July 2005

Developing a one‑track mind

by Greg Loman, DC

Recently, I was in my office at home doing some work. My office is upstairs. My eldest son, Ki, wandered into the room. Ki being three‑and‑a‑half‑years old always knows where daddy is and consistently bothers me.

This day I was particularly focused on my work. The next moment Ki had opened the window, which is practically at floor level. It startled me and I reprimanded him. He seemed to respond as if the situation wasn't dangerous.

I continued to spend the next five minutes communicating with him about the dangers of what would happen to him if he fell out of the window.

I went through the concept of going to the hospital. That didn't work. I tried the pain approach, which didn't work either. I ultimately tried the, "You are going to die, go to heaven, and never see mommy, daddy and your brother" approach. He stopped, paused for a moment, and responded, "Daddy, are there toys in heaven?"

My son has a one‑track mind. He wakes up in the morning and plays with toys. Then we hear, "Mommy I want to go outside and play toys at the pool." Guess what he wants to take to bed? Yes! "Can I take this toy to bed mommy?"

Children have the ability to develop and maintain a one‑track mind. Imagine if you could keep a one‑track mind in your practice. Wake up in the morning roll over to your wife or husband and say, "I want to save the world today. Can I go play and get new patients?"

What happened to that mentality in your life? Most students I meet right out of school have this focused, one‑track mind. All they think about is building a practice, helping people, and saving the planet. You owe it to yourself, your community, and the world to get that drive re‑established in your heart.

If you've lost that loving feeling to help people ‑‑ or if you feel your zeal is slipping ‑‑ you must get it back. If you're not willing to do it for yourself, then do it for a bigger reason

Of all health care professionals, I know one thing to be true of chiropractors. Not only do we have a burning desire to help people, but we also have the driving urge to teach the world about chiropractic. All of us still periodically think things like:

***  We can take over health care if only enough of us will come together.

***  If we could only get on national television, people would listen.

***  If we could only get our message to the president, I know he would listen.

The truth is, if enough of you act it CAN be done.

I'm reading a book called, "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. It's a must read. It describes how trends and fads start. The author eloquently shows how most planet‑changing fads begin with literally 10% of any group, or in some instances a small group of people that starts a tipping point. Hush Puppy shoes were brought back into fashion in the mid‑1990s by a small group of young adults in New York and two designers.

Something as simple as one book, movie, or a small group of focused people can change the future of health care. The book proved that most people do not act because they're waiting for the other person to act. This level of thinking is the reason our profession has not taken over health care. You know we have the greatest message the planet has ever heard. When will you act?

In August, our second book will come out. "One Minute Wellness" will help create a tipping point. Buy 50 to 100 copies and get them to your patients. ...Go to a seminar to grow your practice. ...Start a radio show. ... Do anything to engage in the tipping point for chiropractic.

Right now, on your computer make 10 creative signs that say "Mommy (or daddy), can I go out and play and get new patients today?" Place them in strategic places so you can see them daily.

Imagine what would happen to your practice if you entered into the day thinking that getting new patients was an act of playing. Imagine if you consistently thought every morning, lunch, and bedtime about getting new patients. What would happen to your practice?

What would begin to happen to the health of the families around you? Imagine what would happen to the movement of chiropractic if just 10% of our profession would wake up every day thinking, "I want to go out and play telling the chiropractic story."

Determine to have a one‑track mind for the purpose of something bigger than you. Do it for the people, the profession and the planet!

(Dr. Greg Loman and Dr. Ben Lerner created Teach the World About Chiropractic ‑‑ a coaching, seminar, and product company ‑‑ and Body by God Intl in an effort to change our culture and move the world toward the power of chiropractic thinking. Their new book, "One Minute Wellness," comes out next month.)