August 2004

The world doesn't stop spinning for you to jump on

by Dr. Kevin Pallis and Dr. Ed Plentz

With the year more than half over, how many people have managed to keep their New Year's resolutions? This is the year I will... "lose the weight... quit smoking... exercise regularly... get my practice flourishing!...," etc. Yet, it never seems to fail. Somewhere along the way we lose steam and revert to our old ways of doing things. The path of failure is paved with good intentions.

Many DCs pursue material things and forget their purpose in life. They emphasize the shortcomings of others. Trapped by their egos, they're held prisoner to the old, familiar ways of doing things. And, like many a lost driver, they refuse to ask for directions, and continue to wander around aimlessly.

These doctors can't grow, so they plateau and become frustrated. Lacking a foundation, their practices plummet even as they resort to advertisements and gimmicks to pump up them up. This is the traditional roller coaster practice ‑‑ the DC will do anything to avoid doing the necessary work to be really successful.

What is it that separates successful people from those just getting by, those who wait for the merry‑go‑round to slow down and stop so they can get on, from those who start running, grab on and jump in?

Truly successful DCs realize they can't wait for society's view of chiropractic to come around to where they are. They know they need special tools of communication and office education that cut through skepticism and biased medical programming. Where else will society learn about wellness? Surely not at the pediatrician's office!

You may be one of the many individuals out there willing to jump on and go for a spin with wellness. However, without the tools, procedures and the mindset of success, you're going to have a rude awakening. It's at this point you must ask yourself whether you'll give in and give people what they want... or what they need.

Chiropractors of principle stand for a truth that may not reflect majority opinion. When a child whines he wants "this," or she wants "that," parents of character resist the child's efforts to get his or her way, no matter how much short‑term aggravation must be endured. They simply have a different perspective for the long‑term benefit of the child.

It only takes a look at what happens to children who had overindulging parents. Every time something goes wrong, it's always somebody else's fault and they're ‑‑ once again ‑‑ thrown in that familiar position of "victim." This kind of behavior is obviously counter‑productive to the wellness DC. It simply builds resentment for chiropractic and for people in general.

There's no morality, no right or wrong about it. Either you have a complete system of office procedures and patient education, or you pay the price of having a practice that peaks and then plateaus, building frustration.

And, just "getting by" doesn't cut it for a wellness chiropractic warrior. You have to practice each and every part of your office procedures, patient education, and team building, every day.

Incredibly, some DCs haven't studied their profession since their chiropractic college days. It's a shame, but they put more effort into a hobby or an activity. Content with a sub‑par practice, they never rise above the mediocre.

In contrast, to be in the presence of a master DC is to be in the presence of greatness. Each case history, exam and report of findings is like the last one he or she will ever give. With that kind of intensity, there's no thought of gimmicks or other short‑term ways of procuring poor quality patients.

Give your all to your practice and it soars. It becomes effortless. Your patients even accuse you of having too much fun. Your CAs become valuable members of your team. You find yourself asking, "Is this work or is this play?"

When you give all of yourself to your practice, everything in your life works. Your spouse/significant other thanks you, your kids thank you, and the world's a better place to live in.

(A complete system of practice based on science and philosophy working on the doctor from the inside out, The New Renaissance is the next generation of office procedures and patient education for today's chiropractor who wants to implement the chiropractic mindset of success. The new Mentor IV Practice Development Program takes 24 years of the pioneering experience of Renaissance procedures and combines it with the practical daily activities of doctors in the field. To learn more about The New Renaissance, contact The New Renaissance World Headquarters at 800‑525‑3879.)

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