It’s been a full year since we handed over the keys to our private practice — a business we built from the ground up, poured ourselves into, and eventually sold with a mix of pride, relief, and reflection.
Over the past 12 months, we’ve had the chance to step back and see private practice from a different angle. We’ve been able to supervise and mentor other practice owners without the distraction of facing the same challenges and reflected on what worked, what we’d do differently, and what we wish we’d known sooner. 
Here are five key lessons we’ve learnt since stepping away from ownership:
1. It’s Easier to See the Gaps in Hindsight
When you’re running a practice, you’re often too close to the day-to-day to notice what’s not working. Stepping away helped us see just how much time we spent on things that didn’t really move the business forward.
One thing we both struggled with was sticking to the planned course rather than making changes with each new good idea. Additionally, we could finally see the systems that needed upgrading, the decisions we’d delayed too long (or made too quickly), and the places where we were just “managing” rather than leading.
Lesson? Make space to zoom out regularly — don't wait until you're selling. Ask yourself: *What are my long-term goals and values and where am I at on this path? Find someone who keeps you accountable and supports you to keep on track.
2. Values-Based Decisions Are the Only Sustainable Option
Over the past year, we've become even more convinced that aligning business decisions with personal values is essential.
Starting our business was values-driven and this continued through every element of how we designed policy, process and culture. However, we lost our way a little when we kept growing just for the sake of growth and this was not in line with our values and was when we lost our close connection with our business. Selling brought us back to our family and life values, as well as meeting our bigger goals for the profession and we feel so much better and more motivated for it.
It's so easy to chase external markers of success — growth, profit, expansion — without pausing to ask whether those things actually align with the kind of life and work you want. But when your decisions are grounded in your values, they tend to be clearer, more energising, and more sustainable in the long run.
Values are the compass. If things feel off, start there.
Lesson? Check in with yourself regularly to decide if your values and goals have changed and if you are making decisions that brings you closer or further away from these. Write these values and goals down and set a reminder to revisit them, maybe with a mentor or coach who provides this dedicated time.
3. Boundaries Are Essential — For You and Your Team
Like many practice owners, we cared deeply about our team and clients (we still do). But in hindsight, we can see how that sense of responsibility often blurred the lines.
Without clear emotional and practical boundaries, we became more reactive, more stretched, and less able to step back and notice important patterns. Boundaries aren’t about detachment — they’re about creating the space to lead with clarity and intention.
If we had our time again, we would have protected our time and energy more deliberately — and encouraged our team to do the same.
Lesson? Explore information about managerial boundaries and consider how this works for you. Do your own supervision or therapy if you are seeing patterns that are impacting your ability to decide consciously about these boundaries.
4. All Businesses Take Time — Even with Experience
When we transitioned into the new version of our business after selling the practice, we assumed it would be quicker this time. After all, we knew the terrain. We’d learnt the lessons.
But the reality? It still took a full year to break even.
Even with solid planning and a clear vision, building something new takes time — and that’s completely normal. It was a humbling reminder that no matter how experienced you are, every business has a growth curve, and patience is part of the process.
Lesson? Ensure you thoroughly plan for the start-up phase of your business or any new projects. Budget for the time and expenses required to grow and use this planning to ease your worries along that journey.
5. Other People Can Do Things Just as Well — Or Better
One of the biggest and most encouraging lessons of the past year has been watching the new owners of our former practice step into the role and lead beautifully.
They’re doing things a little differently, but they’re doing them well — and it’s been a genuine joy to see the practice continue to thrive in new hands.
It reminded us that we often hold on too tightly, believing no one can do it quite like we can. But others *can* — and sometimes *should*. Delegation and trust are essential for building breathing space, finding balance, and thinking strategically.
Letting go creates room for growth — not just for the team, but for ourselves too.
Lesson? Do a thorough review of the skillsets within your business and find out who wants new opportunities and more responsibility. Give them the chance to make mistakes and learn from them so you can relax and rely on them in the future.
