ongoing intern program has been instrumental to my growth, because it’s instrumental to the growth of my field.

Adam: How did you come up with your business idea and know it was worth pursuing? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with and test business ideas?

Sebastian: My business idea started when I had my low back pain during high school baseball. I went through lots of rehab and treatment that didn't get me back to playing the game. I've met many people in my shoes. People who are frustrated by treatments that waste their time and money, only to have no change in the end.

I decided to pursue this profession because I saw that it worked! I experienced it first hand, and I wanted to help other people get out of pain and create a new lease on life. When we have customers who come to our office with issues they’ve been dealing with for years without any solution after seeing countless doctors and physical therapists, we know we’re onto something. Then, when we can help them, we know it’s worth it. 

For me, the business idea has to be grounded in being able to help someone be better, do better, and live better. If you can do those things, the money will come. 

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Sebastian: In the first 5 years, I struggled to trust an employee enough to release control of many tasks. I struggled to trust someone else would do as good a job as I was. Yet after training more interns over the years, I've found that people are trainable. Some of the people I've trained do a better job than I do in some situations. I've learned to let go a bit more, which has helped me bring my business to the next level. 

After reading the book The E-Myth, I've ventured more into the "visionary" role for the business, while the new graduates love to be the "technician." If you are struggling as I was, I'd suggest fine-tuning your training systems so you can give the new hires a chance to learn what they need to succeed.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Sebastian: I believe all successful businesses get to where they are from effective leadership. There is no such thing as luck. There is just being in the right place at the right time. Your hard work puts you into these types of opportunities. Good leaders need to step back and see the whole treasure map. Knowing where we are and where we need to go to achieve our goals. How we get there is the leader's job. Informed decisions, delegation, and getting everyone on the same hunt are key.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?

Sebastian: Close your office door every day for at least 15 minutes to think without interruptions. Have some coffee at a coffee shop and talk with a stranger, you may get some ideas. Go to sleep before 10 pm.

Adam: What should everyone do on a daily basis to optimize their health?

Sebastian: Go to sleep before 10 pm.

Drink your body weight (lbs) in oz of water a day.

Walk a minimum of 1 hour a day.

Adam: How can anyone develop a winning mindset?

Sebastian: Be optimistic about everything in life. You’ll never give yourself a chance if you aren’t. 

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Sebastian: Relax man.


Adam Mendler is the CEO of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversees ventures across a wide variety of industries. Adam is also the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. Adam has written extensively on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities and non-profit organizations.

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