Should You Fall in Love With Your Business?
Wed Feb 04 2026
Never Fall in Love With Your Business… Really?
Why does that advice feel so uncomfortable?
In this episode of the Uncaged Clinician Podcast, host Kevin DeGroot wrestles with a piece of advice that stopped him in his tracks: "Never fall in love with your business." At first glance, it feels counterintuitive—especially for clinicians and helping professionals who are taught to lead with passion and purpose.
So why does it rub us the wrong way? And more importantly… is it actually good advice?
Kevin unpacks the tension between passion and pragmatism, exploring what it means to love what you do without becoming emotionally attached to the vehicle of your business. He dives into the difference between loving the business itself versus loving the impact, outcomes, and opportunities it creates—and how confusing the two can lead to burnout, poor decision-making, or missed opportunities.
In this episode, we explore:
Why "never fall in love with your business" feels so unsettling
The danger of tying your identity too closely to your business
How passion can both fuel growth and cloud judgment
Why your business is a tool, not the destination
How staying objective can protect you from burnout and stagnation
This isn't a black-and-white answer episode—it's an invitation into a deeper conversation. One that challenges soundbite advice and asks you to think more critically about how emotion, logic, passion, and purpose should show up in your business decisions.
If you've ever felt torn between loving your work and staying clear-headed as an owner, this episode is for you.
The Uncaged Clinician Podcast — where we think differently, do differently, and go countercultural to uncage clinicians and revitalize healthcare.
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Never Fall in Love With Your Business… Really? Why does that advice feel so uncomfortable? In this episode of the Uncaged Clinician Podcast, host Kevin DeGroot wrestles with a piece of advice that stopped him in his tracks: "Never fall in love with your business." At first glance, it feels counterintuitive—especially for clinicians and helping professionals who are taught to lead with passion and purpose. So why does it rub us the wrong way? And more importantly… is it actually good advice? Kevin unpacks the tension between passion and pragmatism, exploring what it means to love what you do without becoming emotionally attached to the vehicle of your business. He dives into the difference between loving the business itself versus loving the impact, outcomes, and opportunities it creates—and how confusing the two can lead to burnout, poor decision-making, or missed opportunities. In this episode, we explore: Why "never fall in love with your business" feels so unsettling The danger of tying your identity too closely to your business How passion can both fuel growth and cloud judgment Why your business is a tool, not the destination How staying objective can protect you from burnout and stagnation This isn't a black-and-white answer episode—it's an invitation into a deeper conversation. One that challenges soundbite advice and asks you to think more critically about how emotion, logic, passion, and purpose should show up in your business decisions. If you've ever felt torn between loving your work and staying clear-headed as an owner, this episode is for you. The Uncaged Clinician Podcast — where we think differently, do differently, and go countercultural to uncage clinicians and revitalize healthcare.