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<\/a><\/p>\nProgress in practice is made by steady persistence and passion.<\/strong><\/p>\n In Angela Duckworth\u2019s new book, she calls this \u201cGrit.\u201d<\/p>\n Think of evolution, think of growing crops\u2026 think of growing children!\u00a0 Whether it is child development or practice development, growth is achieved through steady and unrelenting nurturing and adjusting according to circumstances.<\/p>\n I recommend you take some time to do some planning before the New Year gets in high gear. January and February are good months to do this.\u00a0 Do it by yourself – and do it with your team. But\u2026<\/p>\n Don\u2019t reinvent the wheel\u2026 Just make it go faster with less effort.<\/strong><\/p>\n A few of our actions are always more productive than most of the other actions that we do. Unfortunately, we can get distracted and spend far too much time on activities that, in retrospect, just don\u2019t give us that much of a return.<\/p>\n The \u201cvital few\u201d actions that have helped you the most will be camouflaged, even countered, by the \u201ctrivial (but useful) many.\u201d This is a term used by Nathan Juran, famous for his approach to business and quality improvement and the Pareto Principle.<\/p>\n And, I would like you to consider this: In many respects, your business has succeeded in ways that \u2013 perhaps \u2013 you have not yet recognized.\u00a0 Therefore, I don’t recommend abandoning all you did last year and start chasing the newest “shiniest” procedures that seem appealing.<\/p>\n The key is to dust off all your actions from 2017 \u2013 review everything you did — and see the great things that worked and the victories you and your team achieved.<\/p>\n Then, just find better approaches to do more of this!<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea of having diamonds in our backyard, a story made famous by Russell Conwell (1843 \u2013 1925) of the 1800s, applies. There are many variations, but it goes something like this: there once was a man who wanted more wealth, so he sold his house and left in search of diamonds. Years later, penniless, he happened back to his village where he roomed at a shelter for the poor. The shelter was supported by a grant from a local resident. In inquiring who the resident was, the diamond searcher discovered that it was the person to whom he had sold his house.<\/p>\n One day he paid a visit to his old house, now renovated into a beautiful estate. He talked to the new owner who told him that he had become rich. He said that when he bought the house, he needed to do some digging in the backyard where he discovered thousands of diamonds.<\/p>\n The moral of the story is obvious: you already are rich<\/span> \u2013 you already have the diamonds. <\/strong>You just need to polish them.<\/p>\n Many of the components of your future success are already in your office. But we overlook them, or use them once and then forget about them, like teenagers looking for the next new article of clothing to make a fashion statement.<\/p>\n As entrepreneurs, creatively – we are all looking for that next dopamine high\u2026 and seek the next new \u201cshiny\u201d thing.<\/p>\n You have a show on the road. Just make it better. Make it fresh. Set a new standard, and make a new game to \u201clevel up!\u201d Add a few new things here and there, but keep doing what is working.<\/p>\n Review what has been working for you. Reaffirm it and keep at it. Look at what hasn\u2019t worked that well and fix it so that it does, or drop it like barbell that you have been holding over your head for too long.<\/p>\n By yourself, and later, with your team, here are some areas to look into:<\/p>\n ____1. Review Your Mission Statement.<\/strong> Does it apply? How? Does it need to be customized? Beyond your mission, what is your WHY? Does the mission satisfy this? \u2022 Trust. Are we worthy of trust with our patients and ourselves? ____4. How Were the Numbers?<\/strong> Up, or down?<\/p>\n \u2022 When the numbers went up, what did, or didn\u2019t we do? How can we improve upon this? ____5. Individual.<\/strong> What can each one of us do professionally this next year to improve our ability to contribute to our team and its mission?<\/p>\n Some of this should be on simple, brief checklists and memo\u2019s. Add it to your Practice Playbook<\/strong>. Document it so that it can be referred to for training and coaching in the future.<\/p>\n Imagine that your practice is a merry-go-round, the kind you find at children\u2019s playgrounds.<\/p>\n It takes a lot of energy to push it and get it going. But\u2026 once<\/span> it is moving, it takes less effort to gradually get it going faster. And faster! And faster\u2026<\/p>\n Take some time to review how you are pushing your merry-go-round. What procedures worked better for pushing it faster? Focus on these\u2026 Makes these better.<\/p>\n Go faster\u2026 and push less.<\/p>\n And as you do, watch those, including yourself, hold on tighter and smile bigger.<\/p>\n With admiration,<\/p>\n –Ed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Imagine that your practice is a merry-go-round, the kind you find at children\u2019s playgrounds. It takes a lot of energy to push it and get it going. But\u2026 once it is moving, it takes less effort to gradually get it going faster. And faster! And faster\u2026 Go faster\u2026 and push less. Continue reading \u00a0The Vital Few<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Diamonds in Your Office<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Looking for Your Diamonds<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\n____2. What Are Your Outcomes?<\/strong> For example: \u201cPeople relieved of pain, healthier, educated so that they can and will continue to improve their health\u2026 and refer others?\u201d You can also define Minimal Viable (Valuable) Outcomes, e.g., \u201cA patient who accepts care.\u201d Etc.
\n____3. How Is the Office Vibe?<\/strong> This is determined by your values and how everyone is living up to them. Are these values posted for all to see and check how they are \u201cmeasuring up?\u201d Are they defined? Do we need to add more, change some, delete some? Should we better define each value? Should we add:<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Mission Oriented. Do we help each other cheerfully achieve our mission – each day?
\n\u2022 How well are we living up to these?
\n\u2022 How can we live up to these better?<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 When the numbers went down, what did, or didn\u2019t we do? Should we improve or discontinue those actions?<\/p>\nMerry-Go-Round<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Enjoy the ride!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n