Invariably during my seminars, chiropractors will ask how they are supposed to maintain organization while aggressively building their practice at the same time. The paradox seems to be, either strive to get organized or strive to build growth. This predicament has troubled thousands of chiropractors for a century, and is responsible for keeping chiropractors from fulfilling their potential.

Much of the confusion stems from what one's beliefs are about the words "organize" and "growth." It's as if they aren't supposed to be mentioned in the same breath!

In "Webster's New World Dictionary," the word organize is defined as "systematized, standardized, regulated." Growth is defined as to "shoot up, burst forth, spread like wildfire." How do you standardize a wildfire?

It's because we can't seem to visualize staying organized while growing that most chiropractors stumble in their genuine intent to serve more people.

Many chiropractors simply give up on being organized and just "trust" that everything will be okay as they grow right through the roof of their practice. However, history has shown us that's not a good bet. Well-meaning chiropractors have literally "lost the farm" by not knowing what was happening in their practice.

This is not a scary subject, nor is difficult. There is a certain amount of trust needed in any system or with any relationship in order to make it work. Growth happens in the midst of controlled chaos and as soon as you understand this phenomenon, you can learn to embrace it.

You can reach a point where the practice is so focused on a smooth running organization, that the flood gates of new patients is restrained and they are unable to flow into your practice.

On the other hand, focusing on growth-oriented actions at the expense of organization doesn't work either. The Universe can sense when you're not able to cope with more growth and finds a way to keep you in check.

Ultimately, a chiropractor that learns the secret to solving this dilemma, builds an enormously successful practice. I can offer several hundred examples of these practices and chiropractors who have learned to love organized chaos. The secret lies in your ability to do a few things well:

*** Speed up when necessary.

*** Be flexible when necessary.

*** Compress the quality of your service so that nothing's left out.

*** Promote in the upswing.

*** Keep motivated while under pressure.

*** Function from a master checklist.

You can do it! Maybe your practice strategy right now is too complex, has too many steps, and has too much paperwork or functions with little to no effort toward marketing. It doesn't matter. When you finally realize the awesome power of organized chaos and how it can catapult you to success, you can -- literally -- change any aspect of practice in order to make it right.

Some of you have put off getting a specific set of communication scripts to use in practice with your patients. Without them, you are unorganized. Some of you have each of your patients paying per visit at the front desk. This is a perfect example of too much organization.

Others of you have a yellow page ad and occasionally ask for referral. There is absolutely NO chaos in that equation! Some of you don't even use a schedule book and let patients come in when they want. Needless to say, that's too much chaos!

There are more than 50 distinct scenarios that throw a practice out of organized chaos. The more scenarios that exist inside your practice, the less often you're apt to experience it.

Organized chaos is a way of thinking, a way of preparing for what's to come -- and a way of life. Frankly, most consultants won't even speak to you about this, let alone offer you answers. Yet, anything else is something else altogether. Growth happens out on the edge, not past it, not before it.

Building a system that consistently puts you out on the edge is to build a masterpiece, yet generally practice systems have you finish a day by reconciling your numbers and emptying out the trash. It's the difference between being on purpose and never looking at the clock or being a "pay check" player who's pleased to see the day come to an end.

Growth adds meaning to your work and to your life, especially for those of you who have a vision of creating a subluxation free-community. While organized chaos clearly isn't for everyone, for all those who have embraced its spirit, it's the greatest rush in the world!