Is Living in Purgatory Killing Your Practice?
Sep 16, 2025
Most practices don’t die from catastrophic events. They die slowly, quietly, in a place I call purgatory.
Purgatory isn’t painful enough to demand change, and it’s not excellent enough to inspire growth. It’s that middle ground where things are “fine.” The bills are paid. The schedule is steady. The team isn’t in open revolt. And that’s the danger—because “fine” is the silent killer of progress.
The Story of Purgatory
Every leader I’ve ever coached has faced a moment where they came out of a painful situation and thought, “I can finally relax.” The problem is, that’s when they take their foot off the gas. Excellence is still the stated goal, but when the hard decisions show up, many shy away.
It’s easy to act when the pain is unbearable. If you have a toxic employee who drags down morale, the decision to redeploy them into the workforce is obvious. The cost of keeping them is greater than the discomfort of letting them go.
But what about the employee who does “just enough”? They don’t wreck culture, but they don’t elevate it either. They’re competent, not committed. They show up, but they don’t inspire.
That’s the tougher decision. And it’s the one most leaders avoid.
Why This Matters
Your business will never rise above the standards you set. If your standard is “decent,” your results will be decent. If your standard is “high,” your team will always know what they’re chasing.
The truth? Average performers won’t take you to the championship. They’ll keep you in purgatory—where growth stalls, energy fades, and the business coasts until the next crisis forces action.
Excellence doesn’t come from reacting to pain. It comes from making proactive choices when things are stable.
The Decision Every Leader Must Make
Leaders have two paths:
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Maintain comfort. Stay in purgatory. Accept “fine.” Hope circumstances don’t get worse.
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Raise standards. Make the tough call before it becomes obvious. Decide that “good enough” is never enough.
I’ve watched practices transform not because they hired a rockstar or landed a massive referral source, but because the leader raised the standard. They stopped tolerating mediocrity in team performance, in systems, in how they communicated with patients.
The result? Morale lifted, production grew, and opportunities multiplied—because everyone knew the bar wasn’t just set, it was raised.
The Call to Action
If you feel like your practice is stuck in neutral, it’s time to ask yourself: What am I tolerating? What’s keeping me in purgatory instead of pushing me toward excellence?
The standards you accept today will define your success tomorrow.
Don’t wait for pain to force your hand. Choose excellence now.
At Leverage Consulting, I work with practices that are ready to get out of purgatory and step into growth, profitability, and freedom. If that’s you, let’s have a conversation.
👉 Book a Strategy Call Today
Excellence isn’t complicated—but it does require a decision.
