Landon Cameron

Dr. Cameron was born and raised near the Wasatch Mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah. He developed a love for the outdoors early in his life and when he is not seeing patients you will find him outside on his mountain bike, on the edge of a cliff rock climbing, or wake surfing at one of several local lakes. He knew as early as middle school that he wanted to practice medicine. He was first introduced to podiatry as an 8th grader when he received care for a congenital foot ailment. He was scheduled for a surgical procedure but was able to overcome his pain through conservative measures recommended by his doctor. This experience and many others helped him foster a curiosity for the practice of medicine. He carried that curiosity with him to his undergrad where he received his Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah. After he graduated from BYU he met his future wife while boating in St George, Utah. They were married shortly after and moved to Philadelphia where he received his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University. While in Philly they started a family and had their first child, a son. After 4 years of school, they moved to the Dallas area to complete a 3-year surgical residency in forefoot and rear-foot/ankle reconstruction. They added a second child to the family, a daughter, while in Texas. After residency was complete they moved back to the St George area where they added 2 more children to the family, another girl, and a boy. Dr. Cameron has been practicing in St George, Utah area since 2016. He is board certified in foot and ankle surgery and is a Fellow of The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

Having a private practice is not a new idea. It was, however, always a goal of mine even before entering medical school. When I was in college trying to dial in what exactly I wanted to do and what aspect of medicine I may want to practice I was able to shadow several docs. The ones with their own practice always appealed to me more than those who worked for bigger systems or hospitals. I wanted to be in total control of my own destiny.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I see about 20-30 patients a day on clinic days and anywhere from 2-5 surgical cases on surgery days. Our schedule is blocked every 15 minutes from start to finish so no time is wasted. We know what we are doing every 15 minutes for the entire day so we can be very efficient.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I have always been a doer and I am pretty impulsive as well. If I have an idea I like, I am usually not afraid to jump in both feet full steam ahead. I assess the situation, assess whose help I might need to bring the idea to life, and then make a plan to execute. Surrounding yourself with the good people, the right people, is key to success.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I try not to get caught up in the trend of the day as they are always fleeting. I try and stay true to what I need, what I like, and how I want to be successful and not worry about what trends might be making the rounds at any given time.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I get outside a lot. I ride my mountain bike several times a week and try to throw climbing and hiking in the mix often as well. I find that when I can disconnect and get outside often I am much more productive when I am working.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would say “Trust your instincts and trust your ability.” When faced with big decisions it’s easy to let self-doubt creep in. As Maverick from Top Gun would say “Don’t think, just do!”

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

That the Dallas Cowboys is the worst franchise in the NFL and maybe in sports in general 😁. Living in Philadelphia for 4 years and cheering for the Eagles helped me see the light.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Get outside! There is no better way to reset and refocus than spending time disconnected in the great outdoors.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Hire really good people and compensate them accordingly. If you find good people, the right people, and take care of them, they will take care of your business.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Trusting a handshake deal, not properly vetting business partners. I got into a situation with several people that, after a short while, became clear wasn’t a good fit for me on several levels. I did recognize it and was able to eventually get out but it cost me nearly 2 years of progress on a business endeavor and a lot of money. I have been much more careful since then about who I work with, making sure contracts are in place prior to moving forward.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

If I wasn’t a physician I would open a restaurant. My buddy and I had a concept for a restaurant we called Toast. Each table would have a toaster and we would serve artisan breads made in-house with a variety of toppings including deli meats and cheeses, fresh fruits and veggies including avocados, and all kinds of spreads. It would be a fun alternative to a traditional deli or bakery.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I went skiing in 16″ of fresh powder with my wife and 2 older kids. Nothing better than that.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use Google Workspace for my practice. This helps us centralize all documents and communication among other things and has been a very robust tool for us and keeps us connected on all things.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The Alchemist. This book is about fulfilling your destiny and how if you want something bad enough the powers that be will work together to help you accomplish it. Also, a lot of the time we spend our lives trying to find something that is right in front of us the whole time. I read this book when I was much younger and was always inspired by it. It’s not your traditional business help book but it can motivate you to chase your dreams and not be afraid to fail.

What is your favorite quote?

Don’t let the pain of regret be heavier than the weight of the struggle.

Key Learnings:

– Get outside! Disconnect and get outside often will make you far more productive than you realize

– Surround yourself with the best people and your success will be exponential

– If you have an idea, try it. Your only regret even if you fail will be that you didn’t try.