A while back, I heard something on a podcast that stopped me in my tracks—the concept of a “pirate versus a practitioner.”
And honestly? It hit hard.
Especially in the world of RD business coaches, this comparison couldn’t be more accurate.
When building a successful private practice, I’ve come to realize that dietitian business coaches typically fall into one of two camps: the Pirate or the Practitioner.
The Pirate Dietitian Coach
The pirate dietitian coach is all about quick wins and shortcuts. They’re often focused on scaling fast, avoiding the messy realities of insurance, and chasing revenue at all costs.
You might recognize them because they:
- Avoid insurance and push cash-pay models exclusively
- Teach tactics that rely on workarounds or risky “hacks”
- Haven’t run a practice in years (if ever)
- Overpromise but rarely deliver sustainable results
These coaches often lean heavily on sales psychology, not systems.
And while their approach might deliver quick wins, it’s not built for the long haul.
It’s also not built on actual experience in today’s private practice world.
The Practitioner Dietitian Coach with Real-World Experience
Now let’s talk about the practitioner—the dietitian coach with real-world experience.
This coach doesn’t just teach from theory—they’re in the trenches right alongside their clients.
Here’s what makes them different:
- They actively run a private practice and see patients
- They are credentialed and bill insurance weekly
- They maintain credentials like CDCES
- They understand today’s challenges with EMRs, MD referrals, and compliance
- They build strategies around what’s working right now
This kind of coach doesn’t rely on outdated methods or hypothetical advice.
They practice what they preach—literally.
They know how to scale a sustainable, ethical business because they’re doing it themselves.
And yes, it takes more time, more effort, and more patience—but the result is a resilient, regulation-compliant practice that grows with purpose and longevity.
Why This Matters for You
If you’re building a practice that’s designed to last, you don’t want fluff.
You want proven systems, ethical guidance, and someone who truly gets it.
You need a dietitian coach with real-world experience—not one who’s been out of the game for years or never even played it.
I still bill insurance. I still review credentialing applications for my team.
I still use multiple EMRs. Why? Because I want to stay sharp and deliver advice that’s relevant and applicable to the real-world practices my clients are running.
So here’s my advice:
If you’re looking for a mentor, choose someone who has the kind of practice you want to build.
Study how they operate, not just what they post on Instagram.
Choose sustainability over hype.
Choose experience over ego.
And if you’re ready to work with a coach who’s still in the trenches, I’d love for you to check out my Reimbursement Coaching Program—built from 20 years of real-world, in-the-practice experience.
You can learn more about the voodoo-that-I-dodo HERE.
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