JOHANNESBURG - Sports and orthopaedic physiotherapist Floyd Lebatie says he is on a mission to dominate the sector which he has been part for the past six years.
The Johannesburg entrepreneur, 29, obtained his bachelor of science degree in physiotherapy from Wits University in 2010.
He runs two practices and is taking initial steps to building a property portfolio. Lebatie credits Wits University for offering him what he describes as a very strong academic base.
He says he’s grateful to have spent quality time with some of South Africa’s best physiotherapists during his time at university as this gave him a solid footing and assisted him in launching his promising career.
Lebatie opened his first practice at his alma mater, Jeppe Boys High in 2012.
“When I was a schoolboy I loved sports and I played first team rugby at Jeppe Boys High School. During that period I had a few injuries, I had to go for physio and I loved the connection between the sports side of things and helping people,” says Lebatie, who specialises in the area of sports and orthopedics.
He loves the fact that his job dovetails with his personal life and belief system and values.
“At the beginning of 2017 I opened another practice at Waterfall in Midrand. It was a growth process because as you shift in different phases of your life you need to put things in alignment,” he tells Business Report, during an interview at Aurelie’s Health & Lifestyle Cafe, which is described as a little heaven for vegetarians and foodies interested in health and wellness.
Lebatie says running two practices is no child’s play but luckily for him, he received solid mentorship that he counts on.
“I understand the end-game so it’s worth the work. It’s not easy to work for a big corporate and it’s not easy to work for yourself. I was very blessed to have mentors who taught me about business,” he says.
He maintains that cashflow is the biggest killer of any business and that many businesses have ended up being hurt as a result.
“I focus on keeping the cashflow healthy in my practices so that we don’t end up in a compromising position,” he says, adding that Robert Kiyosaki’s best sellers Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and Cashflow Quadrant; and John C. Maxwell’s Leadership 101, and Grant Cardone’s The Millionaire Booklet, assisted him to sharpen his entrepreneurial mindset.
“Invest in your mind, if you can invest in your mind and focus everyday on growing a little bit in things that matter.”
Lebatie says his clients are sportspeople and that his objective is to provide them with the best evidence-based management.
“The reason why my practice has grown is because my goal is never to compete, my goal is to dominate,” says Lebatie, adding that word of mouth has been his biggest marketing tool for the business.
“It’s a very powerful medium because if you have a very happy client he’s going to refer. But also, if you have a very unhappy patient that will also spread like wildfire.”
Outside of running his practices, Lebatie says he is very passionate about community upliftment.
“I’ve got a project called The Legacy Men, which I believe is my calling,” he says.
Through the project, Lebatie wants to help young men to become better men. “Better men are better fathers, husbands, and leaders. I didn’t want to wait until I’m 60 to start something of significance,” says Lebatie.
He says growing up in Bezuidenhout Valley he witnessed many households that were women headed.
“So what we do through the project is to hold small seminars in schools across Jo’burg on the principles of becoming a better man. I want to give young men access to role models,” he explains.
“At these seminars we have people who have already achieved success to speak into the lives of these young men aged between 14 and 30.”
Lebatie, who has travelled extensively to countries including Argentina, France, Germany and Reunion Island and Bali, says he is proud that one of his prodigy has gone on to start his own business.
He stresses that the end goal for him is to create a mentorship programme that is long lasting.