March 2008

Accomplishment

by Dr. Ogi Ressel

Someone once said: "The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs ‑‑ one step at a time."

In our insane, ready‑to‑wear, instant‑on, oven‑ready, fast‑food, etc. pace, we often forget that instant success is a rarity. It usually follows hard WORK and perseverance and dedication. Did I say this would be easy?

I believe that in order for a chiropractor to be at the pinnacle, be the cream of the crop, be seen by his or her community as absolutely amazing and "fantabulous" ‑‑ the very best ‑‑ there are certain steps that must be taken and can't be rushed. They must gradually mold and mature you into a great doctor. No, not a great marketing wizard. A great doctor!

That's one of the reasons why locum doctors, hired so you can take a vacation, invariably lower your practice and it then takes you months to recover. It is also the reason why many doctors, after taking some glitzy marketing seminar, see their practice initially skyrocket only to revert back to previous unacceptable levels.

The reasons are simple. Although the locum may have similar technical ability, he or she has not matured into your position. And, although a doctor has artificially inflated his or her practice through some marketing ploy, the individual has not fully matured into the type of doctor the community is looking for.

I know you totally understand what I am referring to when I say the results are short lived, as many of you have experienced this type of roller‑coaster ride.

I mention in my Program, that in order for you to be a 500‑600 patient visit/week doctor, you must have already "arrived" mentally and spiritually. Your heart, your mind and your spirit gradually expand and change so that you are slowly able to help increasing numbers of people. Innate will never send you more than you can handle in your present state of Being. In other words, you must already have arrived long before your stats tell you that you have. You must taste it, feel it, touch it, and be it.

So, in order to help more people and save more children, you have to change. You must shed those habits, mannerisms, fears, prejudices, and personal philosophies that have stopped you from expanding your vision and helping more than you! After all, you're where you are because you are where you are.

Not an instant‑on process, it may require periods of uncertainty, fear, confusion, and doubt...and that's okay. The truth is, you measure the size of your accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach it.

It may be that you need to go through some kind of crisis before you learn and accept the fact that you ‑‑ not your patients ‑‑ need to change. Most of us only grow when we have a crisis. So, go out there and have one! Enjoy it! And know that at the other end you'll be a person who's worth something. You'll be ready and fully prepared to embrace the idea of being amazing at being a doctor. Only then will you enjoy the fruits of your "obstacles!"

It's been said that the measure of a man is by the size of shoes he wears. Well, man or woman, you need to change your shoes regularly... a BIGGER size each time.

Now, go and change your shoes. The world is waiting for you!

(Dr. Ogi Ressel, author, researcher, and an x‑ray and pediatric specialist, teaches The Practice Evolution Program, the "fastest‑growing coaching program on the planet." Visit online at www.practiceevolution.com  and take the Practice Health Mini‑Checkup. Dr. Ressel may be contacted by e‑mail at drogi@practiceevolution.com or by calling 800‑353‑3082. Interested in receiving his weekly THOTS "on seeing tons of children and families in your practice?" Send him an e‑mail and asked to be added to the list.)