In this podcast we talk with Dr. Andrew Brandeis, ND about leadership, running your own business, and about his current venture Sharepractice. Dr. Brandeis graduated from Bastyr University in 2008. While at Bastyr he started the student newspaper The Beet, as well as co-founding the website Medfinds. He co-founded Sharepractice last year and has raised over a million dollars in venture capital to back the app. He spoke with me from his home in San Francisco.

Press play to learn more about:

  • Getting other people to buy into your vision
  • Why you need more than just an idea to be successful
  • Why the people you surround yourself with is important
  • The importance of mentors
  • Finding a good mentor
  • How to let someone go
  • Why no is good
  • How Sharepractice can help you be a better clinician
  • The importance of balancing work and play
  • How to deal with rejections
  • Setting work/life boundaries
  • And much more….

One of my favorite parts of this interview is when we talked about how to fire someone, how to let someone go. No, it’s not because I’m a masochist, it’s because of the fresh perspective Dr. Brandeis offers. He advises that the moment you think of letting someone go is when you should. Things will never get better and it will just get harder over time to make the decision. Pay the employee for two weeks or a month after you let them go and offer to make them introductions to other companies that may be a better fit. Support them in finding a new job. Sometimes the chemistry just isn’t there with an employee and it doesn’t mean that they are a bad person, they just aren’t a good fit for your team. Sure, they will be without a job temporarily, but in the end they’ll have the opportunity to work for someone who is the right fit for them. You both with be happier in the end.

Resources mentioned:
Winning by Jack Welch
Blink by Malcom Gladwell
The Lean Start-Up
The Four Hour Workweek