September 2007

It's too hard!

by Robert Schiffman, DC

Over the years, I have observed that a lot of situations in chiropractic offices have been getting worse. This is amazing to me because it can only get worse unless you want it to get better. You have to want it and be willing to go after it.

I have had many chiropractors ask me questions looking for help in getting their offices up and running and helping to keep them going. I have seen time and time again where some people jump right in and follow my advice for a good 30‑45 days and then they quit! Yet, these same people will work 35‑50 years doing the same thing (if they're lucky) and will have never accomplished what they had desired to do, or even reached half as many people they thought they were going to when they graduated.

Why can't they dedicate themselves to their patients and office like they do their hobbies? Even worse, they join every management group out there and still fail ‑‑ because they don't focus on what the groups are offering to them.

Then, they come to me, or write, telling me all of the problems with these groups. When they fail, they try and blame me and anyone else who's had a modicum of success. But, when I ask these people which parts of the plan I outlined for them they got accomplished the answer is always NONE! And, when I inquire why they didn't do as I asked them to do in the outline I spent my valuable time creating for them, again, the answer's always the same...it was HARD!

Nothing you do in life is easy the first time or 20 that you do it! It starts in childhood. You probably don't remember this, but I am willing to bet it was HARD to get through your potty training! It was HARD learning how to drink from a cup without spilling it all over yourself! It was HARD learning how to stay upright on your bicycle after the training wheels came off (if you were lucky enough to have them)! It was HARD learning how to write your name legibly! It was HARD learning how to tie those blasted shoelaces!

Do you see a pattern developing here?

So, the question that begs to be asked is, why do you think your foray into being the best chiropractor you can be should be EASY? Yet, from where I sit, most of us think it is.

You constantly chase those "magic bean" programs as I like to call them. Although you know in your heart you're not going to become wealthy just by joining these groups, you hold out hope because the ad you saw said you would be rich beyond your wildest dreams. You knew at the time it must be true because on the pamphlet there was a picture of a guy standing next to his Lamborghini!

Or, you sign on to some program because of all the "spillover" you're going to get. Remember this phrase and remember it well. Do not wait for spillover. Learn to motivate your patients and educate them and if you develop necessary skills, create spillover! In all actuality, most of you taking the time to read this article are most likely not taking the time to learn the skills to educate or motivate your patients, therefore making it more difficult for yourselves

It's tough turning off the interferences around you to concentrate on acquiring skills you need to be successful. How hard it is to resist going to the golf course with your friends when you should be learning everything you can about being the best chiropractor you can be!

Developing your own list of things to do, producing communication, and developing relationships with your patients ‑‑ none of these are simple tasks. Learning how to design a professional looking office is difficult, as is learning the skills necessary to do your due diligence in investigating management groups before you join them! It's hard to actually write out a business plan, and harder still to devote two‑five years in building your business, even though this is what everyone must do to have a chance at being successful!

No, it's much easier to keep chasing those magic beans, or buying the CDs or joining group after group. My point to all this is, everything you do in life is hard... in the beginning. But, as you keep practicing and learning, things start to become easy! As you see some actual successes (more new patients, more educated patients that refer) your practice and staff will start to become fun! Getting to the point where you are having a lot of this fun is what we are all truly after isn't it?

(Studying under CS Gonstead ignited Dr. Robert Schiffman's passion for chiropractic. The Life University graduate's career accomplishments have won him much recognition, and he is one of the most sought‑after speakers in chiropractic today. Dr. Schiffman ‑‑ founder of the Principled Revolution, Get the Big Idea! Seminars and Coaching Programs ‑‑ continues to maintain one of the world's largest volume practices. Contact him by calling 877‑251‑0181, or visit online at www.getthebigidea.com.)