PHYSIOTHERAPIST Angela Dunsford may say her success comes from "a bit of good luck", but in reality it boils down to hard work and good management.
In the seven years since she graduated, Angela has opened her own practice in Keith, expanded it with another at Bordertown, and services two other towns in the area.
But it took the 28-year-old some time to get to where she is now. After graduating as a Bachelor of Physiotherapy with First Class Honours in 2003, Angela worked with a sole practitioner from hospital rooms at Naracoorte and Bordertown.
A little more than two years later she bought a physiotherapy practice at Keith and renamed it Good Country Physiotherapy.
"Looking back, it wasn't my wisest decision but it has worked out," she said.
"I don't shy away from a challenge and I like to succeed in everything I take on. I was working 60 to 70 hours a week when I first started out as a physiotherapist.
"I had no business experience - it was not something we were taught at university. Everything I knew came from talking to people in business, particularly my family.
"I have since done a lot of training to fill in the gaps, but I would recommend that anyone starting their own business take time to learn about it before they start."
Angela advocates having professionals around to help out, like an accountant, lawyer, a marketing guru or someone up on IT. "It's much better to get expert help than muddle your way through," she said.
After renovating the Keith practice, Angela vowed never to restore a clinic again. But a year later she bought and renovated the Bordertown practice.
"When I started out in 2004, Bordertown had no physiotherapy service. Now, we are open five days a week," she said.
Good Country Physiotherapy runs classes in pilates, falls and balance, cardiac rehabilitation and chronic disease management.
The team also conducts occupational health and safety checks for workplaces across the Limestone Coast.
* Full Our People report in Stock Journal, June 10 issue.