AMAR & URAVI PANCHAL, AXIS HEALTHCARE

Uravi:
I started by working as an Associate Chiropractor for other clinics while Amar was working as a Medical Lab Technologist and Co-Managing a Fitness Studio with his business partner. While working, we both were constantly frustrated by certain aspects of how things were managed at our respective workplaces. While some of the issues were more complicated, others could have been fixed fairly simply if somebody just cared enough to do it. We slowly realized that the only way to change things and implement what we thought would be effective was by opening our own clinic. We started looking for potential clinic spaces but nothing seemed to really align with our vision and there was no urgency at that time. Later that year, one of the clinics where I was working part-time, announced they had decided to close in a month and suggested we start discharging our patients and reassigning their care to nearby facilities. It was clearly a sign, and we thought if we were going to make anything happen, this was the time to do it. So with that, the race was on! We found a space that had the potential to be created into something we could be proud of, signed a lease and went to work! We worked hard to open our clinic exactly a month after signing the lease as the matter was slightly time sensitive from a client retention perspective. We were fortunate enough to procure a team of like-minded professionals whose passions aligned with ours. It has now been just over a year and with the growth and response we have seen, we couldn’t be happier. But we are just getting started…

Amar:
Never hit the snooze button! I’ve always lived by this ideology. Every morning when my alarm goes off, I literally jump out of bed – no excuse. Spare time can sometimes be a rare occurrence when you own a business, so I don’t waste any time asking my alarm for 5 more minutes in the morning. Both Uravi and I hustle during the day and tackle everything that needs to get done. We stay organized and we execute. But we always make sure to take care of ourselves and keep a good work-life balance. In my spare time, the gym is my temple. That is my alone time, and it allows me to gather my thoughts and emotions and channel it. For Uravi, when she’s not at the gym, you can find her cuddled up on the couch with a good book, with our cats, and a glass of wine. It can get challenging at times, but we have developed a good algorithm that works for us to effectively manage our time. As busy as we are, we still make time for all of our family, friends, and of course, each other. Work is always going to be there, but keeping strong relationships with friends and family is a priority for us.

Uravi:
It’s true when they say that “you are your worst enemy,” in that my self-esteem has been a constant obstacle for me. I have always struggled to believe in myself no matter what I have set out to do and it takes me time to find the confidence I need. People sometimes tell me that I am very hard on myself but I can’t help it. I often focus on my shortcomings and how I could have done something better, rather than focusing on how great of a job I did or what I have accomplished. When people think of a chiropractor, they often think of large, burly, male and I am the exact opposite of that. This has by far been my biggest obstacle. I have been working for almost 7 years now and have built up my confidence through experience, but I often found that I was just perpetuating the generalizations by putting myself down because I couldn’t accomplish something. I often thought it was because of my size or stature but I have now realized that my friends, who are larger than me in size, face the same obstacles. In fact, most of the people I see tell me that they are really shocked by how strong I am, and while I can delve into the negative aspect of that (i.e. they saw this skinny girl and misjudged her), I focus on the fact that this is in fact a triumph and that I am breaking all kinds of stereotypes. Sometimes, you just need to focus on the positive and throw away the negative. Another very important key to overcoming this is my personal fan club-my parents and my husband. They are my larger than life fan club who have constantly pushed me and believed in me all of those times that I didn’t believe in myself. This clinic would not have ever come to fruition if it wasn’t for my husband’s support and confidence in me.

WHAT ARE YOUR ULTIMATE GOALS?

Amar:
To own a yacht! I’m joking, kind of, But not really. Honestly, the ultimate goal is happiness. Everyone’s definition of happiness is different. For me, happiness is getting to a position where I can be valuable to others. To me, life is like climbing a ladder. As I take each step I learn what I need to and ask for help or advice along the way; constantly acquiring skills and knowledge. Then once I get to the top where I have accomplished everything I set out to accomplish, I am on my way down the ladder and I want to start giving it all away. I want to be valuable in all aspects and give back as much of me and what I’ve learned to others who want to reach their goals. That’s happiness to me.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A LEADER?

Amar:
A leader in my perspective is a combination of emotional intelligence (EI), leading by example, confidence, and observation. EI is the ability to garner people skills, know the needs and values of everyone you work with, and learn how to motivate them. EI is also the ability to be self-aware, and know when to change yourself based on other personalities. Once EI is established, leading by example is the best way to get people on board with your vision. I eat, sleep and breathe what I believe in, so my passion is palpable and exudes confidence. When others see how much I care, I can also see if it resonates with them. This allows me to observe and see what it takes to light a fire under anyone who is passionate about what they believe in.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU PROVIDE SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATH AS YOU?

Uravi:
There will always be reasons not to do something and often they will outweigh the reasons why you should do something; self-sabotage is part of human nature after all. Sometimes you just have to jump and see something through. You will work the hardest you have ever worked in your life, you will be the most terrified you have ever been in your life, you may even be the poorest you have ever been in your life but in the end, you will be happiest you have ever been in your life. Investing in your own self is one of the best bets you can make, but you have to be ready to work for it.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

Nothing in life that is worth having comes easily.