Networking

NETWORKING

I’ve been a “networker” for years. As a young banker, we were required to belong to a civic group like Optimist, Rotary, etc. As you advanced in the bank, your membership at either the country club or dinner club was paid by the bank. These days, “networking” is more direct with the specific intent to GET business.

One of the problems with “networking” these days is the myopic effort to “pitch” yourself in 30-60 second sound bytes. While that might get you some referrals, that gets boring and painfully “salesy”.

IF you’re going to “network”, why not try a longer term approach of GIVING. Instead of silently rehearsing your “pitch” till it’s your turn to stand up and spew, why not make the effort to LISTEN to others make their presentation. THEN think of all the people you know (family, friends, associates) who could possibly use the services of your fellow networkers? Become a resource for everyone you know and they will naturally think of you when someone needs what you have to offer.

The Law of Reciprocation works. As President Kennedy stated “All boats rise with the tide”. We’re in the helping business. Why not help as many people as you possibly can in as many ways as you can. It will add new meaning to your life and you practice.

Chiropractor speaks at National Youth Leadership Forum-Medicine

I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion at the National Youth Leadership Forum – Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta recently.  Every year, Emory hosts the NYLF-Medicine for high school seniors considering a career in Medicine/healthcare.

This is my 10th year of participating in the program.  In the past, each participating practitioner has spoken to separate breakout groups about their own specialty.  This year, the format changed somewhat so that the students could compare and contrast the various specialties.  It was really quite interesting.

The panel on which I participated included three MDs, an internist, a neurosurgeon, a family physician and a chiropractor.  Almost all of us had similar stories on how we ended up in healthcare, essentially that we all had a passion to serve and to help people.  yet, we all ended up in our own specialty for different reasons.

One of the things that struck me was how similar, yet how different we all practiced.  It was quite amazing at how my and the family physician’s practices paralleled.   Like me, he sees families from newborns to grandparents, even great grandparents just like me.  He serves as a team physician for a local high school athletic program, just as I have served as team chiropractor.  While the specialists focus on their specialties, the GP and I see folks with a variety of conditions sometimes BEFORE and sometimes AFTER having been diagnosed with a condition that would normally require a specialist’s intervention.

It was also very interesting how attuned to business considerations these future doctors were.  They seemed to understand the high cost of becoming a doctor and the changing economic environment facing health care providers in today’s market.

One of the most interesting questions for the panel was “What are the pros and cons of what you do?”  Not too surprisingly, every respondent had virtually the same answer, “I love what I do.  I get to help people.  What I do is very rewarding.  ?But, the downside is that you need to know that if you’re going to be successful, you’re going to need to work your butt off AND learn how to be successful business owner at the same time.”

I’ll write more later.  But suffice to say, that I always enjoy my time with the NYLF and am always gratified at the number of young people interested in Chiropractic as a career path.

God’s Plan and Chiropractic

Funny thing about “God’s Plan”.  I hear that term used in so many scenarios, I used to wonder just what “God’s Plan” for each one of us really is.  Some people justify their misery by saying it must be part of “God’s Plan”.  Some credit their success to “God’s Plan”.  It seems (sometimes) like the ending of Will Smith’s “Men in Black” movie where the gods are playing marbles with all the planets and their inhabitants.

I’m not buying it, though.  I have a whole different take on “God’s Plan”.  And, I’ll make the  connection to chiropractic in a minute.  Be patient.

I DO believe that all the Universe was Created and that part of that Creation included a Design with natural laws to hold everything in place and keep everything balanced over time.  And, that that organization is apparent in ALL living things.  This Organization is designed to help living things achieve their maximum life potential.  In other words, a tree will use all resources available to it (including light, air, water and nutrients) to grow as tall as it can and to produce as many other little trees as it can.  It’s the same with any animal of any species.  They eat, drink, sleep and mate in order to live and perpetuate life.

You and I are Designed the very same way, with a little quirk.  Being at the top of the food chain, makes it a little easier for us humans to move up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  While we DO still have the natural drive to eat, breathe, sleep and procreate, we also were Given the power to reason.  Sometimes, I wonder if that power is a gift or a burden.  Some use that power to conceive, perceive and achieve at incredible levels while others use that power to enslave themselves and limit their own potential to achieve and enjoy life.  To me, it is incredible how the very SAME power propels some to unbelievable heights while enslaving others in fear and doubt.

Given all that, I personally believe God’s Plan for every person on this planet is to use ALL of Creation to achieve great things and to serve Mankind in tremendous ways.  In fact, I believe that the best way to glorify God is to make the fullest and best use of ALL of Creation, including yourself.

As a chiropractor, my main job is to help people understand the power they have to be healthy, happy and fulfilled.  The other part of my job is to locate and remove a physical source of interference in how that is manifested in their body, health and life.  When I do this, miracles happen in my office.  Sometimes the miracle is an unexpected healing… by established “knowledge”.  Sometimes, it is someone being able to sleep an entire night through for the first time in years.  Sometimes, it is the return of clear thinking and peace of mind.  Sometimes, it becomes the catalyst for someone turning their entire life around.

If indeed we were made in the “image and likeness” of the Creator of all things, then the “Plan” for you and me is greatness.  I believe that you really were endowed with seeds of greatness and that “God’s Plan” for you is great beyond your wildest dreams.  There are only two things you need to get there.  First, you must accept that your were Designed for greatness.  Second, you must remove the barriers to your ability to get there.  Okay, there is a third thing.  You must ACT on that understanding and put the Plan to work in your life.

I wish you the best in your journey.

Workers Compensation, Your Company & Unlimited Chiropractic Care

I have NEVER liked Workers Compensation as a chiropractor or a business owner.  However, I do realize that workplace injuries do happen and there should be some form of compensation for medical bills and income lost due to injuries caused simply by the nature of the job.  Anything that sets up an adversarial relationship between employee and employer can never be a good thing.

As a chiropractor, the concept of being a Workers Compensation provider has become extremely repugnant.  Granted, lots of folks do hurt their backs while at work and chiropractic care CAN help them recover and get back to work.  However, as has become the case with most forms of third party reimbursement, Workers Compensation has become a source of easy money for many in my profession.  It’s also created an environment that has brought some ill-repute to chiropractic.  Even though the cost of chiropractic care is well below the cost of back surgery and extensive physical therapy and rehab, it has gotten to the point where many states are making it difficult for chiropractors to even participate in Workers Compensation programs.

While chiropractors on one end of the spectrum have milked the third party cow just about dry, there is another group of chiropractors that companies ought to consider as part of its benefits and risk management team.  These chiropractors offer what has become known as chiropractic membership practices.  A chiropractic membership practice provides unlimited chiropractic care at a fixed fee usually over a specific period of time, typically for a year.  The program is designed for lifetime wellness care, though.

The membership practitioner works from a performance perspective.  Their objective is simply to take stress off the nervous system so folks can move toward their greatest potential at work, at home and at life in general.  When this happens, people are more rested, alert and less stressed.  What this means at work less time missed from work due to illness, injury or family trips to the medical doctor.  What this means to the employer is fewer Workers Com claims, fewer health insurance claims, improved morale and more productivity.  And, we all know that fewer Workers Comp and health insurance claims means lower premiums and eventually a better bottom line.

In my next blog, I’ll show you ways your company can use a chiropractic membership practice for your company and employees.

Holy Crap! So that’s what $69 a month can do!

I’m a chiropractor.  I’m “cheap”.  I charge $69 a month for “unlimited care”.  Some of my chiropractor friends think I’m crazy.  And, some of my chiropractic non-friends accuse me of cheapening my profession and even breaking the law.  Consumers sometime wonder “what’s the catch?”  But, the folks that like how they feel from getting adjusted on a regular basis LOVE me.  Some think I’m a “marketing genius”.  I like to think they’re pretty bright, too.

Let’s take a look and see who is right, me or my detractors.  I know I’m right.  I just feel the need to give my detractors a crack at being right.

When I first started getting adjusted 22 years ago, I had health insurance and gladly used it to pay for my care.  But, it wasn’t long after that that I became self-employed and no longer had a third party paying for my adjustments.  So, I did what any intelligent, red-blooded American man would do, I married my chiropractor and have not had to pay for my adjustments since!

After seeing and experiencing the wondrous benefits of getting checked by a chiropractor on a regular basis (and seeing it work on my own kids) I decided to become a chiropractor.  The joy and miracles I’ve experienced as a result of that decision are sometimes difficult for me to express in words.  My kids are healthy, happy and strong and have never worried about sickness or disease.  Neither have had a single vaccination (well, until my son entered the Army) nor dealt with chronic or infectious disease as a result.  And, I’ve not even taken an aspirin for the problem that led me to get adjusted in the first place.

Early in my own chiropractic career, I decided that I wanted to make this thing afforded and accessible to virtually everyone.  You see, I’m what’s called a DE chiropractor.  We understand that the world would be a better place if EVERY family could realize the benefits from chiropractic that my family has.  Some of my early mentors, including Drs Bob Sottile, Jim Sigafoose, Sid Williams and Richard Santo always posed the challenge “Make your care affordable and see lots of people”.  That was a formula that I could understand and embrace.

So, that’s what I did.  Like I said earlier, we charge a low monthly membership fee of $69.  It’s a little more for a couple and a family.  My thinking was not necessarily to make it “cheap” but to have a fee that someone would be willing to pay every month for the rest of their life.  In my case, if I had been paying just $69 a month, I would have paid over $18,ooo!  EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!  What if I had a hundred clients doing that or two hundred, three or five?  Do the math!

I wonder how we could transform the chiropractic profession from a bunch of insurance chasing back crackers to an army of folks helping families live fuller, happier drug-free lives?  What a wonderful place America (and the World) would be if we could help get millions fo families off drugs and on life!  I’m thinking $69 a month just might change the World!

Chiropractic and the Apple iPad

My friend, Pete Kane, is a social media consultant helping businesses grow and prosper by expanding their presence through social media.  Pete is a great guy.  He’s been a career salesman and has been quite successful.  But like me, Pete has a short attention span (some people call it ADD) that sometimes limits his productivity.  He’s tried the planners, lists and almost every organizing scheme you can think of.  And yes, despite my objections, he’s used some of the popular medications.

But, Pete seems to have stumbled onto a miracle cure for his “ADD” while improving his productivity “at least a hundred fold” as he says.  Pete recently got an Apple iPad.  Not being an Apple user (yet) I’m not sure exactly how this new computing device has helped him so much so fast.  Pete will tell you that the training package he bought with his iPad (from PeachMac in Marietta, GA) has opened new vistas that he had never considered before.  He says that now, he no longer has to close a sale because it just happens.

As Pete is raving about his newfound productivity, I’m reminded of what chiropractic really does for people.  I know.  I know.  You think it’s for back pain.  But, what chiropractic really does is take stress off your nervous system so that you and your body are more aware of better ways to live, work and function.  And as you learn how to listen to all the new feedback you get from your body as a result of de-stressing your nervous system, your productivity and health begin to compound to the point that it takes on a whole new meaning.

Every now and then a new invention or discovery comes along that enables tremendous leaps for Mankind.  For me, chiropractic is one of those discoveries.  For Pete, it’s the iPad.

Dollar Tree and The Membership Practice

My daughter and I love the Dollar Tree.  It’s amazing how many things you can buy there for $1.  You can get tools, batteries, food, cleaning products, toys, holiday decorations, gift wrap, etc.  It’s ridiculous.  As an economist and former banker, I’m also amazed that there’s a business that there’s enough profit margin on $1 items to pay rent for a retail location, salaries and utilities and STILL make a profit significant enough to make it a worthy investment.

But, I LOVE the concept.  It’s simple.  It’s clear what they do.  It’s easy to get, find what you want and get out.  That’s the premise of The Membership Practice: Great chiropractic adjustments available in a hassle free, affordable manner so that virtually anyone can afford to feel better, work better and live better ALL THE TIME!

Dollar Tree and The Membership Practice is NOT about cheap.  It’s a business model that respects the consumer’s (your) time and resources while ensuring a reasonable profit on each visit.  This mode of practice is designed to attract LOTS of dedicated, long-term clients that ensures an excellent income on a low overhead, low stress practice for the chiropractor.

Whether you’re looking for a chiropractor or a chiropractor looking for a simpler way to practice, think about The Membership Practice.

The Membership Practice: Walmart and Unlimited Chiropractic Care

Some people just don’t like Walmart.  But, LOTS of people obviously DO like Walmart.  In fact, in less than 50 years Walmart has become the largest corporation in the world.

Walmart is the world’s largest corporation for one reason, value.  Sam Walton’s little business became a BIG business because their prices were just a shade lower than their competition’s.  As a result, the average American family shops at Walmart EVERY week for the typical stuff you could buy at any grocery store or hardware store or clothing store.  Granted, no one goes to Walmart for specialty items or designer clothing.

While the typical prejudice is that Walmart serves only low-income families, actual research shows that the retailer has a growing high-income clientele that shops there for their store brand items for even greater savings.  In other words, intelligent, informed consumers shop there to save money on items they purchase on a routine basis where name brands are not necessary and the saving sis appreciated.

Which brings me to The Membership Practice, a concept in chiropractic that provides individuals and families with access to chiropractic care at affordable fees without the need for insurance.  In fact The Membership Practice model offers unlimited chiropractic care at a low monthly fee deducted from your credit/debit card.  The business model is based on long-term maintenance and wellness care.  The assumption is that the average user of wellness-based chiropractic care will get checked an average of once a week.  At Langley Chiropractic Office (in Marietta, GA) the monthly fee is $69 for an individual and $129 for an entire family.

While some practitioners complain that the fees is too low and cheapens the profession’s image, my response is “baloney!”.  The concept actually enables chiropractors to help more people get the regular care that helps families stay healthy and out of the doctor’s office.  Fewer trips to the doctor’s office means money saved that can go to other needs the family may have like vacation, retirement, braces, etc.  Just like Walmart’s new slogan ““Saving people money so they can live better lives”, The Membership Practice aims to lower the barriers to families having affordable access to routine chiropractic care anywhere in the United States.

Heck, I can even see The Membership Practice in all 6000 or so Walmart stores across America!  What a great deal for Walmart, chiropractors and the public.  Imagine getting the family adjusted once a week when they go to Walmart or 500-1000 new customers going shopping at Walmart when they go for their weekly adjustments. Imagine 12-15,000 fully employed chiropractors earning a good living as they adjust hundreds or thousands of folks each week.  And, imagine the money and lives saved because of the number of Americans taking fewer drugs and making fewer visits to the doctor’s office because of their new-found health.

The vision of The Membership Practice is that every man, woman and child in America has access to quality, affordable chiropractic care.  Insurance is hardly affordable for chiropractic care these days.  IF the average American is to have ready access to regular chiropractic care, it is imperative that the profession find ways to make it available.  And honestly, I’ve always believed the free market is where the solution to rising health care costs would be found.

Look for The Membership Practice near you.  If you don’t have one, let me know.  I’ll help you find one.  And, maybe one day you’ll even find them in your local Walmart store.

Netflix and Unlimited Chiropractic Care

A long time ago, if you wanted to watch a movie you either had to go see it at the theater or wait for it to show up on TV.  Then came the VCR and you could buy videos to watch at home whenever you wanted.  Then came Blockbuster and you no longer had to buy videos, but simply rent them.  Consumers saved lots of money.  But, Blockbuster got greedy and put all sorts of restrictions and penalties on their customers.  And as always happens in a free market, a new competitor showed up.

Netflix offered unlimited rentals through the mail for a low, flat monthly fee.  This enabled consumers to order the videos they wanted to watch, when they wanted to watch them without fear of restrictions and penalties.  Netflix has improved on the concept and now allows you to simply download a movie on your computer removing another barrier to their customers.  Granted, cable companies are now allowing you to watch and pay for movies on demand.  BUT, Netflix changed the movie rental market and has almost put Blockbuster out of business.

Health care, especially the chiropractic profession is very similar to the movie rental business.  For a long time, insurance would pay for almost any bill a provider submitted.  As a result, fees went sky-high and about the only way folks could afford to the chiropractor was if it was covered on their insurance.  Even without insurance, doctors created “corrective care plans” based on what was the generally accepted per visit fee based on insurance reimbursement schedules.  Needless to say, lots of folks that wanted chiropractic care simply could not afford to go .

An innovation in health care, especially chiropractic, is the concept of unlimited care at a fixed fee.  Because the greatest benefit of chiropractic care is long-term health and wellness, a fixed number of visits over a limited period of time was limiting for both the consumer and the provider.  Unlimited care allows you to get adjusted as often as you need while KNOWING what the cost will be.  And because of the fixed fee, you can include the care as part of your lifestyle without regard to uncertainties in health care and insurance.

Unlimited care programs also work for the provider/chiropractor.  Without having to hassle with insurance companies and an overhead to justify the expense, chiropractors are able to cut their overhead.  Also, the lower fee allows them to see more people with less hassle.  This makes the chiropractor more efficient and more effective.  It actually allows more people to get care in a simple, affordable fashion.  And as people realize the great benefits of regular chiropractic care, the greater demand for simple, effective chiropractic care grows.

I urge chiropractors to consider this business model and consumers who want true health to find chiropractors that use this model.  It’s probably the best way I know to make sure that you’ll find a good chiropractor that does JUST what a chiropractor does.

Is Mankind Inherently Destructive?

Is Man (Mankind, that is) inherently evil and destructive or enlightened and good?

Personally, I believe both.  A part of Man is like the natural forces of earth, wind, fire and rain.  While they can serve us well, they are destructive in nature.  If you don’t believe me, just stand out in the elements or expose virtually anything you can imagine to those elements long enough and you’ll see the destructive nature of those forces.  They’ll simply wear you down.

There IS an aspect of Mankind that is cold, cruel and destructive.  That part of us is selfish and either unaware or ambivalent to the effect we have on others and the world around us.  And, it’s not just a few people.  It’s all of us.  Some are just more subtle than others about it.

BUT, there’s also an aspect of Man (Mankind) that is peaceful, loving and creative.  It’s this part of us that separates us from all other forms of life from other mammals to the lowly single-cell amoeba.  It’s also this part of us that gives us hope for the future, to smile when we see a baby or to cry when our emotions are touched, to create beautiful works of art, to invent, to build, to imagine, to create.

I also believe this higher self is easily accessible to each one of us.  It’s only a decision away.  There’s an innate mechanism is each of us that strives toward our immediate AND our long-term good.  Its purpose is to guide and direct us, to help us make good decisions and to live with the consequences of bad decisions.  the decision is simply to LISTEN to that wee small voice and obey its command whenever and however it expresses itself.

Decide today to listen and respond to that wee small voice that is creative, clean, pure, powerful and positive.  Watch your life expand and create new opportunities and joys for you every day.  And as you expand your own creative joy and peace, you will automatically expand that of the world around you.