About Edward Petty

Consultant with Petty, Michel & Associates, Author of Marketing Manager System, the Goal Driven Business www.GoalDriven.com. Father and grandfather, husband, student, active in athletics, and in health and environmental causes.

Electronic Health Records and Chiropractic

There is more and more attention being placed on the topic of Electronic Health Records. For those of you who are not familiar with this subject, you can find basic information on the web sites of CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and of course, Wikipedia.  There are other sources, but reader beware: many have ties to software companies (and their advertising and promotional distributors) that are trying to make a case for buying expensive software now.

Here is a Q&A with Dave Michel and one of our clients regarding this subject which may be helpful in understanding what is going on:

===============

Dear Dave,

Dr. H wanted me to e-mail you with some of our questions and concerns. We are hearing a lot of different things the more people we talk to about it. We are hoping that you can shed some light on the situation. Here are some of our questions:

Is the deadline for reimbursement this October 2011? Or do we have until October 2012?
There is no deadline at this point. It is not a requirement and, even if it is, there will be an exemption for small offices (usually less than 10 FTEs).

Is there a checklist of things that need to be completed in order to be compliant? Do we need to have digital x-ray in order to be compliant?
Yes, there is a checklist. If you google CMS EHR Incentive you will find a couple on the CMS website (skip software vendor websites …). Digital x-ray is NOT a requirement.

Is it a tax credit or would we receive a reimbursement check? Will it just cover the EHR software or will it cover equipment upgrades/replacement as well?
Beginning May 2012, you would be possibly eligible for up to $18,000 per year in incentives paid as a check to each provider. The limit would be based on 75% of your prior year’s Medicare reimbursment. IF you are “an eligable provder” and you have demonstrated “meaningful use”.

How much should we expect to spend on this process? And how much will we get reimbursed? Is it a percentage or the exact amount? And is it a guarantee?
Great questions. EHR software for chiros ranges between $2.5 – $27k. Add to that the cost of conversion in your office (thousands) and the reduced efficiency (eg if the new program adds 2-3 minutes to each patient encounter). This is going to be a big process.

Dr. H  wants to know “what happens if we don’t become compliant?”.
Nothing. Yet …

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.
No problem! Bottom line (if you haven’t picked up on this so far …): I am not a fan of any of the EHR programs currently out there. They either add too much time to each patient visit or they produce a SOAP note that would not pass an audit / records review. There is NO guarentee that Big Government is going to be mailing out $44k checks to each provider for doing something that will really not improve the heath care delivery system

Most of what you have seen are from companies marketing their products (seminars, EHR software, etc). There is NO mandatory deadline (yet) to convert to EHR and so far, I have not received confirmation from CMS that chiropractors will receive any money or incentives to convert to EHR. I do have a letter in to CMS to get an official word and will let you know. It does not make sense to me that CMS will give each chiropractor $44,000 to convert to EHRs when the CMS program is going broke. But I will let you know.

For questions about EHR, feel free to contact Dave at Dave@PMAworks.com

Dr. Brian Kelly Scheduled for a Live Teleseminar Interview


Dr. Brian Kelly

Dr. Brian Kelly will be our guest in this months teleseminar interview on Tuesday, June 28, at 12:30 Central Time.

Dr. Kelly is the new president of Life Chiropractic College West. He is from New Zealand, where he completed his professional education and training in chiropractic at the Phillip Institute of Technology (PIT) now the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne, Australia.

After successfully owning and operating multiple clinics, Dr. Kelly became the President of the New Zealand Chiropractic college where he has served for the last eight years.

He is the second president of Life West, succeeding Dr. Gerry Clum, who retired earlier this year after 30 years as College president.

Dr. Kelly will be discussing how he sees chiropractic applied in the U.S. compared to New Zealand and Australia. From this perspective, he will also offer insight on how doctors here can improve both the quantity and the quality of their services.

Don’t miss this special seminar.

–>To Register<–

And, we should also tell you about a power packed line-up of speakers for a 2 day seminar in the San Fransisco Bay Area at Life West, August 5th and 6th.

This two-day event is all about information, motivation, and inspiration! Hear from over 35 chiropractic super stars! ‘The WAVE’ offers three tracks including a full-day chiropractic assistant program on Friday, and a day-long series of short, bold presentations on Saturday.

Purposely constructed to make you think and stir your soul, attend this event and you’ll never be the same!

Click the image below to see the full size poster for more info.  Or visit their web-site at: Life West Wave

The Wave Email Flyer 3

Procedures Follow From Principles

Many times we work with chiropractic clinics that have offices procedures that just don’t work that well for them.

Sometimes, the procedures aren’t being applied all that professionally and we can help the doctor and staff improve the execution of these procedures.  But often the doctor is trying to implement an office procedure that, like a shoe on the wrong foot, doesn’t fit.

You should learn about different approaches to patient and practice management and marketing. Give these different procedures a go. But in the end, you have to find out what works best for you and your team.

What you want to look for are the principles behind the procedure. Work with the principle and then you can discover the procedure that best works for you. Then, you have to be come expert in it through determined practice.

Take a boxer: you’re trained to keep your arms and fists close to your head as a guard against your opponent’s strikes hitting you. Good procedure. Makes sense.  However, every boxer has their own unique physical make-up and has to work out, in the end, their own style of fighting.

For example, one fighter, Chuck Lidell, has won many fights and is a former light heavy weight champion. If you watch how he fights, he rarely covers his face and fights with his arms out and his head wide open.   This goes against common boxing procedures.

However, he does apply the basic principle: protect the head from blows. His procedure is to stay out of range from the opponent’s blows, requiring the opponent to move forward with his whole body to land a strike.

Some years ago, one seminar company was promoting the 4-5 day report of findings. It had its merits; however, few doctors that we saw could actually stick with it and make it work. The principle, however, was educating the patient continuously at each visit to help them understand the need for continued adjusting and care.  From this principle, many different and effective procedures can be worked out.

When procedures are not working in your office, you may be trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. Work with your coach to help you tailor the procedure effectively. Your coach can help you customize your procedures so that they work and work for you.

No two boxers fight the same and no two jazz pianists play exactly alike. But each follow key principles and apply them expertly in their own style to become the best.

Customize the procedures in your office to fit your style, just make sure the key principles are not bypassed. Work to learn the fundamentals behind each procedure. This will help you develop procedures that work for you.  Then, practice your procedures and maintain continuous attention to detail.  Continually work on improvement. This is how you become an expert and create a prosperous business.

“Highway to Health Summer” Tour 2011 with Dr. Billy DeMoss, Founder of the Dead Chiropractor Society

It’s summer. Time to get away… and spend the weekend getting high on chiropractic and just relaxing.

 

Join us Friday evening, August 19th, in Appleton WI as we celebrate chiropractic with Dr. Billy DeMoss, founder of the Dead Chiropractic Society and CALJAM, the yearly music festival and seminar program that is lighting up the chiropractic profession.

Billy D will rock your world with a rip roaring presentation Friday evening, August 19 at the Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, WI.

Saturday morning there will be a special presentation for staff (and doctors) with Phyllis Frase, Internationally renown staff trainer and practice development coach.

Later, you can go for a walk to the local farmers market, catch a free concert, or just walk by the Fox River and enjoy a beautiful summer day in Wisconsin – all while inspired again about chiropractic.

The Apple Valley Hotel is a deluxe resort on the north side of Lake Winnebago in Central WI, located next to the beautiful Fox River. With many amenities, it is a great family destination as well as nice for those who just want to get away from it all.

Date, Time, Location
Friday, August 19, 7-10pm
Dr. Billy DeMoss: “Highway to Health Tour”

Saturday, August 20, 8-10am
Phyllis Frase: “How to Be A Rock Star C.A.”

Paper Valley Hotel LINK
333 W. College Avenue, Appleton WI 54911
Hotel Reservations: 1-800-394-7046 US/Canada Toll-free
Telephone (920) 733-8000

—Hotel Information…. Special room rate of $99.00. Will be extended for the weekend if you wish.

Price of Admission and Registration

Fees double at the door. Space limited so register now.

Dr. Billy DeMoss:
PM&A Client: $25  Per person, doctors and staff
Not an active PM&A client, just $35 – Per Person, doctors and staff

Ms. Phyllis Frase:
PM&A client – no charge  –  Just let us know who is coming by sending us an email at services@pmaworks.com or faxing us at 1-877-868-0909
Not a PM&A client:  $25 per person

To register, click the registration form, open the file, print it, complete it and fax it back to us at: 1-877-868-0909  Registration form.

A Poem about Responsibility

by Charles Osgood

There was a most important job that needed to be done,
And no reason not to do it, there was absolutely none.
But in vital matters such as this, the thing you have to ask
Is who exactly will it be who’ll carry out the task?

Anybody could have told you that everybody knew
That this was something somebody would surely have to do.
Nobody was unwilling; anybody had the ability.
But nobody believed that it was their responsibility.

It seemed to be a job that anybody could have done,
If anybody thought he was supposed to be the one.
But since everybody recognized that anybody could,
Everybody took for granted that somebody would.

But nobody told anybody that we are aware of,
That he would be in charge of seeing it was taken care of.
And nobody took it on himself to follow through,
And do what everybody thought that somebody would do.

When what everybody needed so did not get done at all,
Everybody was complaining that somebody dropped the ball.
Anybody then could see it was an awful crying shame,
And everybody looked around for somebody to blame.

Somebody should have done the job
And Everybody should have,
But in the end Nobody did
What Anybody could have.
===================

Abridged Version.
Author Unknown.

The Parable of Responsibility
Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody were members of a group.
There was an important job to do and Everybody was asked to do it.
Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody would have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry because it was Everybody’s job.
Everybody thought Anybody would do it, but Nobody realized that Anybody wouldn’t do it.
It ended up that Everybody, blamed Somebody, when Nobody did, what Anybody could have done.

How to get a steady stream of new patients from the internet!

Webinar:  Tuesday, May 24th

Internet marketing works.  We are seeing great results from some offices… and not so much from others.

In this webinar, you will find out what is working and what isn’t – and you will learn how your office can get more new patients from the Internet.

You can no longer say that the Internet is not for you. It is.

You can’t dismiss it all and state that it is too technical and that “you aren’t into computers or tech things.”   You have an insurance department, don’t you? Well, the Internet is a LOT simpler than billing for Medicare, if you understand its basics.  And, you can delegate a lot of the detail work to maintaining it, like you do with your insurance work. But neglecting your Internet marketing is perilous.  You have to get on top of it now or be left behind.

When prospective patients search for a chiropractor, they may get directed to a physical therapist when they should be finding you and your web site first.  It all depends on how well you set up and maintain your Internet presence.

Rather than our usual teleclass, this program will be a training webinar. It is free for all of our active clients. (If you are not a PM&A client,  there is a small fee.)  You will need a computer with speakers. Or, you can just call in and hear the audio portion of the program only.

Dr. Jamie Phillips of Bloczone Marketing, a company that focuses on helping chiropractors to acquire new patients via internet marketing, will be discussing what is working in Internet marketing for chiropractors today.

Then, she will zero in on and teach you one of the eight main ways to get new patients from the Internet that is working now.

Dr. Phillips will be explaining the secrets of how to optimize your Google listing (which also applies to Yahoo and Bing) so your website can start showing up on the first page of Google.

This webinar is good for the doctor, marketing coordinator, and especially for your internet marketing assistant.

Our webinar is on Tuesday, May 24th, at 12:30 Central Time. If you are an active client, there is no charge.  Please register here and we will send you the special invitation and link by email.  Register us for the  webinar!

If you are not an active client, you can register here. There is a small fee for this ($40) which will be donated to Oklahaven foundation Doctors with a Heart Program.

A Few May Promotions for Your Chiropractic Practice

Mother’s Day is coming up soon (Sunday, May 8th).

This brings up the whole topic of women’s health care.

There are many types of health related events concerning women that you can participate in during this month (or any month, really) that are not only good causes, but can act to spotlight your services.

These include:

  • talks outside of the office
  • workshops in house
  • movie screenings
  • special awareness, or “Appreciation Weeks” for free health screenings
  • sponsor radio programs, interviews
  • letters to the editor
  • gifts (flowers the Friday before Mother’s Day)
  • and tape video “health tips” and post to YouTube.
  • donation drives

The list can go on and on. Some offices have had talks about pregnancy and pre and post natal care, sometimes with a midwife or nurse. One office does very well simply sending out a mailer each year to all local homeowners sponsoring a Women’s Health Care Week, offering free exam, x-ray, and massages.

Special promotions can work but they work much better if they are connected to a legitimate cause. There even is a name for this, and you guessed it, it is called “Cause Marketing.” For it to be effective, however, it has to be sincerely supported by the entire practice team. Doing a special event to support women just to get new patients will appear phony to others and can have negative effects.

One movie that has been shown is the Business of Being Born, a movie about harmful health practices connected to births in America. From its web site:

Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?

Another example of a movie suitable for screening will be: One More Girl. This is a movie documentary how the pharmaceutical company, Merck, knowling continuted to advertise their drug Gardasil (a drug promoted to help HPV infections) to girls after Merck knew it was dangerous.

From the movie’s web site:

Merck’s marketing techniques earned Gardasil a “pharmaceutical brand of the year” award from Pharmaceutical Executive for its ‘savvy disease education,’ and creating ‘a market out of thin air.”

Even though most HPV infections clear on their own, invasive cervical cancer deaths affect 2.7 women per 100,000, and the American Cancer Society lists cervical cancer as the 12th ranking cancer in the United States, parents lined up to get their daughters protected and doctors were ready with needles in hand.

Consumers are not aware of the trail of deception behind over 21,133 adverse reactions and 94 deaths in previously healthy, athletic, competitive and scholastic adolescent girls.

(Thanks to Dr. Ebner for referring us to this movie!)

The movie producers are seeking donations to produce this film. Perhaps your office could help raise funds!

Another idea would be to have a special week just for mothers and daughters: free health screenings, tea, a spa day with manicure and massage for mothers and daughters, etc.

Our member’s site has a few posters and other ideas available to you as active clients.

Here is a poem by Tina Fey for her daughter. (mild profanity)

Best Wishes for a Merry Month of May!

Ed

“The Mother’s Prayer for its Daughter” – Tina Fey

A Mother’s Day Poem.

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered,

May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half

And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her

When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the nearby subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock N’ Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance.

Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes

And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.

Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long,

For Childhood is short — a Tiger Flower blooming

Magenta for one day —

And Adulthood is long and Dry-Humping in Cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever,

That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers

And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister,

Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends,

For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord,

That I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 a.m., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck.

“My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental note to call me. And she will forget.

But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.

Tina Fey (from She Knows Parenting )

Billy DeMoss, the Dead Chiropractic Society (DC-S), and a free Chiropractic

Dr. Billy DeMoss has changed chiropractic.

He has done this by offering an alternative model to the standard chiropractic seminar.  In so doing, he has helped to bring chiropractic back to chiropractic.

We all know that there are various versions in how this great profession is presented and applied.  But there is a common denominator in the profession that makes it special and in which everyone can agree.

What is it?

The subluxation…? Well, sure, but even this is disputed.  Let’s go for something even more basic.

The fact that chiropractic truly helps people get healthier and avoid getting run down in the medical-pharmaceutical-sickness complex?  Yes. True enough.

What else makes it special that we can all agree to?

NO ONE OWNS IT. Chiropractic wasn’t bought out by a Chinese company, a multinational firm, or bailed out by the Federal Reserve or the World Bank.  Your skills are not trademarked by Eli Lilly (Pharmacy Company). You can use Activator or the knee-chest. For the most part, you are free to do whatever you want.

But there is also something else that makes chiropractic special and that we all can agree to. What is it?

Well, chiropractic, if you are doing it right, is fun. In fact, it is a blast.  Adjusting patients and seeing them get better and loving you and your team for it! What could be better?

So, let’s add it all up: chiropractic helps people get healthier, it helps them avoid costly medical procedures, it allows them to live a better life, it allows you and your staff to have a better life, it is free from outside financial interests, and, it is fun.

NOW this is cause for a party!! THIS, if anything, should be celebrated.

This is what Billy preaches, practices, and sets an example for us all.

There are many professions out there that are soulless, goalless, and hopeless. Many are also too burdened with their own seriousness. We also can fall into this “chiropractic-as-drudgery” daily work mindset.

But, this is NOT chiropractic. And, as B.J. Palmer said:

The average businessman has long since forgotten Rule No. 9, “Don’t take yourself too damn seriously.”

Dr. DeMoss practices Rule No. 9. and helps us all celebrate the work we do.

The next Cal Jam, which he calls “ kiro-Woodstock”  is scheduled for March 12th  & 13th, 2012.  You can visit his website at www.californiajam.org where you can sign up to receive his newsletter and be a part of his worldwide referral network.

AND, you can listen to him live this Tuesday, April 26, at 12:30 Central Time. (For non active clients, we are charging $25 which will be donated to Oaklahaven.)

Register Here

For the full article on Rule #9 by B.J.Palmer, and a downloadable PDF file: Rule #9


Dr. Jim Sigafoose in Milwaukee

Dr. Jim Sigafoose

Our good friend and international chiropractic lecturer, Dr. Jim Sigafoose, will be coming to Milwaukee on Saturday, April 16th.   He will speaking along with Dr. Tim Gay.  Siggy asked us to help him promote this event and as loyal fans of his for nearly 25 years, we wouldn’t hesitate to promote his seminar.  And neither should you hesitate, if you have a chance, stop by and listen to Siggy. For more information, poster.

NOTE: SEMINAR CANCELED due to funeral services. From Siggy: “WE ARE HAVING A MEMORIAL FOR CHRISS, AND REGRET I MUST CANCEL THE SEMINAR.”

My Life And Times With B.J. Palmer – An Interview with Dr. Perrault

In a special teleclass sponsored by Petty, Michel and Associates, Dr. Thomas Perrault will be interviewed by Dr. Tom Potisk, both graduates of the Palmer Chiropractic College.  Dr. Perrault personally knew Dr. B.J. Palmer, considered the Developer of Chiropractic, and spent time with him in the early part of Dr. Perrault’s career. (More about Dr. Palmer.)

Dr. Perrault will discuss some of his experiences with Dr. Palmer and what he learned from him.

It is safe to say that no other individual has been more responsible for the growth and continued success of the chiropractic profession than B.J. Palmer. He was a man of extra-ordinary energy and dedication to helping others with chiropractic. (More about B.J. Palmer.)

Dr. Tom Perrault, Sr., Founder of Perrault Chiropractic Offices, received a Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1962.

He returned to his hometown of Methuen, MA to begin practice and was instrumental in the licensure of chiropractic by the Massachusetts legislature in 1966. He served twelve years on the Methuen School Committee, and continues to be active in community and civic affairs. His dedication to his profession and the community have earned him numerous awards and recognitions. He is a Fellow of the International Chiropractic Association and the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic.

Thomas Perrault Sr., D.C.

Thomas Perrault Sr., D.C.

A long-time leader of the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society, Dr. Perrault currently serves as its Executive Vice President and has been named Massachusetts Chiropractor of the Year an unprecedented four times. His activities with his professional society have kept him on the leading edge of chiropractic research and innovations in chiropractic. His primary interest remains the location and correction of the vertebral subluxation complex, which is the fundamental principal on which chiropractic practice is based. In 2004 Dr. Perrault was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by his profession.

It is definitely worth a listen. The class last about 50 minutes.

March 29nd- Tuesday, 12:30 CT – Teleclass (50 Minutes)

If you are an active client, you can find the phone number and access number for this live interview on your PMAmembers.com site.

If you are not an active client and want to register, please go here.

The 6th Fear

Chiropractors:  I think it might be time for a pep talk…

Have you been keeping up with the news lately? It’s hard not to.

Egypt, Tunisia, and now Libya recently had swift moving revolutions that resulted in regime change – all in the last few months. And other Middle East countries are also rumbling with protests.

Meanwhile, back in the States, our federal government doesn’t seem to have enough money and our representatives are threatening with a government “shutdown.” And next door here, in the Middle West, Wisconsin, there are thousands of people protesting around our state capital.

That’s a LOT of commotion!

So, how’re your patients doing with all of this? Are they worried? Is their pay getting cut? Are they loosing their jobs? Do they have jobs?

And how about you? Are you staying up watching the news, reading about it, discussing it? Are you worried? How is your income?

We need to be accurately informed about current events, of course.  Unfortunately, we sometimes become so distracted that we can loose sight of what we are doing and let our businesses suffer.

A few years ago when the stock market plummeted, I received phone calls from doctors who were worried. One, who had been doing very well, was thinking about selling her office entirely. Another doctor who also had been doing well, let his practice numbers nose dive as he become mesmerized by the “news”, and was worried about racial riots and internment camps.

There is no doubt that economic conditions have been changing. But it has been our experience that if you constantly work on improving your services and in developing your business, and yourself, you will do just fine. (Good coaching helps too!)

BEST EVER
Last year, many of the offices we had the privilege work with had their best year ever. Most of them, in fact, had been in business for 15 to 25 years. I can think of 3 just off hand that have hit the “waiting list” category. They have reached near capacity with so many patients that they have to schedule new patients 1 week out. Horrible, I know, but very cool too.

DOING RIGHT
Success in this environment can be had. You can have it. You may have to change your past mode of operation, but you too can achieve it. It can be obtained by doing the right things, and doing those things right through a process of constant improvement. We call this the Practice Development Process.

BEING RIGHT
But to get what you want, you have to not only improve what you do, but improve who you are. You have to improve your outlook, your skills, and your personal habits. Success has much to do with how we view the world and what we put our attention on. As one old time doctor mentioned to me years ago, “success is an inside job.” By “inside”, he was referring to one’s thoughts and attitudes. He could talk: he and his doctors were seeing over 2,000 visits per week for years.

WORDS OF SUCCESS DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
We have been going through what has been called the Great Recession.  Many patients are worried about their jobs and their money.

Napoleon Hill wrote “Think and Grow Rich” in 1937 during the Great Depression as a result of studying and working with successful leaders, including President Roosevelt.  It continues to be a best seller, perhaps the most popular motivational book of all time. In it he says:

“It is true that all thought has a tendency to clothe itself in its physical equivalent. … “The people of America began to think of poverty following the Wall Street crash of 1929. Slowly but surely that mass thought was crystallized into its physical equivalent which was known as a depression.”

THE 6TH FEAR
The thought that creates this depression, according to Hill, is fear. Hill talked about 6 types of fears, the worst of which is the fear of poverty. The other 5 were criticism, ill health, loss of love of someone, old age, and death.

“The Fear of Poverty is without doubt the most destructive of the 6 basic Fears.

Hill states that one of the symptoms of fear of poverty is procrastination.

DO IT NOW
So, this is a pep talk to encourage you that there has never been a better time to grow your practice and expand your business.

Your patients need your leadership to help them with their own fears so that they can become more productive. By improving their health and educating them on the chiropractic lifestyle, their chances of succeeding in their lives increases. You and your team help them, their families and the community. You make a difference.

So, do it now. Increase your promotion. Stream line your procedures. Work on team training and improve your service. Plan your expansion for this year.  Schedule a technique class. Read more. Work out more.  Get enlivened with your purpose as a chiropractor.

New office? New doctor? Why not? People need chiropractic care now more than ever. And chiropractic has never been more popular. Even the quarterback for the winning football team of the Super Bowl gets regular chiropractic adjustments. (Naturally, since his dad is a D.C.)

Work with a practice building coach and get in the game – to win!

As Napoleon Hill says:

“Do it now! can affect every phase of your life. It can help you do the things you should do but don’t feel like doing. It can keep you from procrastinating when an unpleasant duty faces you. But it can also help you do those things that you want to do. It helps you seize those precious moments that, if lost, may never be retrieved.”

Fight the fear and the procrastination by just doing it. And soon, you too will be achieving your best ever again.

#  #  #

P.S. Napoleon Hill was a chiropractic patient.  One report has it that B.J. Palmer was his chiropractor. Both men thrived during tough economic times. Here is an interesting story about Hill and chiropractic. LINK

Old movie of Nap Hill. 7 minutes. LINK

Leadership in Chiropractic – the Golden Circle

How do you motivate others to start and continue chiropractic care?

Simon Sinek recently wrote a book about leadership and marketing, and if I didn’t know better, he took it straight from the principles of chiropractic.

Below is a link to a lecture he gave where he describes a fundamental ingredient to effective leadership and marketing. Essentially, he is describing what you in the chiropractic world already know but in a different light.

The talk is 18 minutes, but well worth it.

I am interested to hear how you see it as an effective application of chiropractic principles and how you might to apply it.

Every Morning

Before you start each day in your chiropractic office, you have a chance to make a decision about how you are going to take the day on.

The day won’t wait for you.  It comes at you pretty fast.  You either embrace it and impose your will and game plan upon it, or hide somewhere and pretend to be a spectator.   But even still, the day will move to night and you will have had your chance to make a difference for yourself, your patients, your practice, and your family.  You won’t be able to have that particular chance again.  It is gone.  You will get a new day, however, and new morning and a new chance to make decision about how you are going to take this new day on.

This is why the old adage, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise”  is so true.  Also, there is: “The early bird catches the worm.”

But one of my favorites follows the traditions and natural laws of nature:

Africa

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.  It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.  It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve.  It doesn’t matter whether you’re a lion or gazelle – when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

Are you running yet?

(For a desk tent poster of this quote that you can download and print: Link )

Oklahaven

With all the paid advertising hyping chiropractic management companies, there is one chiropractic organization that often gets overlooked.

Yet, more than any other chiropractic enterprise, it perhaps best typifies what you and your team are all about.

It’s name is Oklahaven.

Oklahaven is a non profit organization. It began in 1962 and was and is supported through donations. In 1979, Bobby Doscher, D.C., became its Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Doscher personally provides care as well as overlooks daily operations.

Their success stories about helping chronically ill children are moving and can serve as an inspiration to all of us in the chiropractic profession.  Here is a doctor and organization that is completely motivated by a higher purpose and dedicated to helping kids and their parents through chiropractic care.

This month, our teleseminar will be a live interview with Dr. Doscher hosted by Phyllis Frase. The interview will last about 50 minutes. And will be held on Tuesday, January 25th at 12:30 Central Time.

Because we feel so strongly about Oklahaven, we will be waving our usual fee for this seminar. Just email us at services@pmaworks.com and say that you want to register for this teleclass and we will send you the special phone number and access number.

In addition, we encourage you to consider participating in their “Have-a-Heart” campaign, February 7-14th. This is a donation program to help support Oklahaven and you can incorporate it into any special promotion you already have planned for February.

For more information about Oklahaven, you can find them here at their web site: www.chiropractic4kids.com.

Check out their in line newsletters for some great testimonials. Here is one: http://www.chiropractic4kids.com/inline/inline2009-Fall.pdf