March 2005

The essence of vision

by Dr. Kevin Pallis and Dr. Ed Plentz

One of the questions DCs most frequently ask is what makes a successful chiropractor in one office while the DC just down the street struggles to get by? The answer is an invisible commodity called vision. While many DCs dismiss this as an unnecessary ingredient, take a minute and examine the reality of the situation. DC number one (the one with a vision) graduated from the same school as DC number two (the one without the vision). That means the same instructors, same books ‑‑ but with an entirely different outcome.

Vision is an overriding cause in your life. It's bigger than you, your office and your individual concerns. It's about goodwill aimed at the world. It's about helping the world. It affects all areas of your life including your earning capacity, your happiness, your family, being a parent, etc. As the founder of the Renaissance vision, Dr. Joe Flesia, used to say, "live for a cause bigger than self and live that cause with passion." When you have "that something" it enables you to expand your practice and your life exponentially. Some nay‑sayers in your past can't believe it's you when you hold a vision in your heart. Your vision allows you to evolve into someone other than who you have been. It's the rocket fuel that motivates you to complete your passionate mission.

When you're a chiropractor with a vision (what we call a warrior), the everyday problems that used to bog you down don't appear as often and when they do, you handle them without ruminating about them. Can you imagine a life void of complaints about your CAs, your insurance adjusters, the DC up the street? Sounds like heaven, doesn't it? When you posses a vision that burns within your heart, you've found your purpose in life. Your life's truth will be found in your purpose.

When you're a chiropractor with a world vision there are no limitations. A vision connected to a passionate mission in life is much more powerful than money. In fact, money is a natural consequence of vision. An example of a chiropractor with vision would be Dr. Guy Reikeman. In 1977, he and Dr. Joe Flesia founded Renaissance with a vision of healthier people creating a healthier world. When he was the president of Palmer College he elevated that institution to heights of former glory. Student enrollment, alumni participation, and, of course, financially everything was exponentially expanded by his vision.

When he took over the reins of Life University, the school was in need of a DC with vision. Debt consolidation, restructuring loans, etc. was not the answer. Money would not solve the problems. A vision had to be re‑established. Once the vision was in place, a fragile spirit of hope and direction started to form. Students and high level educators were attracted to the vision, problems like accreditation were solved, alumni support and participation swelled and of course money poured in as a result of the vision becoming more concrete.

When you are a warrior and have a world vision what makes your office unique? The unique factor is that you and your office becomes a phenomenon. You attract people from all walks of life. For every person who walks through your door, it's an experience they will never forget. Of course they want to share it with their families and friends. Every patient is taught via your patient education and office procedures the real identity of Chiropractic. As a result their behavior towards Chiropractic changes, their health changes and the world changes.

It's time for us as DCs to permanently embrace the attitude of a world vision and put it out there for the benefit of society. Back doctors don't change the world. It's time for us as a profession to stand up, step up and change the health paradigm of the world. Who will teach our children how to save the planet? Without vision there can be no hope, no spirit and the juices of life dry up, as money becomes the primary focus of life.

Many narrow‑minded DCs insist, "it's all about me...all I care about is getting a few more new patients in my office so I can pay my bills." There are many in our profession who cater to the self‑serving DC by offering strategies to build practices of unhealthy people who kneel at the altar of high‑tech quick fixes. What an injustice to humanity as well as an injustice to chiropractic! It's NOT about you. It's about us as a group redefining the cultural context of self‑accountability and global responsibility. Nothing advances without the advancement of the human spirit. Never before in our great profession have we needed vision like the present. Long live vision.

(The New Renaissance is a movement of passionate chiropractors dedicated to changing the world. The leader in patient education since 1977, the Mentor IV Coaching Program is a step‑by‑step navigational guide that embodies the very essence of The New Renaissance vision of healthier people creating a healthier world. Without patient education, your patients won't "get it." To learn more about The New Renaissance, contact world headquarters at 800‑525‑3879.)