Recently, a brand new doctor of chiropractic said to me that coming out of school he didn’t feel qualified to start his own practice and that he should associate for a while before trying it on his own.  What do you think?  Could that be fair to say of the majority of new graduates?

Unfortunately this is not the first time I’ve heard this kind of statement.  Being around this profession long enough, I would have to agree with his fear and reservation coming out of college.  My question is, if this is a common scenario could there be a solution to overcome it?

We all know new chiropractors that come out of school and open their own chiropractic offices and have great success.   Are they special, gifted or privileged?  Or have they just by chance found the keys while in school and simply applied them after graduation with a predictable result?

How many of you have seriously looked into associate positions? If you have then you’ll agree that finding a associate ship with a fair salary with a doc willing mentor you to prepare you to leave their practice and open up your own practice really don’t exist.  Now there may be one or two exceptions where the lead doctor loves to mentor and develop the next generation of the profession.  God Bless them and there needs to be more of them.  But think about it, as a business owner are you going to pay someone with no experience and train and mentor them for a year or two, and just when they may start to bring a profit in for you they leave and open their own business.  No wonder there aren’t good associate positions out there.  They don’t make any sense for a businessman.

Where does that leave you, the insecure new doctor?  Honestly it leaves the responsible directly where it always should be, on you! Ooh did you expect that?  Don’t for a second kid yourself and think someone else is going to pull you up.  Has anyone taken an exam for you?

The sooner you realize if it’s going to be it’s up to me. Then you’ll be the one searching out the answers in first or second quarter and gathering the education you’re not going to get while at chiropractic school.  You’ll come out of Chiropractic College with confidence and a plan.

Question: Why would you spend 1-2 years working for peanuts, not being truly mentored or appreciated, only to start a practice and do everything you would have had to do 1-2 years ago?

p.s. I’m willing to share the keys to success, but you need to take the step and ask…I’m here for you.

We are no longer in the age where the doctor knows best, is a family friend and never questioned. So the question is, what type of business are we in and how do we function in it.  Be honest, most of us are not naturally business minded, we are more mission minded and health conscience.  That’s why you’re in chiropractic school and why we become chiropractors.  As you are well aware, most chiropractic colleges cannot give us the business education we need, and honestly they shouldn’t.  They are not business colleges, they are chiropractic colleges.  It would be like going to your cardiologist for an atlas adjustment, it just doesn’t make sense.  First off, as chiropractic students and doctors we are inundated with management and consulting companies trying to give us business help.  What I’m going to say next may shock you, especially those of you who knew me in school.  I say thank goodness and thank God for some of them that help us become successful.  Now be careful who you deal with, just like anything in life, but don’t rule out all of the folks out there to help you based on a couple knuckle heads.

We’ve been blessed to have a great experience when it comes to getting help in practice and we were taught by one of my mentors the essence of the business we are in.

To quote Dr. Tom Owen, he told me “You’re in the People Business Buddy”.  That has always stuck with me and has kept me grounded even when the success came.  If you plan to be in the chiropractic business long term, you must realize that the management and structure of your practice are vital to success. But without remaining focused on why you are there, and who you are there for, you’ll struggle even if you’re bringing home a decent living.  That may sound counter intuitive, but there are way too many burnt out frustrated chiropractors out there that have profitable practices.  Knowing that as you begin your career may help you avoid that type of situation.  Even if you’re one of those frustrated docs, take some time today and look back at the enthusiasm you had as a fledgling doctor and get it back!

Question: What lights your chiropractic fire?  Protect that flame with your life.

Have you been watching the winter Olympics this year?  I’m from the northeast and my wife is from Minnesota. We’re no strangers to the snow, and love the winter games. What a display of talent and execution!  As I’m watching the technical aspects of each event, I’m in awe how precise the athletes are in all aspects of their sport.  They are true professionals.

Just recently we were on a short ski trip with some friends.  Their two kids had never been on skis, while our son has been on skis every winter since he could stand.  Watching these six and seven year olds struggling to grasp this new concept then negotiate with their muscles to stop and turn on the snow was quite a scene. Our son was zipping around them trying to show them what to do, and it occurred to me how ineffective he was at helping them.

When my wife, a former downhill racer and ski instructor, started guiding them through the basic principles, the light bulbs began to come on.

Now what was the difference?  My wife and son both could ski, but only my wife owns, understands and can communicate the principles needed to ski properly.  As you can guess her approach, with expertise, was much more effective than my six year old saying,  hey watch me.

Why is it that when we come out of school with our chiropractic degree we automatically assuming we are Olympians? Experts in all aspects of opening and running a successful practice.  There’s no doubt that as clinicians we’re prepared to treat patients exiting school.  But come on, we haven’t been training intensely for years to market and manage a business, staff and office procedures?  No wonder the success rate of new Chiropractors is atrocious, and student loan defaults rank among the worst of any profession.  To be the Olympian in your new chiropractic office, you need to train in all aspects of the business.  Operating at peak performance in all aspects of your trade consistently.  That’s the definition of a true professional, and leads to ultra success!

As you start preparing for your new chiropractic practice, take a moment and ask yourself, where do I stand?   Am I seasoned professional, able to execute turns, moguls, jumps and ski through the trees?

More likely there are many aspects of your business that need studied and perfected before heading down the black diamond into your chiropractic practice.

Question:  What are your weak areas, and how do you plan to overcome them?