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Happy Monday y’all!!! Hope you’re having a great start to this new week! We are still celebrating Women’s HERstory Month and highlighting AMAZING women who inspires US of how capable & determined we are! Now we are back with another feature of Women Rising to the Top blog series.
So, let’s talk OT! Occupational Therapy! For those who are not familiar with what an OT does, ALLOW me to ENLIGHTEN YOU. OT’s help individuals of all ages achieve independence and participate more in their day-to-day activities so that they can live life to its fullest.
Despite the barriers or challenges individuals are facing, OT practitioners teach them how to persevere and overcome them. They help them IMPROVE range of motion, BUILD strength and endurance, RE+GAIN motor skills and learn new ones. They even teach them how to use assistive devices so that they can perform functional tasks safely & independently. In short, OT practitioners strive to PROMOTE independence as they provide the skills individuals need to live a less painful and easier life.
Today, I would like to introduce you to the beautiful, GIFTED, and talented Ms. Sharon!! She’s a PEDIACTRIC Occupational Therapist & operating as the owner of Play Learn Live Therapy, Inc. in my hometown of Dothan, Alabama!
Yolanda J: It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest today! Thank you, Sharon, for taking the time to share your story with us!
Can you start by sharing with us how Play Learn Live Therapy, Inc. all started?
Sharon: My quest as an entrepreneur began in 2017. An opportunity presented itself for me to be able to acquire a school contract with a school system in Alabama. From this contract was the birth of my first business name, McKinnes Therapy Services.
As a contractor, I was the sole occupational therapist to 50+ students providing services focusing on writing, cutting, self-help, visual motor/perception/discrimination, sensorimotor skills, & many other skills. In 2019, I changed the name to “Play Learn Live Therapy, Inc.”
Yolanda J: That’s so inspiring! Anyone can come up with a new idea, but it takes a lot of COURAGE, hard work, and determination to start a business.
I’m sure the path to starting your OWN business wasn’t an easy one. Can you share with us your BIGGEST challenge you encountered as a business owner?
Sharon: The biggest challenge that I encountered as a business owner was not having any guidance or a mentor to guide me through the process of the business. Everything that I’ve learned about being a school contractor came from hard long research and taking business courses to help me through the process.
Yolanda J: So, studying and researching really helped you acquire the KNOWLEDGE you gained & the resources you needed. And if you ASK ME, it seems like your hours of knowledge SEEKING is paying off!
So, Sharon what has MOTIVATED YOU to keep going?
What event had to happen for you to stay the course and not give up?
Sharon: At times, when staying the course of any journey, there can be discouragement. However, my children are my reason for never giving up and never giving in to any distractions that may cause me to lose my focus with my business ventures.
Yolanda J: That’s a great motivation to have to succeed!
I know that your children are SO BLESSED to have a mother like you!
I would LOVE to KNOW how your business ideas & plans came about.
Sharon: I can honestly say that I’ve wanted to be a business owner for a long time. I just didn’t know what type of business I wanted to have. I didn’t have much assistance from others with creating business ideas or plans. I would say these days “Pinterest” is a girl’s best friend!
Yolanda J: YEESSSS… Pinterest is the GOAT especially when YOU are looking for new ideas!
And I’m so glad that you took that leap of faith and STARTED!
I know it was scary in the beginning, but we never know what we are capable of until we TRY!
Sharon, the next question I have for you is about your service.
Do you tell people your title, or what you offer?
Sharon: When people ask me “what I do for a living,” I typically describe that I AM an Occupational Therapist & I tell them about the services I offer to children.
Yolanda J: Gotcha!
What is it that YOU do on a daily basis to continue your growth as an entrepreneur?
And What are some things you can no longer do & some practices you have put in place that help you GROW as a business?
Sharon: Daily, I manage everything regarding Play Learn Live Therapy, Inc. I manage a full caseload, billing, policy, and procedure, etc.
However, I have recently put some things in place to aide me with handling day to day operations.
I’ve had the pleasure of hiring two Occupational Therapists and one certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. I’ve also hired an office manager to assist me with day-to-day operations.
Yolanda J: I love KNOWING that Play Learn Live Therapy, Inc. is growing and expanding and is striving to help provide the treatment kids need to succeed in school!
Knowing what you know now, what would be one piece of advice you would give yourself or others who may be interested in becoming an entrepreneur?
Sharon: Knowing what I know now, my word of advice to myself would be “Keep Pushing Girl, You Can Do It. It’s not going to be EASY, but you can do IT!”
“Keep Pushing Girl, You Can Do It. It’s not going to be EASY, but you can do IT!”
-Sharon Burch
Yolanda J: Here’s one last question for YOU.
How would you like people to remember you and Play Learn Live Therapy, Inc.?
Sharon: I would love for people to remember me & Play Learn Live Therapy, Inc. as a business that provided quality therapy services to children. I want the people to know how much we cared TREMENDOUSLY about the kids and their families.
THANK YOU, Sharon, for sharing your story with our readers! It was an honor to have you today! If you are local & interested in these services for your child, you can find Sharon HERE.
STAY TUNED for our next feature COMING SOON to a Friday near YOU!
“BE Blessed TODAY & Remember to WALK in Your PURPOSE on PURPOSE” 👠
Yolanda J 🧡
