Think long-term. You don’t need it to happen right away. Patience is key.
Ken Langworthy, a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT), has nearly 20 years experience in private practice vein clinics and vascular laboratories. A technical expert with years of management experience, Langworthy has spent more than a decade working in a practice focusing on vascular and varicose vein treatment. He is a member of the Society of Vascular Ultrasound.
In 2017, Langworthy launched his startup The Ultimate Vein Guide, a resource that provides consumers an easy-to-use digital platform to understand varicose veins and how best to treat them, without all the medical jargon. Visitors can quickly and easily learn their vein score and find the right doctor in their area for varicose vein treatment. With The Ultimate Vein Guide, individuals with varicose veins have greater control over their health and their options for treatment.
The company is compiling a list of top performing vein practices, to be released later this year.
Where did the idea for The Ultimate Vein Guide come from?
Working in vein treatment for the last 20 years, I noticed many patients didn’t really understand the information the physicians were presenting them. There was also a need for a more informative guide to finding the correct vein doctor in their area.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I meditate for a least 20 minutes every morning. I try to clear my mind of the 20 or so ideas popping around my head. My commute is about an hour to the office. I usually spend that time listening to an audiobook. I try to make it fiction. In the office, my time usually consists of reviewing blog posts ready to be published, checking emails from some of the content being created and reaching out to clients. I always carry some type of recorder with me. Either audio or a phone type pad to jot down ideas. The ride home is more of the audiobook. When I get home, it’s family time with the kids and then 90 minutes of yoga.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I scroll through my pages of notes. Bounce off ideas from my staff and wife. My wife isn’t going to sugarcoat anything. I also research as much as possible to make sure my ideas are worth the time and effort.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Online video: It’s the key for audience engagement for our website. It’s an avenue that we are just getting into and it’s also a lot of fun to create videos that educate our audience.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Any time I have an idea, I make sure to make a record of it. In the beginning, I would have this great idea and not write it down. I would come back to the idea and forget some key aspects, or forget the idea in its entirety.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Think long-term. You don’t need it to happen right away. Patience is key.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
This is something that is just beginning to gain steam. In my opinion, blockchain and distributed ledger is the future. Bitcoin, IOTA and other cryptocurrencies will be the future.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Yoga/meditation. It opens up your creativity.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
I think it’s extremely important to build your business around the idea of helping others. Establish yourself as an expert and gain the trust of your peers. Also, help and educate people to show your knowledge.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I created an app without knowing how to market it or if there was an actual market for it. I leaped before I looked. I overcame it by steering in a direction that was marketable and more accessible to the masses. I went from trying to sell an app without creating my authority, to creating a website to show my authority.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Creating an app for patients to hold their medical records that also included all images of diagnostic studies they have had in the past. Patients should have this at their disposal at all times. There are emergencies that arise and don’t have time to get records faxed or emailed over. If my patient records are at a hospital in Chicago but I’m on vacation in Florida, there’s no way of getting those records if needed in a timely fashion. This will reduce cost for insurance carriers and patients across the world. I think this can be created using Blockchain or distributed ledger technology like IOTA.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
My unlimited monthly yoga pass. It has opened a new avenue (creativity) that I never knew I possessed.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Apple’s Final Cut Pro for editing videos for our website.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“The Art of Learning” by Josh Waitzkin. It’s a fantastic, motivational book about personal achievement and a great resource on learning and performance.
What is your favorite quote?
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
– Chinese Proverb
Connect:
The Ultimate Vein Guide on Facebook:
The Ultimate Vein Guide on Twitter:
Ken Langworthy on Linkedin:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.