Bryan Golnek is the CEO of Golnek Sports, a company that offers physical therapy services to athletes. Golnek started the company ten years ago after a back injury ruled him out of competitive sports. Since then, he has never looked back. In the ten years, he has been in business, Golnek has leveraged his success to help make the world a better place. He has been a regular donor to a charity that traces and helps reunite lost children with their parents. Golnek is also in the process of starting a program where he will be spending a few days offering free physical therapy services to the elderly and the poor, people who would otherwise never afford his services. Besides work and philanthropy, Bryan Golnek is a family man and enjoys spending his free time with his wife and children.
How did you get started as a physical therapist?
It’s funny how I got into this business; it wasn’t what I dreamed of doing when growing up. When I went to college, I wished to become a baseball player. However, I suffered a back injury, and though I overcame it, I couldn’t play at an optimal level again. At this point, I got interested in physical therapy since it helped me recover to a point where I could play again, even if not at my optimum. I started reading books on physical therapy, and it grew on me. That’s when I decided to seek therapy certification, got a mentor for experience, and later started Golnek Sports. It’s been a good run, and I am happy I chose this career path. Not only is it monetarily rewarding, but I also feel inner fulfillment whenever I do the job.
How do you make money?
I make money by helping people deal with joint issues, especially back pain, and then get paid for the service. The more comprehensive the service, the higher the pay.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
I became profitable within the first month of the business. The good thing about a service business like the one I am in is that you get paid almost instantly, sometimes upfront. Besides, my overhead costs were pretty low, which made it easy for me to break even fast.
When you were starting, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
Not really. When I started this company, I had already decided that I wanted to become a physical therapist. I even went to the extent of working under a mentor for a whole year. With such a high level of dedication, there is no way I would have doubted what I was doing would work.
How did you get your first client?
I landed my first client through a referral from my mentor. I remember it was an athlete, not too famous, but it was a big deal nonetheless. I did such a good job that they referred several other athletes to me. That is how my business gained momentum, and I have never looked back.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works well to generate new business?
I have invested heavily in Instagram and TikTok marketing. Most of the athletes are young people. As such, they are heavy on social media, mainly on Instagram and TikTok. I have seen my client numbers grow significantly over time by investing in these two platforms. I am happy to say that I have seen great success in my business.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
I haven’t made any tough decisions in the last few months. Business has been good so far, and I am really thankful for it. I know that businesses are going through a tough time at the moment due to rising inflation, but due to nature of my business, we have managed to remain above these issues – at least for now.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I think it’s the love I have for this business. This love gets me to try new ideas that can grow the business and keep seeking new clients even when I don’t feel like it. I also think my resilience has a role to play in it. I am the kind of person who never gives up on a goal once I set my eyes on it. This has helped me overcome tough times and grow to where I am today.
What has been the most satisfying moment in your career?
That would be when I landed my first client. It was a big deal because it validated my dream of becoming a trainer and helped me keep pushing. From that moment on, I got very aggressive in marketing, which has played a huge role in molding the person I am today.
What does the future hold for your career? What are you most excited about?
The future of my career is bright. More people accept my service, and as the brand name gets stronger, that means higher revenues going into the future. What I am most excited about is the advances that are taking place in the fields of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. These two have the potential to open new avenues for value growth in my line of work, which means potentially higher revenues going into the future.
What business books have inspired you?
I love the book, “Good to Great: Why some companies make the leap and others don’t” by Jim Collins. Thanks to this book, I now have a list of dos and don’ts to get my business to the next level. It has worked well so far, and I am grateful for it.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would advise my younger self to live a passion-driven life. Whenever you feel passionate about something, I realize that, in most cases, your intuition leads you in the right direction. Follow it, and you have a high chance of striking it big at some point in your life.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
Yes, I am very much willing to mentor upcoming physical therapists. However, at the moment, my plate is full. I have a group that I am mentoring and are now in their second month. Once I have some more free time, I will mentor even more of them.