Chiropractic Wimp

by William D. Esteb

Maybe the Japanese were right. Americans are sloppy and lazy. When the Japanese see our union mentality, our remote garage door openers, and a large portion of our population overweight, it's easy to draw the wrong conclusions. But it does raise an interesting question, particularly in chiropractic: Can chiropractic rise above the path of least resistance? Who's doing what's right instead of what's easiest to defend? Who's making the choices that pay off in the long run in lieu of short term gain? Who's building the infrastructure needed to support continued growth, instead of what's expedient?

As I tour more and more offices and meet more and more doctors I've reached the conclusion that changing the direction and survivability of the profession will come from changing individual doctors. Practices are reflections of the doctor, not technique, geography, or birth order. State associations are reflections of the doctors in the state. And national organizations are reflections of the doctors in the nation. If you want to change the world, start by changing yourself.

Problem is, it's hard to change.

I'm convinced that books don't change doctors. Magazine articles don't change doctors. Seminars don't change doctors. And practice management groups don't change doctors. Oh, these resources may change one's awareness, from which personal change may blossom, but change has to come from within.

If you can't concentrate longer than 30 seconds, your practice is a cauldron of confusion and stress. If you are easily captivated by TV commercials and swayed by the latest fad, your practice lacks focus and purpose. If your brain is cluttered, so is your desk. You are your practice.

It's so convenient to blame your patients, your staff, your location, your scope of practice laws, insurance companies, or the winter storm, but the problem is really you. You probably won't hear this from the management firm that you pay thousands of dollars who wants you to reup, but they know it's you, too.

Most of us don't change unless we have too.

How many are in unsuccessful marriages only because the status quo is less painful than the unknown of divorce? How many keep staff members who are sabotaging their practices only because finding and training someone else is too frightening? How many continue using the same office procedures but expect different results? Change is one of the most terrifying things any of us experience. The fact is, most of the people we surround ourselves with don't want us to change (grow) either. Most of us choose predictability over possibility. Change? Only if I have to.

Many of the things that we think and do that limit our potential are habits formed over many years. Changing these habits and making room for more resourceful activities that serve us better is difficult. Some suggest it takes as long as 40 days to form a new habit. Instead of consciously taking it upon ourselves to eliminate thoughts or replace traditions that no longer serve us, most of us wait until there's a gun to our head. We are forced to change. If you won't change on your own behalf, just wait long enough and you'll have to change to survive. Not exactly the best way to undertake a new approach!

If bottom line results are what you want, and I freely admit these words will not affect the real changes you probably want (or need), how do you change without the added pressure of changing simply to survive?

It's you. First you have to decide. Deciding to change only occurs after the awareness of the possible benefits of changing become real. Deciding to change is a quiet something that happens inside you. No one knows you've decided. You don't look different. In fact, to anyone else, you haven't changed. But once you've decided, you're more than half way there.

The next step is to take the risk and, as Nike shoe commercials suggest, "just do it." This is a big step. If "it" is something highly visible or involves others, the risk is high. What if someone sees you changing? What if you fail? What if you don't "look good?" Change may not be pretty. The self-esteem necessary to expose yourself to these possibilities is enormous. Which is one reason why most people don't change and simply allow their lives to happen to them. To change, we must first acknowledge our intrinsic worth before we recognize we are worthy of what change may bring us.

Ironically, the changes that most doctors need to make have very little to do with chiropractic. Sure, there are some simple office procedures or patient communications that can be improved, but remember the problem is the doctor. Here are some changes that you could make that might precipitate the personal break throughs that could result in significant changes in your practice. Some of these will sound strange, but do them and your perception will change. And change is what this is all about anyway!

1. Stop watching television. Even if all you watch is PBS with your nose cocked slightly above the horizon, abandon the "boob tube" or the "plug in drug" and find something more valuable to fill your time. You'll have to. Without putting your brain in neutral for three or four hours a day and filled with "buy-this-buy-that" commercials, your brain will be available for more constructive use. Numbing it with the flickering phosphorous of someone else's vision of reality is not the way to improved family relationships, better communications, and personal conviction necessary to resume control of your life.

2. Begin an aggressive exercise program. Want more energy and endurance for the really important things in your life? Start exercising. Too tired at the end of the day? Exercise in the morning. Already late to the office? Get up earlier. Don't have the discipline? Hire a coach to make you accountable. Already exercising? Exercise even longer. The same way you make a muscle stronger is the same way you make yourself stronger: you stress it. While it seems like a contradiction in terms, using up energy will give you more. Lose those extra pounds and free up more personal power for your commitment to chiropractic.

3. Find a mentor. It hurts our ego but somewhere there's someone already doing what we want to do and doing it better. Trying on a new success habit is easier when we watch someone else doing it. Find someone using your technique, experiencing the office volume you want, or getting the patient retention you want and spend a day or two with them. The loss of income will be quickly recovered by your renewed assurance and confidence when you return. Procedures or ideas holding you back that you thought were impossible to abandon become easier to dismiss when you see someone else "breaking the rules." Admit that you don't have all the answers. Realize no one has a corner on the truth. Not even your mentor!

4. Begin public speaking. Whip this one and nothing can hold you back. Practice this acquired skill with others similarly inclined. Get to a Toastmasters group as soon as possible. Being able to organize your thoughts, think on your feet, and share your point of view will improve every aspect of your life. The one thing that consistently separates successful offices from those less effective is the ability to communicate. Risking your doctorly image and exposing yourself to an audience will pay off in ways you can't fathom.

These are just four simple suggestions. If they made you uncomfortable or seemed unrealistic; if you're almost sure you won't do any of them, please stop complaining. If it takes peer pressure to motivate you, then tell others you intend to start doing this or that. If it takes some other incentive to motivate you, reward yourself with some little luxury or indulgence as you adopt these new habits. If you need a gun to your temple to prompt a change, do nothing now. However, realize you are relinquishing control of your life and your future if you lack discipline. Because you can never be sure who will be holding the gun.

In the same way that buying a diet book (and even reading it) will not slim you down, simply reading these suggestions won't result in a better practice. Simply knowing it won't do. You must act. Your practice will improve only because you improve. Your practice will grow only because you grow. And your practice will be all that it can be when you become all that you can be.

Buy the book
My Report of Findings
Originally published in 1993
240 Pages
US $24.95

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