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Learning from Bowling and the Perfect Storm

By Dr. Troy on January 24, 2011

As I was watching ESPN’s Sports Center this morning I couldn’t help but find myself laughing and cheering for a special situation that took place.  As they reviewed Saturday’s sporting events they shared a head to head bowling match that would prove to be a very special, entertaining event.  Half way through the match, on bowler, was having a horrible day, he only had a 50 going into the 5th frame.  His competition, had already thrown 5 strikes in a row.  It was apparent for one bowler, it just wasnt his day and for the other, he could be on the brink of rolling a perfect game. 

As the game progressed they made it to the 10th frame.  And, you guessed it, the bowler having the bad game continued on his streak.  In fact, going into his final ball  he needed 2 pins just to break a hundred.  Yes, a 100 for a PROFESSIONAL bowler on national TV.  As he stood on the lane, he shouted out, “Come on baby, I need two pins!”  The crowd was cheering him on and he was making light of this situation, on NATIONAL televsion.  After he released the ball, he threw a solid shot that nailed the two pins he needed.  He did it, a 100.  He then proceeded to run aroud the lane to the fans, high fiving them and celebrating to their cheers.  He had a bad day, but didn’t take it to heart and in fact, just rolled with it and had fun, it just wasn’t his day.  The second bowler had thrown 11 strikes in a row and needed on more for a perfect game.  As he threw his final ball, he came up one pin short with a 299.  The cool part of the story, his competition was the first one up cheering for the perfect game.   

What a perfect storm.  Here you  have someone who just had probably the worst game of his life.  But things were so bad that instead of being upset, or distraught, he just had fun with it, rolled with it and knew it was just not his day.  What’s even better, is that most people will remember his 100 more than the guy who almost rolled a perfect game.  And his sportsmanship was was better than most athletes you will see today.

So what’s the point you ask?  It’s not about perfection.  It’s about giving it your all and knowing that on some days, it will workout, you come close to that pefect game.  And, on other days, you may come up short, but instead of getting upset and angry, be thankful for the moment, the people and celebrate your life. 

Remember, BJ said it best, “Don’t take yourself so damn seriously.”

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Benefits Of A Chiropractic Coach

By Dr. Troy on July 2, 2010

Chiropractors have BIG hearts and an amazing passion for what they do. However, there is a side to their practices that tends to suffer, namely the business side. The organizational side, the structured side and even the leadership side are normally missing. MOST chiropractors don’t have a problem with loving people and serving. The problem comes in telling people what they need, what chiropractic is and getting paid for providing a service. With 70% of the profession seeing just under 100 office visits per week, it’s obvious that doctors need some guidance and accountability on their side.

Entering stage left, the chiropractic coach. Chiropractic coaches come in all shapes and sizes. They come as a group or individual. The MAJOR objective for any coach, is to pull out of you, the greatness that lies within. Coaches can help you to move your business to the next level. Whether it’s getting new clients, keeping the ones you have, or something else, a coach can help to guide you to the next level in your life and even your relationships. The bottom line, everyone needs a coach, you just have to find the right one for you.

How To Choose The Right Coach
Coaches are all different. They have different levels of experience, they have different attitudes and differing opinions. MOST coaches have been in practice, run a successful practice and wanted to carry on that success through the chiropractor. Other coaches found practice to be a difficult task and wanted to support chiropractors in growing and excelling. The BEST coach for you, is the coach that resonates with your heart. The one that meets the criteria you have and are looking for. That might be the chiropractic coach with the most coaching experience, but it might also be the one that is still in practice and can relate to you the most.

Some coaches and companies like to flaunt experience, and although it is a benefit, the coach just starting out or who is in practice can bring a ton to the table compared to the 30 year veteran, it’s all perspective. Keep that in mind, because with changing times means that you may want a coach who understands todays challenges.

Can You Afford A Chiropractic Coach?
The true question is, can you afford not to have a coach. The investment in a coach is going to vary a lot and is going to depend on experience, additional programs and support that is offered. Whether you can afford a chiropractic coach will depend on factors that only you can decide. Namely, am I committed to investing in myself? Am I committed to following through on a program? Day in and day out you ask your patients the same questions, today you are faced with it. Don’t expect your patients to commit to programs if you can’t do the same thing. Remember that when you invest in yourself you can ultimately change your world, coaching is investing in yourself.

What Does A Coach Do For You?
A coach will help you focus on whatever concern(s) you have for your business. You may have a low client load, or you may have so many that you’re having trouble budgeting your time. Perhaps you don’t make as much money as you’d like but are afraid to raise your rates. Maybe you can’t seem to keep your office staff. Or, maybe you simply want to stimulate greater growth, balance in life or even relationships. No matter what the issue, you can get help. From marketing to patient education to patient acquisition, coaching can help you move forward successfully.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of a smart business person who wants to move forward and improve his/her life and career. Chiropractic helps other’s to change their lives, coaching can help you to do the same!

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Chiropractic Marketing Ideas

By Dr. Troy on June 29, 2010

Chiropractors can have a lot of trouble marketing themselves, because they don’t often know what they can say or do that will make them different and distinctive. The good news is that there are plenty of things that a chiropractor can do in order to market his business and make it stand out from the rest. If you’re trying to decide what advertising move to make, there are several that you can consider.

Money Isn’t Everything
The missing link in chiropractic for the ages, value. You don’t have to advertise something cheaper to get people to use it, instead, offer them value. Offer them something that increases your credibility which will increase the value of the service you are providing.

What are some areas you can increase value? Well, for starters, in a technological age it is important for you to be on the cutting edge of the latest technology. Especially in our profession where peope are claiming wellness but making recommendations based on the presence or absence of pain. I recommend and use the Insight Subluxation Station. This is space certified technology that helps to determine how stress is effecting peoples overall health and well being. This one piece of technology allows you to focus on how well people are functioning. Check it out at www.subluxation.com

The next step, look at your service model.  Many of you have heard of “The Disney Style Practice, or what has now been called, “Duke Disney”. It is a service model that I brought to chiropractic after years of studying the Disney model of customer service. What this ultimately means is that we are creating an experience for ALL people who pass through our doors. By increasing their experience, we increase the value they place upon our service.

If people feel as though they are getting more value for the money and that they are getting cutting edge technology, they know that you have invested in them, they will invest in you. This is a great strategy that in and of itself can catapult your practice from where you are to where you want to go.   

Market For Free (just make sure your ‘free’ marketing is congruent with your office message)
Do you have a Website or blog? Are you on all the main social networks? If not, it’s time you got started. You can get a blog for free (in fact, that is what you are reading here). You should also have a Website. You want good quality, but you don’t need it to win a Pulitzer, you just have to be clear, to the point, and well-written. It needs to make people want to come to you. You can get that for a good price, and if you stay active on the social networks – for free – you’ll build a following that can bring you clients.

Set Yourself Apart
No matter what you decide to do for marketing, you need to be sure that you’re not just like everyone else. A Disney style practice creates a “Magical Healing Experience” which means that we have high value and focus on customer service. If you blend into the woodwork, who’s going to notice you and become a client? Reach out and get in front of the people you want to connect with. Get them to pay attention to you. Do something creative – just make sure it’s congruent with your message, be yourself, share the love and the right people will come.

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What To Look For In A Chiropractic Coach

By Dr. Troy on June 22, 2010

If you’re looking to hire a coach, you’ll want to find one that allows you to remain true to your vision of what you want your practice to be, while still guiding you toward greater success. That’s not always an easy thing to find, but there are coaches out there who understand where you’re coming from. They won’t try to change you to fit their vision. Instead, they’ll try to guide and adjust your actions so that they become more congruent with your vision.

Why Get A Chiropractic Coach?
Look, you’ve heard this before….”All the great one’s have coaches”. And, it’s true. The job of the coach is not to be better than you, the job of the coach is to pull out of you what is inside. The job of the coach is to listen, guide, understand, push and encourage. You can’t do it alone and even if you do, you will only get a certain level before you will have to ask for help. So, why wait? Commit to excellence today and get a coach.

Finding The Right Coach.
There are all kinds of places where you can locate someone to consult for your chiropractic business, but be careful. Many practice management groups, consulting firms and companies provide a lot of general consulting information, but they aren’t specific to YOU. With that in mind, they might not be the best for you. Instead, look for a coach who’s specific to you and your needs, not the needs of the management group overall.

Be sure to ask the coach a lot of questions.  The right coach will make you feel comfortable and see that your vision is being honored, and that’s important. I always recommend that you write down what you are looking for in a coach. As you interview coaches see where they fall in the spectrum of what you are looking for, this will be your best gauge in finding the right coach.

What To Expect From A Chiropractic Coach
A coach isn’t going to come in and take over your business. He is going to guide and direct you, so you can keep moving in the right direction. Don’t expect your coach to tell you what to do. However, if you’re looking for that much guidance, you may need to communicate that with the coach, and make sure they can hold you to that accountability. Expect the coach to also suggest ways that you can improve your business and your life.

When you hire a coach, make sure that you know what kinds of problems you want to address and what expectations you have. Even the best of coaches can use that type of guideance in the process that can help to maximize your results.  Initial interviews and paper work can allow the perspective coach to learn  more about you and be more effective in guiding you on the road to success!

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