What Independence Actually Requires

In this episode, I examine a reality that is often missed in discussions about independent practice ownership: independence is not just freedom. It is an operating requirement. Many of the functions that support growth, coordination, accountability, and execution still have to be carried within the practice itself. The real question is whether they are being handled intentionally through structure and leadership, or informally through constant owner involvement. This episode explores what independence actually requires from a practice that wants to remain independent and still perform with stability as complexity grows. It also raises a related question many owners eventually face: whether they want to keep building those capacities internally or align with a model that provides more of that structure from the outside.