Tip 1

Good Morning Everyone

As doctors of chiropractic we not only have a deep desire to help people but we also have an entrepreneurial spirit. As entrepreneurs (business people with free spirits) we are free to create our practices any way we desire. We can be straight based, therapy based, sports, PI/WC... you get the picture. There is a lot to running what I call a really cool practice, one in which you the doctor are achieving high levels of success and financial freedom in an office environment which is fun, happy and creative. As we go through the days we will discuss what it takes to create the practice you desire and we will go through it together. Over the next few day and years, I will give you a behing the scenes look at what really happens and I will give you the success steps doctors, entrepreneurs and free spirits from all walks of life use to create really cool, high profit practices and business ventures.

What does it really take? That is a loaded question because there are so many things which go on behins the scenes to make a really cool practice run flawlessly; ie; the staff is trained and motivated, the patient flow is smooth, the collections arre being made and collected, the patients are happy and referring and the doctor(s) are truly happy. There are procedures and systems, marketing and meetings, trainings and a million little behins the scenes checklists which need to occur on a daily, consistent basis (key words there). For today, lets start with the most important one.

Tip 1 - Discover Who You Are

Take a few days to get to know who you are and what type of practice you should be running. What I have discovered is that many docs are in practices where they are not happy. They did not initially create the type of practice they desired. Either they did not know, or they associated with someone and became a part of their plan. Bottom line, like many of us, they were just happy to be out of school, but without a business background or a Life/Practice Plan it was just, fling the door open and see what happens. Unfortunately, this leads to getting trapped into any style which may not work for you. Instead of creating the practice of their dreams, these docs are led down the wrong path by some management groups, technique salespeople or whatever gadget is new and hot that day. It's simple, if you don't know what you want - you will never get it and if you do, how will you know?

"If you do not have a plan of your own, you are destined to become a part of womeone elses plan."

As entrepreneurs (yes, chiropractic is a business and you have got to realize that) you get to control how everything in your office runs; from dress code to the color of pens you buy, every decision you make in your office is yours. Choose decisions which make you happy and your day more fun and watch how things suddenly seem to shift. On my biggest day, 141 patients, all by myself, I was wearing a pair of shorts and a chiropractic t-shirt. That's my style somedays. Don't judge me and I won't judge you. The point here is because you can be you and you can practice any way you like and you will attract patients who want to be in your presence. I was doing what made me happy and obviously the patients like it also because a lot of them keep showing up.

There is an old saying which says "my how you have changed since I have changed." Well your practice will change when you implement change or change yourself. So for today, have a heart to heart with yourself and ask yourself a few questions such as:

1. What would make me happy in practice? I know of many docs who want to run family style practices but are stuck in a medical style office. They talk a big show but never seem to make any dough. How come? Incongruency of thought and action. They are always looking to make a fast buck or they are just modeling what they learned in school. They are not right or wrong, the point is, if you do what is in your heart,your happiness and success will follow.

2. Implement change. Once you have discovered areas of change, take the next step and implement them. Change is scary in the beginning. What if my patients don't like the changes; they will leave me.... Don't go having a big lie fest inside of your head. You know that negative self-talk... If I do this... they will do that ...NEVER happens! Instead turn your changes into positive experiences for your patients. As always, it's not what you say it is how you say it. Most patients will love your changes because they will see you as a happier doctor and they love that. Yes, realistically some will leave but that is a small price to pay for your happiness and a joyful place to work in for the next however many years. We all know patients come and patients go... that's life. When you make changes that make your office a happier place - when you are true to your sense of, value, purpose and truth, you will attract the patients who are like you and who like you.

So tip 1 is - Have a heart to heart with yourself. Face down your potential person (TM) and discover your greatness by discovering and converting to a way of practicing which makes you happy. Some of you will make a major overhaul and some will just need a few tweaks. Whatever it is, you are the captain of your ship and the creator of your destiny.

Have a great day!
Dr. Steve
www.successfuldc.com