I spent this last weekend joining the most recent graduates of Life Chiropractic College West as they celebrated their completion of the Doctor of Chiropractic degree.  Clo Lau, in her Valedictorian speech, referred to the journey as “bittersweet” which really set the tone for the weekend.  I was amazed at how intimately connected, philosophically sound and success driven these two classes were.  I am incredibly excited to see where this group of Chiropractic warriors takes our profession.

Everybody had a plan… and diverse these plans were.  I met graduates going to Spain, Brazil, Canada, England and even the beautiful St. Thomas!  I truly wish you all the best and just wanted to extend 5 of my most favorite reads I have had since Graduation.

1. E-Myth Revisited, Michael Gerber – Hands down the the first and foremost business book anyone should read.  Almost ANY coach, mentor or consultant will offer up this gem as a first read.
2. The Success Principles, Jack Canfield – This collection of success principles is a great overview of just about all the success habits one needs to lead our selves, patients, community and profession.
3. Richest Man in Babylon, George C Classon – If you don’t pay yourself first right from the start you will surely be challenged in the future when you are compelled to give back.  This short but profound read is a classic and an absolute must.
4. Book Yourself Solid, Michael Port – One of the best books on the shelf that outlines a specific plan to fill your office with well qualified patients that are compelled to refer.
5. The Art of the Start, Guy Kawasaki – Guy is a huge hero of mine.  I love to cross appropriate success principles in other industries and apply them to ours.  Guy is from the technology industry, but his message is SO Chiropractic and very consistent with the TIC philosophy.

BONUS

I am currently trying to get through what will probably end up as my most favorite read this year.  Tribes, by Seth Godin, is such a tiny book; however, every time I pick it up I can only get through a couple pages before I have to put it down because I just got so fired up to implement a new strategy.  There is NO fluff in this book.  In fact there isn’t even any chapters, just pure innate thought.

Call to Action

1. If you haven’t already, please download the Dream Practice Blueprint.  Not exhaustive but a great first insight into starting your Dream Practice
2. Check out Success Has a Reading List for more book recommendations.
3. Lastly, and most importantly.  This Blog is to serve as a conduit that directly connects successful Doctors in the field to students that are about to graduate, so YOUR success stories, tips and insights would be invaluable for the graduates behind you.  Please email me your success and comment here frequently, and each group will graduate stronger and stronger.

Final Words

In school you are charged with tasks to complete and hoops to jump through all of which have already been created and given to you.  You are given the syllabus, time line and most of the tools necessary to complete your degree.  Not that it is easy – it surely isn’t – but what you need to do is always in front of you.

In practice you are given nothing.  You are charged with the responsibility to create the tasks, figure out the time line and find the tools necessary to create the practice you dream of.

This is a huge blessing and opportunity.  In school you don’t have much say in the final product.  You trade input for a given and known path.  In practice, it is the opposite, you trade the known path for full control of design and final product.  You can now create exactly what you want, where you want it and even with whom you want it with.  I would take that trade any day.  It is certainly a tougher path and certainly not meant for all, however the rewards are that much greater.  Not many career choices allow for full expression of oneself with such a huge lasting impact on the lives millions in our world.

Some will associate, some will open their own practice, some will partner, some will teach and some will research, but ALL together you will form the next chapter in Chiropractic’s history.

Onward and upward,
Darren

OUCH!  AGAIN!

I am currently in the process of opening another Upper Cervical Chiropractic Practice and I am humbled and reminded once again how daunting the process can be even if you have done it a few times before.  Every situation is different.  The permit process is vastly different, from city to city, the loan/leasing situation is always changing, marketing that used to work is now obsolete.  The insurance/cash situations pose unique challenges from location to location.  Then there are the things you don’t know, you don’t know!  Those are my favorite.

Since every process is so different and poses a unique set of circumstances it can often feel lonely in the process.  There are a few places to reach out to but what if you could reach out to a group that was entrenched in the same process as you are now?  What if you could quickly and effortlessly check in on your computer or phone for some sage advice or even just to vent a frustration? How great would it be to share a win in your area that helps another warrior get unstuck across the country.

Dream Practice Mastermind

I am putting together a small group of committed Chiropractors who are on a mission to open an Upper Cervical Chiropractic practice in the next year.  We will form a mastermind group where we can share ideas, work on grand opening campaigns, find money, celebrate wins, overcome obstacles and ultimately facilitate the growth of Upper Cervical Chiropractors across the world.

Are you starting an Upper Cervical Practice in the next year?

Step 1 – Please send an email to me at drdarrenwhite@mac.com letting me know when and where you are opening a practice.  Please also include your Technique preference.

Step 2 – Please log on to DreamPractice.ning.com and update your profile as this will be where the group is hosted.  If you are NOT a member please email me for access as this is a closed group.

Step 3 – Polish or at least have a rough business plan ready.  If you need help please check out the Dream Practice Business Plan inside the Dream Practice Blueprint here.

If you know someone who is opening a practice in the next year please forward this post to them.

Onward and Upward,
Dr. Darren White

Success is elusive. Success is a puzzle. Success is different for everyone. A couple of weeks ago I was trying to figure out if there were any similarities in Chiropractic’s super successful. Though I was looking for similarities, I became fascinated by how different each person’s story was. Recently I emailed one of my closest friends from school who certainly has one of the biggest practices I know. He and I had worked on several projects together in school and I KNEW he would be a huge success. If serving the masses is your vision, this couple’s story will be truly inspirational. It’s certainly not all about the numbers, but to put their practice into perspective, they were just nearing the 1000 visits per week milestone. I first asked him his story without letting him know what I was looking for. I wanted to hear what was most important to him versus what I thot was important. Then I  followed up with three specific questions that I had compiled from your twitter responses.

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Darren,

It’s an honor to share.

Once we as a Team, Dr. Amanda, Myself and the Team members started to get the “Big Idea”, which is continually realizing and reminding ourselves that we are nothing and God is everything. Letting God use us on a daily basis to serve principled chiropractic to the masses. Teaching our patients Above, Down, Inside, Out. That Healing takes time and repetition. That we are a practice of integrity, honesty, transparency and here to serve God by serving them, then it all starts to come together.

“The procedures aren’t what let you serve the masses, but you can’t serve the masses without the procedures.” I recommend you chew on that a while!

It takes an awesome, dedicated and principled team that is sold out, ALL-In, and Always Faithful to the Principle of Chiropractic that will initially attract and then allow you to serve the people. It takes a powerful, convicted chiropractor to deliver a one of a kind Dr’s Report. It takes concise and effective team huddles and meetings. It takes time to build Deep Roots with a principled practice and team…..no such thing as shooting stars!

As time goes on, the practice is getting easier and the presence of God is getting stronger. As we keep serving more people, there seems to be more time to serve them. As we keep saying less, the patients keep understanding more. How could all that be possible?

I continue to ask myself that at times, however, when something is true and pure, when it’s from God, as we know D.D. Palmer received Chiropractic in a vision from God, then it all makes sense!

People can sense that…they can feel God’s presence, they can sense and feel our team’s mission and passion to serve. So less talk equals more volume. It opens up “space” in our practices, and in our heads. It allows God to use us to serve more of this sick and suffering humanity. To empty out the hospitals and fill up the places of worship! As our mentor (who we are eternally grateful to God for putting him in our lives), Dr Rob Schiffman says, “We are not on a Mission, We are the Mission!”

Dream Practice Questions

1. How did you let your community know your story and mission when you first started. What types of strategies did you utilize to invite new patients into the practice?

As Dr. Demartini says “where ever 2 or more gather….” So when we opened our practice, we talked, spoke, screened, yelled, knocked, shook hands, joined and you get the idea. We talked TIC where ever anyone would listen – “Early to bed and early to rise, work like hell and advertise” B.J. Palmer. As we learned more about ourselves and the practice grew, we started to refine and we still perform external marketing, but now it’s “wherever 100- 200 or more gather….” and we focus on our internal procedures with the 80/20 principle. Our current patients are the 20% that will get us the 80%.

2. How many new patients per month are introduced to your practice and what percentage come from internal vs external referrals?

100+ NP per month. 75% come from internal marketing and referrals. The other 25% from Advertising/Attorneys/Screenings, etc.

3. What could students be doing right NOW, to make sure they hit the ground running when they graduate?

Find chiropractors who you resonate with and train with them. Be open to learning and serving. Be a Servant. Realize now that you need help, need a coach and mentor. Attending the Get the Big Idea Seminars/Principled Revolution to learn how to serve the masses as a student and be a chiropractic champion when they start their practice. www.getthebigidea.com

Thanks again! I just love your purpose.

Always Faithful,

Dr. Jeremy Hess

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Onward and Upward,
Dr. Darren White