Brock Leonti - CEO & Co-Founder of Prescribe FIT: Turning Passion into a Business, Solving Staffing Challenges, and Managing Stress

Brock Leonti 00:00
What's your moonshot, you know? In other words, what's your 10x? If there were no restrictions, if resources weren't limited, how would you think about this? If your mindset was open and you had whatever you wanted, how would you approach it? Then we talk about that and whittle it down to things we know we can accomplish to get to those areas.

Callan Harrington 00:17
Welcome to That Worked, a show that breaks down the careers of top founders and executives, pulling out the key elements that led to their success. I'm your host, Callan Harrington, founder of Flashgrowth. I couldn't be more excited you're here. This week, I'm joined by Brock Leonti, CEO and co-founder of Prescribed Fit. Prescribed Fit is a full-service remote monitoring and lifestyle health coaching solution designed for orthopedic practices and patients. Prior to this, Brock founded Lorac Healthcare Academy, acquired by Beckfield College, and also Time for Help Home Care.

This conversation was deep. We talked about how Brock turned a passion into a business, which I find really interesting as people debate whether to follow passion or pursue a solid business idea. Brock’s journey gives a great roadmap if you've been thinking about this. We also dove into staffing challenges, which arose from one of Brock's earlier businesses. His solution was one of the most unique I’ve heard on this show. But my favorite part was how Brock manages stress when the mission of his business is deeply personal. He shared how he uses his support system and is intentional about taking time off to keep his drive alive. Stress and ambition are hard to balance, especially for entrepreneurs, and I loved hearing Brock's perspective on this.

So, let’s dive in. Brock, I’ve been excited for this. You have such an interesting background. Tell me, what’s a pivotal moment in your career that you circle back to often?

Brock Leonti 02:56
It’s not a founding moment for a company or an idea, but I go back to when my father was diagnosed with stage four cancer. One day, he walked into the hospital, and the next day, he was paralyzed from the waist down. Twenty-five days later, he passed away. That was 10 years ago. I always try to remember the good moments with him, but one thing that sticks with me is that he died with six months of vacation and sick time unused. He took his job seriously but didn’t use that time, and it ended with him paralyzed. After he passed, I went through the grieving process and thought about everything we’d miss with him as a family. One day, I remember walking my dog near the Columbus Marathon. I hadn’t been exercising much, and I was in a mentally tough spot. But seeing the runners inspired me, so I decided to run alongside them with my dog. It wasn’t a long run, but it sparked something in me again.

Callan Harrington 04:51
That’s a powerful story. Did that experience push you to take more risks?

Brock Leonti 05:03
Yeah, I hadn’t thought of it like that, but it did. I’ve always been a risk-taker. My first job was at McDonald’s as a manager in high school. After that, I always worked for myself. There’s always risk involved, but it taught me that investing in yourself is the best investment.

Callan Harrington 06:01
In college, you started an advertising agency. How did that come about?

Brock Leonti 06:05
I worked for a .com company that was dwindling, and when our VP of advertising left, they asked me to manage the accounts. I saw an opportunity and asked for 50% ownership of the advertising rights. That’s how I started my first agency.

Callan Harrington 06:54
How did you transition from an advertising business to starting a home healthcare agency?

Brock Leonti 06:59
When my grandfather needed home care, we struggled to find good help. So, we decided to start our own agency. The biggest component for improvement was staffing. We needed good people, and that led us to start a school to train our staff.

Callan Harrington 09:12
Do you think that approach could work in other industries?

Brock Leonti 10:04
Absolutely. The same principles can apply to healthcare and other industries where you need skilled, reliable staff.

Callan Harrington 10:24
I know your business was eventually acquired. Did the school become the main focus?

Brock Leonti 10:34
Yes, the school became the main focus because it was unique in the market. The home care agency was successful, but the school had a broader appeal, especially with changes in healthcare funding.

Callan Harrington 12:13
Did you go straight into Prescribed Fit after the acquisition?

Brock Leonti 12:39
Not right away. I took some time to reset after my father’s passing. Prescribed Fit officially started in early 2017, and the spark came from a local physician who wanted to connect patients with exercise instead of medication.

Callan Harrington 13:56
Was this something you knew would become a business, or were you just following what felt good?

Brock Leonti 14:11
It was more the second. I wasn’t planning on starting another business, but the opportunity and the Grody family’s support were compelling.

Callan Harrington 16:49
I love the idea of a “moonshot.” How do you balance aiming for 10x with what you need to accomplish today?

Brock Leonti 16:01
It’s important to think big, but then break it down into what’s realistic. We often start by clearing the slate and asking, “What do we really want?” Then, we work backwards to what we know we can accomplish.

Callan Harrington 23:07
You shared how this is a passion project for you. I’d love to hear about Diana.

Brock Leonti 23:38
Diana was in our program and lost 33 pounds over six months. She regained her independence—being able to climb stairs, shower on her own, and reduce her medication. Her story drives me to continue the work we’re doing.

Callan Harrington 26:09
If you could have a conversation with your younger self, what advice would you give?

Brock Leonti 26:19
I’d tell myself to never lose the confidence and drive you have. Passion and confidence in what you do are key to success.

Callan Harrington 27:14
It’s so interesting you say that. I was thinking about this recently—the importance of being pulled toward something versus trying to get away from something. The odds of success seem to go up when you’re drawn to something. Does it mean it’s going to succeed? Maybe not. But the odds are definitely better.

Brock Leonti 27:34
Yeah, absolutely. It definitely increases your chances of success.

Callan Harrington 27:37
Brock, this has been awesome. Thanks so much for coming on. I really appreciate your time and the insights you’ve shared.

Brock Leonti 27:42
Thank you so much, Callan. I’ve really enjoyed the conversation and your great questions.

Callan Harrington 27:47
I hope everyone enjoyed my conversation with Brock. I loved talking about how he manages stress—such a critical piece for any founder to be successful. If you want to learn more about Brock, you can find him on LinkedIn, and I’ll include a link in the show notes. Also, if you liked this episode, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn as well. And if you want to support the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—those really help! Thanks for listening, everyone, and I’ll see you next week.