Robert Stravinsky

Robert Stravinsky grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts where he attended public schools and graduated from high school in 2011. From there, he went on to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst, receiving his Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology summa cum laude in 2015. His passion for helping individuals through health and wellness lead him into a career in healthcare. Robert received his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2019 from Boston University. During his time at BU, he presented his novel research work at the APTA annual conference. Starting his professional career in 2019, Robert specializes in treating orthopedic conditions in the greater Boston area. Recently, he completed a year long fellowship program at the Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy, further honing his expertise. Outside of his career responsibilities, Robert finds plenty of time for his family, golden retriever, and countless hobbies that reflect his passion for health and wellness.

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

My typical day consists of an early alarm with a front loaded approach to the day. The ability to complete simple tasks and goals early in the day sets me up for a productive rest of the day. This ‘snowball’ effect allows me to spearhead my day to improve my ability to maintain productivity. The key is I know when to call it quits as my productivity tapers off at the end of the day. The remainder of the day is used for my ‘life’ as this acts as a recharge for being productive the next day.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I believe great ideas come and go and can be looked at from different angles as time goes on and your lens expands. This is why it is crucial, when an idea comes to mind that I write down as much as possible about that idea. I then revisit my writings the next day or week, and if it is as exciting as it was initially, I normally run with it and take the next steps.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Personally, the ability to use technology and science advancements in health care excites me. As a human population, taking a step back, it is remarkable to me how far we have come in this category. From a rehabilitation perspective, it is exciting as that is my speciality, but from a human perspective, it should excite everyone that science and technology is able to keep us alive for that much longer as mortality trends point toward longer lifespans across the board.

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

My ability to utilize help from others fuels my productivity. To many, this sounds like failure or weakness, but for me, it is foolish to think that I can do it all on my own with one brain. Many of my great ideas and problem solving feats stem from a trusted colleague’s advice. Man did not build the pyramids alone.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Enroll in a financial education class. Now, that being said, money does not bring me happiness, but the idea that I am financially stable and have financial freedom does. It is important to make that distinction. If my younger self was more savvy with borrowing, saving, investing, etc, I believe it would have set me up much sooner for entrepreneurial freedom.

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

The ability to struggle is a virtue. If you cannot sit with struggle or negative thoughts, you are simply avoidant and that will come back to haunt you. Sitting with struggle, and truly analyzing and understanding it from a problem solving perspective, has given me a deeper understanding of human suffering and why this is vital for my success. From a place of negativity or struggle, growth is much more likely to occur.

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

Write down your short term and long term goals and track your progress. It is important to have a road map of where I am now and where I want to be in a month, a year, 10 years. A lot of times, your plan doesn’t work out, but at least your goals are tangible and your process to reach those goals is calculated and methodical.

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

Business growth, for me, follows a bottom up approach. This starts with the people who ‘work for you’, who get paid less, but normally have a more positive outlook on life than yourself. These individuals are your foundation and without them, my business, or any business, would crumble. It is crucial to invest in these individuals; their growth, their mental well-being, and their ability to perform their job at the highest level. Doing this, I have been astonished at how much easier my job becomes and how business growth flourishes.

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

The best $100 I recently spent was on dinner when I was out with my parents. To many, this sounds like nothing special, but to me it’s symbolic of being able to give back to two individuals who gave me so much growing up and are the reason I am where I am today.

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

To monitor my metrics, I refer mostly to Yellowfin. Yellowfin simplifies business analytics, laying out data that is easier to interpret as a busy, practicing clinician. Productivity is a huge aspect of the bottom line figure when working at a private practice in healthcare. Knowing what areas to improve on and capitalizing on strengths allows for revenue improvements.

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

‘Make Your Bed’ by Admiral William H. McRaven. In this book, the author expands upon basic lessons learned in Navy Seal training. These lessons are applicable to any individual and are issues we all face each and every day. With a better understanding and ability to manage day to day issues with simple approaches, people can push forward and persevere through not so ideal times with the support of one another and a renewed sense of willpower and trust in their abilities.

What is your favorite quote?

‘A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty’

Key Learnings:

• Being vulnerable allows growth as an individual
• Small, consistent habits cumulate into broader accomplishments and successes
• Success is extremely subjective and impossible to objectify; only you can truly judge your success
• Failures create resilience and, ultimately, an improved desire to succeed