We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tara Watkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tara, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
By starting my own business. It essentially came down to, “I’m the only one who is going to make this happen, so let’s do it.” I’ve never given myself enough credit in being capable of being able to do things like starting a business from scratch, successfully managing and running it.
I started out my chiropractic career as a lead doctor in a franchise owned and ran by a businessman. I made the clinical decisions and that was mostly it. It was as if my own practice was purchased and handed to me on a platter to run (clinically), but I did not feel qualified and definitely had doubts in myself. I then left that practice and joined a small business/family practice where I was an associate chiropractor. This clinic was owned by a chiropractor who also practiced within the clinic. I felt more at home there because I had more colleagues to discuss cases with and to co-treat the patient population there.
Even though I felt more at home, I still felt like I wasn’t good enough or actually deserved that job. Even though I had a very dedicated patient load at both of my clinics, I never thought I belonged. I used to think that I was skilled as a chiropractor, but felt I did not belong in this field as a whole and I think that was mostly because I hadn’t found my passion within this field.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am definitely not your average chiropractor. First off, I am mobile. I bring my table and gear into people’s homes, gyms, or work places and treat them there. I do not have a fast paced, in and out way of practicing, like most chiropractic clinics do. And I incorporate movement and muscle work within my sessions. I, clearly, don’t follow the norms and I am okay with that. I’ve tried that, and it was not me.
I love to be a part of people’s health journey! I like to give my clients the support and autonomy to think beyond pain and focus on strength, function and consistency. I advocate for them and their health, to accomplish their goals or set their new standards.
I have never liked the popular association of the word “chiropractor” with “low back pain”. Because chiropractic care, to me, is more than just for pain and I want to shift that association. I want it to be a tool for preventative and recovery care instead of mostly thought of as a reactive type of therapy.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Consistency, integrity and heart.
My journey would have never happened if I wasn’t consistent. Quitting is so much easier than sticking through the hard times. It would have never happened without having integrity. Being true to myself and what I wanted my life and my journey to look like. Not letting anyone else dictate my journey, other than myself. And this would not have happened without heart. Because, like I mentioned previously, I did not have my heart in this profession for my first few years as a chiropractor. I needed to find my passion within this field in order to truly love what I do.
My advice for folks early in the journey would be to keep searching and don’t quit. Don’t put a timeline on your journey or success, either. Absorb everything. Listen to podcasts, audiobooks, go to lectures or classes, read every personal development book out there. Don’t let the weight of what you THINK you should be doing or what others say you should be doing keep you from truly finding your passion. Because once you truly find it, it’s so worth it and addictive as hell.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
They pushed me when I lacked the push in myself. They saw the best in me and they forced the uncomfortable so that I would somehow catch a glimpse of what they were seeing. They have never doubted me, when all I focused on was self doubt. They saw this light and they helped it shine so much brighter.
I wouldn’t be where I am without the support and push of my parents.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mmntmchiro.com/
- Instagram: @momentum_chiropractic_
- Facebook: @mmntmchiro
Image Credits
Abby Boisse – Piper Photo
