April 2004

40 days of chiropractic purpose ‑‑ 100 new patients per month

by Dr. Ben Lerner

We live in a time that deifies people based on their ability to handle a ball or a puck and look to them as well as Hollywood celebrities as authorities. Yet, chiropractors are the real authorities ‑‑ and the real heroes.

All across America, businesses, civic groups and churches have been participating in the "40 Days of Purpose" program by Pastor Rick Warren. This well‑written, nationally acclaimed program teaches and coaches millions of people through the art of seeking, finding, and embarking on their "purpose." As a result of this incredible movement, a large segment of society has began to consider that there is significance to their life here on earth and they're learning how to serve a higher call.

Since the early days of practice, we (myself, Dr. Greg Loman and Dr. Rob Schiffman) have each regularly seen more than 100 new patients every month ‑‑ often over 200. Because that's so far above the professional standard, we're often asked, "How can you attract that many new people?" Funny enough, our question back could be, "How can you NOT?"

Thanks to Pastor Warren, purpose has become a more well‑understood word and a mass movement. Yet, in the chiropractic world, purpose is practically a cliche. It's kind of like the word "love." It can be used for your kids, your spouse, a burrito, or a car. The reason that purpose has lost its meaning in our profession is due largely to the fact that many do not truly understand it.

The explanation behind why we adjust 1,500‑3,000 patients weekly in each of our offices and have seen in excess of 100 new patients a month since we opened our doors is not because we have any superhuman abilities. Nor is it because of the schools we went to, the techniques we so differently practice, our area, or our fees. We get these results because of what purpose means to us.

We know that the building is burning and we are the only ones in it who know. If we don't competently, scientifically, professionally, and predictably get the message to every single person on the stairways, in the elevators, the rooms, the hallways, the cafeteria, and the bathrooms...they're going to die.

We have a technology called chiropractic care that can not only add years, but quality years to the lives of countless millions of families. Our purpose is to not keep it a secret or let any of our patients keep it a secret either. Try this the next 40 days and see what happens to your life, your family, and your new patients!

(Dr. Ben Lerner, Dr. Greg Loman and Dr. Rob Schiffman manage Teach The World About Chiropractic, a coaching, seminar, and product company and Body by God International. They have three of the highest‑volume clinics in the history of chiropractic. Dr. Lerner, author of the New York Times best‑selling book, "Body by God: The Owner's Manual For Maximized Living," was the chiropractor for the Olympics of 1996 and 2000.)