What a thrilling ride 2009 has been!! Have you had your belt fastened
tight across your lap while throwing your hands in the air and
screaming like you just didn’t care? I truly hope that you have taken
the time to let down your hair and to get at least a little wild and
crazy throughout 2009.
What a thrilling ride 2009 has been!! Have you had your belt fastened tight across your lap while throwing your hands in the air and screaming like you just didn’t care? I truly hope that you have taken the time to let down your hair and to get at least a little wild and crazy throughout 2009. I’m ending 2009 with a bang – literally! I’m pleased to announce that my “bang” comes from the Vance and Hines drag pipes on my new Screamin’ Eagle Fatboy Harley Davidson motorcycle. I’ve wanted to ride a “hog” for more than 20 years, and have finally made that dream a reality!
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What about you? What are you celebrating as you reflect back on 2009? I fully recognize that it’s easy to look back on the year with regret, and to reflect on all of the goals that we missed; however, it’s exponentially more motivating to look at our progress and strive to expand what we did do instead of beating ourselves up for missing the mark yet again.
FOCUS ON THE ‘WHO’ BEHIND THE GOALS
Most chiropractors’ lists of yearly goals look something like this: increased volume, more new patients, increased income and more time off. While these are all great goals, they lack the essential elements necessary for hitting, or exceeding, the mark. These goals are missing specificity, direction and a focus on what’s most important – that is the who that’s doing the action.
When creating your goals and plans for an explosive 2010, establish benchmarks relating to those of your habits that yield the results you desire. For example, if your goal is to serve more new patients, it’s crucial that you identify the “who” that you must become to attract these new patients. Individuals who attract streams of new patients are bold and disciplined and have also, long ago, absorbed the realization that achieving success is so easy, it’s almost boring. Therefore, their habits are void of negative emotion and are fixated on the consistent actions that lead to opportunities for more “new.” You will find these individuals are out in their communities serving and making connections on a regular basis. They are asking for referrals on a consistent basis inside their offices. They are doing what they ask their patients to do and, therefore, they’re also inviting individuals into their offices from the outside through conversations and connections. They are using the success of current patients as their greatest source of believability in the form of testimonials. They have concrete financial plans that are designed to be win-win for them and their patients. They choose discipline over regret and thus offer a weekly health talk, so patients can invite their guests into the wonderful world of chiropractic. Their weekly health talk also serves new patients as they begin their journey with understanding and support.
Chiropractic success is most measured in terms of who the chiropractor is, and is becoming. Each year successful DCs are more grounded in their understanding and astonishment of our great gift that transforms lives. They fall deeper in love with the opportunity to serve and to be served. Their habits are consistent with the fact that asking for referrals is an act of love and service. They open their arms and accept individuals for who they are, and where they are at, at the present moment. Chiropractic success is about the abundant manifestation brought about by living an authentic life.
The “who” in all of this is a person dedicated to the actions for success, not just the results. They are focused and on purpose. They fully embrace that success lies in the systems and the daily execution of these systems. This successful chiropractic business owner care deeply for his/her patients but does not carry his/her patients. This chiropractor is not taking on the responsibility of the patients’ health, but rather is walking alongside the patients on their journey. The life of this chiropractor is characterized by consistent habits for success, and he/she derives great joy and satisfaction in fulfilling his/her purpose through well-planned and directed days.
WHAT THE GOAL-ATTAINING DC KNOWS
The goal-attaining entrepreneur fully acknowledges that each “no” received is a step closer to a “yes” and also knows from experience that if you don’t ask, you will certainly never be given the opportunity to serve and to be served. Sure, asking could yield rejection; however, the successful chiropractor knows that those who are successful have been rejected far more than those who aren’t. Rejection is temporary, and is simply an opportunity to recreate and jump back into the game with greater clarity, strength and determination.
As you reflect on 2009, please applaud yourself for what you did do, and seek to upgrade and leverage those activities by becoming the chiropractor who does the actions that yield the results you seek. Your practice is a direct reflection of you, and you absolutely can exceed your loftiest goals and dreams. Act to make 2010 the year when your dreams are your reality. I rev my Screamin’ Eagle engine and blast my Vance and Hines pipes – saluting you! •
Dr. Barbara Sturm is the Head Coach and Dean of Achievement at Chirocollege.com. She and her team help chiropractors and their support staff, worldwide, to achieve their practice goals.
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