Why I Love Being a Polymath

People sometimes ask me, “How do you do so many things?”

My honest answer: I don’t know how NOT to.

I’ve never been someone who fits neatly into one box. I’m a speech pathologist, a writer, a life coach, an actor, a yoga teacher, an ESL educator, a business owner, and yes, someone who hangs upside down on a pole for fun.

And somehow… it all makes perfect sense to me.

Being a polymath feels like living in colour. Every skill I learn feeds another part of my life. Every curiosity becomes a doorway. Every new passion adds a layer to who I am and how I show up in the world.

Speech Pathology taught me to communicate with purpose

Working with kids and families has given me the deepest understanding of communication, not just the mechanics, but the heart behind it. Helping someone speak, read, learn, or connect unlocks something inside me too.

Life coaching taught me to listen, REALLY listen

Coaching helped me tune in to people’s dreams, fears, habits, and patterns. It made me a better therapist, a better friend, and honestly, a better human. It’s one of the skills that anchors everything else I do.

Acting taught me to feel everything fully

Acting is where I get to be bold, expressive, vulnerable, and creative in ways everyday life doesn’t always allow. It’s helped me understand characters, emotions, humanity – which loops right back into my coaching and therapy work.

Writing taught me to make sense of the world

Words are how I process life. From “The Speakable Child” to the new projects I’m creating, writing lets me turn ideas into stories, and stories into something useful for someone else.

Yoga taught me to breathe and soften

Yoga balances the fire. It reminds me to slow down, feel my body, and come back to myself, something all polymaths need because our brains can be like hummingbirds.

Pole art taught me strength, discipline, and play

Pole is where I surprise myself the most. The strength, the flow, the artistry; it’s a celebration of being human. It’s creative and athletic at the same time, and it’s one of the places where I feel the most free.

Business taught me courage

Speakable didn’t build itself. It took years of ideas, risks, failures, and growth. Being an entrepreneur showed me that creativity isn’t just an art; it’s a strategy.

What I love most about being a polymath

It’s not the titles or the skills.

It’s the way everything overlaps.

My acting improves my communication coaching.

My coaching improves my therapy.

My therapy work gives depth to my writing.

My writing clears my mind for yoga.

Yoga strengthens my discipline for pole.

Pole energises me for everything else.

It’s all connected like a tapestry of passions that weave together into one life.

I love being a polymath because it lets me be all of me.

Not half. Not one slice.

All.

And if there’s one message I hope people take from my journey, it’s this:

You don’t need to choose one dream.

You’re allowed to choose many and let them shape you into something extraordinary.

Binh

From Passion to Practice: 8 Lessons Learned in 11 Years of Business

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a childhood interest in business into a flourishing speech pathology practice? Growing up, I was more fascinated by the hustle of helping my parents with their business in Vietnam than by any school lesson. This early experience sparked a love for entrepreneurship that eventually led me to start Speakable Speech Pathology in 2014 in Sydney, Australia. 

Over the past decade or so, I’ve picked up a few key lessons that have not only shaped how I approach my profession but have also deeply enriched my personal life. 

Here are 8 big takeaways from my journey:

1. Relationships are everything

At our practice, it’s all about more than just the usual appointments; it’s about building real, meaningful connections. We treat everyone who walks through our door like family. This friendly vibe helps everyone feel included and supported, not just during sessions but as part of our bigger family circle. It’s cool to see how this turns our clients into friends who really get involved and feel connected to what we do at Speakable.

2. Stay flexible

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we quickly adapted by transitioning to telehealth services. This not only kept our practice running but also demonstrated our commitment to our clients’ progress and well-being under any circumstances. Flexibility in therapy approaches, like incorporating more digital tools or adjusting strategies based on client feedback, has also been crucial.

3. Never stop learning

My team and I personally take courses annually on the latest developments in speech & language pathology which has tremendously enhanced the therapy sessions we offer. Staying updated through continual education ensures that we are equipped with the most effective and innovative therapy techniques.

4. Set boundaries for a healthy work-life balance

Learning to set boundaries early on was essential. For example, I make it a point to not schedule clients after 6 PM so that I can have evenings with my friends, family and other hobbies. This helps maintain a sustainable work-life balance and prevents burnout.

5. Broaden your horizons

We diversified our services by introducing group therapy sessions and workshops for parents on how to support speech development at home. This not only helped stabilize our revenue streams but also catered to a broader segment of our community, enhancing our practice’s impact.

6. Get involved locally

Participating in local health fairs and school events has significantly boosted our practice’s visibility and reputation. By offering free screenings and workshops, we’ve been able to demonstrate our commitment to community wellness and draw in new clients who are looking for trusted local services.

7. Embrace technology

Investing in an integrated practice management software revolutionized how we handle appointments, billing, and client records. This technology has not only streamlined administrative tasks but also improved client satisfaction through smoother processes.

8. Feedback is gold

We regularly collect feedback through surveys at the end of each therapy cycle. This has been instrumental in fine-tuning our services. Celebrating positive feedback and addressing constructive criticism transparently has helped foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Running a speech pathology business is so much more than a day job—it’s a never-ending adventure of growth and discovery. These 8 lessons we’ve shared are just the beginning. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities that push us to learn more, do better, and think bigger. I’m really pumped to see where these insights will lead us and how they’ll help us make an even bigger impact. 

What kind of business are you running or thinking of starting? How do you see it evolving? Let’s inspire each other with our stories and ambitions!

Binh

Where can a “hello” take you?

How often do we travel to another country and would ask a local “Can you speak English?”

Say ‘hi’ or ‘thank you’ in the local language can open up a new dialogue or opportunity.

Learn the basics such as saying “hi” and “thank you” can be beneficial.

Try the following – with the biggest smile on your face 😃

Bonjour

Xin chào

Ciao

Konichiwa 

Ni hao

Hola

Chúc một ngày tốt lành (Have a wonderful day in Vietnamese) 😘

Bình

Incredible India

When people tell you not to go to India, that’s their story. Not yours!

“You’re going to get sick! You’ll get Delhi belly. You’ll get bitten by dogs. It’s too dirty for you!” and the list goes on.

Regardless of the above opinions, I decided to see for myself.

Got a few injections at my GP’s, paid for the visa, found a connecting flight to Delhi from Sydney, and off to India I went in mid-December 2015. For some reason, India had always been on my mind. Maybe it’s the colourful pictures, the food, or yoga. Who knows?! I just knew in my guts that I had to be there.

Arriving safely in Delhi after a long fight with China Southern, it felt surreal. The smell, the heat, the sight and sounds, and of course, the dirt. Getting from the airport to the hotel was exhausting due to the city’s heavy traffic. Luckily it was the beginning of winter in the north of India, so it was much cooler than normal.

India Delhi

View from the rooftop of my hotel in the middle of Delhi.

After checking in, I took a nap and went downstairs to meet with my tour leader, Tony, and group members. As this was my first time in India, I decided to join Gecko’s 10 days touring around Rajasthan. There were 15 of us including Tony – who was an awesome tour leader. The group members were from Australia, England, Ireland and New Zealand.

India Train

The next day we woke up very early and took a 2-hour train from Dehli to Agra to check out the Taj Mahal.

India Taj

Hello, Taj. With the lovely Jane & Victoria.

India Chai India Thali

On a cold winter day, a warm cup of chai tea can taste so good, made with milk, ginger and cinnamon. On the right is my first vegetarian meal in Dehli! So delicious!

India Alfie

With my awesome roomie, Alfie, from London.

Yoga india

For the next few days, we spent time chilling out in Tordi – a small village in Rajasthan – without any Wifi or Internet connection. It was a great opportunity to share yoga with the group.

 

 

India dessert India Tordi sunset

Hitting the dirt road and watching the beautiful sunset in Tordi. A cold Kingfisher beer completed the picture.

India wind palace

Over the next few days, we visited Jaipur, the pink city. Above is the Hawa Mahal – a palace built with a high screen wall, so the women of the royal household could observe street festivals while unseen from the outside.

India gods

Learning about the Hindu gods.

 

COW

In India, the cows rule the streets.

India village

Good morning, Tordi.

India pushkar lake

The sacred lake in the middle of Pushkar. Being blessed here was an experience that I’d never forget.

India Pushkar

India Jodhpur

On the way back to Dehli, we visited Jodhpur – the blue city. What a sight!

India Jama Masjid

After spending Christmas Eve in Nimaj, we were back to Dehli and hanging out in Old Dehli. In life it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.

India is chaotic, enchanting and true. I’d go back there in a heartbeat!

Go and experience this amazing country and see for yourself. Your experience is yours to keep.

Once you’ve stepped your foot on this spiritual land, come back and tell me how you go!

Namaste!

Binh

Live out Loud