Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Wang.
Hi Diana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Wow, I haven’t looked back all the way to the beginning in a little while, so this is going to be fun. The beginning of Open Mat Physio is rooted in right after I graduated Physical Therapy school. I was so excited, as a new grad, to go out into the real world to change lives and create lasting impact in people’s lives. Shortly after graduation, I started working at an outpatient clinic and quickly realized that due to the constraints of our medical system, I was not going to be able to provide the care I wanted to my patients.
Fast forward a year later, I leave that job in hopes of being able to start my own business. Within 3 months of exploring entrepreneurship, the COVID lockdowns hit. I had to quickly pivot into online work and took the necessary time needed to reevaluate what I wanted my own business to look like.
During lockdowns, I was able to team up with my two dear friends, Daisuke & Kris, on this vision I had of Open Mat Physio. They were on board, so we ended up filming a 200+ exercise library together for future needs, as well as start to build our social media page. I’m so grateful to have them on my team on this journey.
Fast forward to another job, and another year later, it’s Fall 2021, and I decide that it’s time to go full-time on my own. No matter what setting I worked in, there was always a little voice in my ear telling me that I would regret not betting on this dream. So, with some encouragement of mentors and friends, I decide to take the leap.
Now, it’s been 2.5 years since I’ve taken the leap into Open Mat Physio. Every day, I wake up grateful for this life, the opportunities that we have been given, and just being able to pursue something that is deeply fulfilling. Currently, we work with a full caseload of jiu-jitsu clientele, teach seminars nationally, provide online educational services to the jiu-jitsu community, and hope to continue to build out resources that will serve our people for a long time.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but each bump or obstacle has taught me so much about my business, my community, and most importantly, about myself.
Remember how I talked about leaving my first job? Yeah, that was rough. I look back and realize my first iteration of pursuing entrepreneurship was purely out of desperation with very little confidence in my skills to provide a good service. This combination led to a lot of doubt and paralysis by analysis. I struggled to get clients, pay rent (home & office), and even thought a couple times to just go back to work at a clinic or a hospital. If it weren’t for the whole world shutting down, I would probably have taken that safety net.
Since I went full-time, there have definitely been challenges. Building a reputation from scratch takes time, patience, and a lot of pushing through when I felt like nothing is moving. We’ve started projects and tested them out, only for them to flop. We’ve had challenging client cases that we had no business taking on. When we first started teaching seminars, we had a couple where only a few people showed up. Not only were these obstacles demoralizing, but they tested how bad we wanted it. All in all, with every single struggle came a new drive to learn, dust our shoulders off, and be better for the future. I attribute a lot of our growth to our ability to bounce back from challenging situations.
Overall, I look back at all the struggles and am thankful that they presented themselves when they did. A mentor once told me to “fail fast and fail often.” This is the way to learn and adapt quickly.
We’ve been impressed with Open Mat Physio, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Open Mat Physio is a team of physical therapists and strength coaches on a mission to get injured jiu-jitsu athletes back to the mats as quickly as possible but as safely as possible. Our mantra is “Building Better Grapplers,” which entails being able to take each client from injury or pain to back to training jiu-jitsu better and stronger than before.
We specialize in rehab and athletic development programs for the jiu-jitsu population. What sets us apart is that our entire practice is virtual, and we run off of a month-to-month programming structure rather than the traditional session-by-session model. We have found that our model has allowed for more opportunities for accountability and flexibility, especially in an age where time is very valuable. How we build our programs relies heavily on a quality movement assessment along with regular check-ins and communication without clients.
What we’re most proud of brand-wise is the reputation of care. As a team, we always lead with compassion and kindness, understanding that the human experience is complex and that life often takes paths that we might not have expected. Through those lenses, we allow for a space where our clients can feel comfortable with sharing their stories and concerns with their future in jiu jitsu. Then, we work together to create a plan to help get them back to what they love.
Just simply caring for a human being goes a long way.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I personally believe that luck is less about chance and more about the work that has been put into it and my own beliefs/expectations. If I believe I am lucky, I will likely take more actions that lead me move the needle towards positive outcomes. If something happens, I try really hard not to attribute it to “bad luck.” But more so, take the lesson in it on how I contributed to the negative outcomes, as well as how I can be better for the future.
The only thing that I might say is good luck is the people who have come into my life and push me or believe in me so much that they open up doors of opportunity for me. They stick around, help me navigate challenges, and inspire me to keep going even when the weather’s looking a little gloomy.
These people are my guiding lights, and I am so grateful to have them in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.openmatphysio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openmat_physio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063606663466
- Other: https://www.openmatphysio.com/podcast
Image Credits
Kris Ladera Photography
