We’re delving into going the extra mile. No, not running a marathon, but how can you make a difference in the lives you touch? How can you make a memorable difference? How can you make a mark on a life that will put things in motion to make a positive memorable mark on another life? Picking up where we left off last time ~ we’re now going to take a look at scenario number two and see how the outcomes could change if handled differently.
Ever see the movie “Pay it forward”? It’s got one of the best messages I’ve seen in a movie. In a nutshell, do something nice for someone and they will do something nice for someone else ~ and so on, and so on. You could change the world. How many times has someone done something or said something that you appreciated, but you did nothing about it? This is an important message, but how does this affect your practice?
Well, let’s look into this a bit. How DOES this affect your practice? I like scenarios, so here we go!
Getting back to Cottrell, your next choice is on relationships. Are you the type of person that has successful people around you, or are you on an island by yourself? Cottrell says “no one can achieve long term success working alone”. Don’t you think this is especially true with chiropractors in a field that is constantly under attack? Have you heard about the proposed CCE changes? Have you heard about the problems in Texas? It’s time to come out from under your rock. Wake up & smell the coffee!
I wrote an email the other day to the clients in my division & I was talking about how we chiropractors need to extend a hand to fellow DCs. I’ve discussed this some in the past, but again this is something to revisit. Our profession is treading water and someone needs to send out the lifeboat before chiropractic sinks. Will you be a casualty or a survivor? Will you save others?
Traditionally, chiropractic (from my experience) has been a cut-throat, survival of the fittest profession. And unless you practice in rose colored glass-ville, maybe yours is the same. What’s the guy down the street doing? How can I outsmart him and get the patients before he does? Or……. I know he’s struggling and ready to close his doors. Maybe I can get his patient files when he goes out of business.
Are you a glass half empty or glass half full type of person? I discussed this some in my blog on perspective. This needs to be revisited as it is one of Cottrell’s choices and also something we need to hear repeatedly.
I just watched Creflo Dollar the other night & he was talking about having a spirit of fear. This is not just fear itself, but also includes doubt. He says that fear or doubt paralyzes faith and faith paralyzes fear. So, if you pray as a result of having fear or doubt that your practice will not survive, your prayers will not be heard. If you have confidence in the Word of God and stand on that truth, HE will supply all your needs and there will be no room for fear/doubt. As a result, your prayers will be heard.
This week’s choice is about dreaming vs. doing. Are you the type of person that says “I’ll be happy when….”, you move to the bigger house in the bigger neighborhood, when your kids get into the private school, when you hire an associate, when you open your satellite clinic. When does it end? I’m not talking about goals, but when you base your happiness on your achievements, yet you never reach the carrot dangled in front of your face.
A wise man learns more from his enemies than a fool from his friends. Baltasar Gracian
Ever hear the advice “keep your friends close & your enemies closer”? In one of his examples, Cottrell states “by getting to know your enemies, you soon figure out how they think, how they react, and that can help you stay ahead when it comes time for the race”.
Well, did you miss me? I apologize for missing last week but life “happens” to even me! And yes, I know it’s a Tuesday and it’s the afternoon for that matter. I’ll get better!
I’m going to pick up where I left off w/ Cottrell. Choice # 2 is The Committment Choice…..be passionate enough to succeed.
When you first graduated from chiropractic school, you were on fire. Your commitment level was 110% to make your community healthy and have a $40k per month practice. You did whatever it took to grow your practice. But a few years later, something changed. What happened? The fire fizzled. You’re content at twenty.
For the next couple of posts, we’ll discuss Monday Morning Choices by David Cottrell. He lists 12, but we’re going to review my favorites.
# 1 – The No Victim Choice (don’t let the past eat your future)!
We’ve got Doctor A, and Doctor B. Both went to the same school, and graduated with the same GPA. They both opened their doors the same month in the same town.
Doctor A will typically see 2 new patients per month at best. He complains that he opened in the wrong area of town. He also blames his lack of success on insurance companies, the unemployment rate and the health care crisis. He frequently plays on the internet in his office while he waits for patients to come in.
Doctor B averages 30 new patients per month. He is looking for an associate and considering opening a satellite clinic. If he has any down time, he gets out into his community to do talks and screenings.
Are you the type of person that fights to break down the walls of living in a box or are you very comfortable there? In your chiropractic practice, are you comfortable where you are? You might say, “well, at least I pay my bills”…..but is that ALL you’re doing? Are you just barely getting by, but the pressure is off because you ARE getting by?
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