April 2004

Your purpose defines who and what you are

by Dr. David Singer

Over the years, I've found out that sometimes it's not easy to focus and stay on‑purpose amidst life's daily distractions or with problems that may arise in practice. I then realized, when I let my life be carried by those problems, I lost my focus and was kept from achieving my practice goals.

What you have to do is understand "purpose" and its role, not only in your practice, but with your staff and in your personal life as well.

What does it mean to be "on‑purpose?" Your purpose is your primary aim. It points you in a direction and keeps you focused on where you want to go. You are either on‑purpose or off‑purpose; there is no in between.

For instance, if you want to expand your practice, your purpose should focus on helping people. Your primary aim, or purpose, could be better defined as "helping as many people as possible through chiropractic care, to educate them how chiropractic works, so they, in turn, can go out and educate others."

Do you believe in your purpose? You may think, "Sure, I'm a chiropractor, after all," but you may be surprised if you test yourself.

If you are on‑purpose, you go out and do things to bring this purpose to fruition. You are willing to talk about chiropractic to anyone, any time, any place. Do you notice yourself sharing your message wherever you go?

Or, do you get caught up in every day problems that arise? Your C.A. resigned. Three patients missed appointments. Is this your focus for the day? Do you focus on how to handle these problems, perhaps cancel a scheduled workshop in order to handle them? When you're on‑purpose you'll know it because you'll be excited, motivated and happy to be in practice. You'll be focused ‑‑ not on the problems ‑‑ but on why you're really here: to improve the lives of your patients and their families.

Ask yourself how many people have actually had a better life, a transformed life, a happier life, a drug‑free life, a longer life because YOU introduced them to chiropractic care? When these people are in your heart, when your mission is to get chiropractic care to as many people as possible, you are on‑purpose!

On the other hand, when you focus on the problems or the things that aren't going right in your life, those distractions are what take you off‑purpose.

Remember, your purpose is your aim, your direction. You can take your direction and point it anywhere you want. It's a lot like a bow and arrow. You can aim it in any direction, but if you want to hit the target, the smartest thing you can do is aim for the bull's eye. And, the bull's eye of expanding your chiropractic practice is to keep focused on helping people get under chiropractic care and educate them so they can educate others. If this is your focus, you should be willing to communicate to others, and when you do, your enthusiasm and excitement about what you do, will spill over and surely touch the lives of others.

It isn't easy to stay on‑purpose and you can't just ignore the problems of life that come about. But, you don't have to make those problems the primary focus in your life, setting your purpose aside to handle them. Use your purpose to pull you through those times and put all of your emotional energies into your goals. Wherever your energy is focused, that becomes your purpose.

What can you do to stay on‑purpose?

***  Talk about chiropractic. You cannot remain quiet and have your purpose remain alive within you; share the miracles with others!

***  Inspire and motivate yourself and your staff. Rekindle your enthusiasm and inspiration through weekly in‑office workshops and staff meetings.

***  Be a coach for both you and your staff. Use staff meetings as your "pep rally" to set goals, inspire and excite your staff. Handle problems after the meetings, one on one; not with the group.

Being on‑purpose requires commitment and intention and the knowledge that the most beneficial thing you can do for yourself and your practice is to be on‑purpose. Don't get caught up in problems so that you forget who you are and why you're here. You are a chiropractor and you have the power to make this a better world.

Stay focused, talk about chiropractic, do in‑office workshops, hold staff meetings, and above all, stay true to who you are and what you do.

(Dr. David Singer is the CEO of David Singer Enterprises ‑‑ www.davidsingerenterprises.com ‑‑ a company offering an honest and ethical approach to building a practice through one‑on‑one consulting programs, products and practice expansion seminars. Dr. Singer teaches lectures on the natural solutions to health issues mentioned in this column, among others. For information on workshops and how you can present these programs to groups and organizations in your area, call Robert at 800/326‑1797. To receive "The Purpose Fax Newsletter," Dr. Singer's free fax info letter containing practice‑building tips and health research, call 800/326‑1797, ext 227. Leave your name, address, phone number and fax number to receive a copy approximately every six weeks. You must have a dedicated fax line, as this fax newsletter is sent automatically via computer.)