January 2007

Become a chiropractic magnet

by Dr. Eric Plasker

Most chiropractors I know expend an enormous amount of energy and effort forcing people to get the "big idea" about chiropractic and follow through with their care. But it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, this kind of chiropractic "consciousness" can actually end up repelling potential patients.

Nobody wants to be controlled, coerced or forced into doing something. Take some time to examine the way that you interact with your patients and ask yourself why you would want to constantly chase after people to get them to do things that they really don't want to do.

Wouldn't it be much better if you were so magnetic that people wanted to participate in lifetime chiropractic care (with their families) because they thought it was the right thing to do? We all have the ability to experience effortless practice growth. It's innate, just like a magnet has a built‑in ability to either attract or repel another magnet depending on which poles are facing each other.

If you had a magnet with two north poles that were trying to touch each other, they would never naturally be able to. Sure, you could force them together and hold them for a while, but eventually they would naturally repel and push each other away. The same is true for your practice when you're not using the right elements to attract patients.

Yes, you can cover your practice overhead and slide by in "survival mode," but keeping it together will require an enormous amount of energy. In the case of the magnet, after a while, your hands will become tired and ache from the force of holding the two opposites together and as soon as you let go, the magnets will repel each other and part ways.

Many chiropractors spend this same type of misdirected energy in their practices, forcing anybody and everybody through their door without paying much attention to what kind of patient they're enrolling. The better, more effective way is to reverse the magnetic "pull" of your practice so that you attract quality, committed lifetime patients all the time. Reverse the "polarity" of your practice magnet and you'll be able to attract patients naturally and effortlessly because they want to participate, appreciate your service, and are willing to pay for it.

It's important to understand that it takes almost no energy at all when you use natural magnetism in the process of attraction. Just like a magnet has repelling and attracting qualities, so do we have repelling and attracting qualities with the people in our community.

Think about your attitude as your own internal magnet, and ask yourself if it attracts or repels? Are you pushy or arrogant? Do you have a tendency toward making people wrong all the time? Are you difficult to deal with or disorganized? Are you indifferent? Do people have to climb mountains to participate in your practice? Are you playing games?

These certainly would be negative qualities to bring into any new relationship. These types of attitudes will create the two north poles of the magnet trying to come together but being repelled.

Or, do you live on the opposite end of the pole? Is your attitude positive, supportive, listening, efficient, open, educational and direct? Are you speaking your chiropractic truth? Do your patients see you as caring, compassionate and focused? Don't you think that these characteristics and qualities would be much more magnetic and attractive? Of course they would. You'll discover that when you maintain these qualities, you'll become much more magnetic to the people in your community.

How do you reverse the polarity of your magnet so that it is attractive instead of repelling?

It takes discipline and commitment on your part. Pay attention and tune in to your attitudes and personality on a moment‑to‑moment basis. If you find yourself in a repellent state of mind or attitude, immediately flip your switch (reverse polarities) to become more attractive. This may sound simple, but it's not always easy to do.

At first you may feel like you're participating in a ping‑pong match bouncing back and forth from one side to the other thousands of times each day, but as you practice, you'll find it becomes second nature for you to be a "magnetic chiropractor." One secret to becoming magnetic is to stay connected to positive people and positive groups that can help you keep your focus.

Try the natural way to practice and patient growth. Become a magnet.

(Dr. Eric Plasker is a licensed chiropractor and founder of The Family Practice chiropractic coaching and training organization, which provides all the systems, tools and support to build a highly successful and profitable family practice. An internationally known speaker and educator, he is best known for rallying the chiropractic profession around the LCfE [Lifetime Care For Everyone] and Family Practice visions. For a seminar schedule, coaching, training, or product information, call The Family Practice toll‑free at 866‑LEAD‑DCS [532‑3327], ext. 118. Or visit The Family Practice website at www.thefamilypractice.net)