Why Do You Want to Be a Chiropractor?

One of the first things I ask chiropractors who call me for advice as they go through a spot of difficulty is, "Why did you become a chiropractor?"

This usually isn't the type of question that struggling chiropractors expect after pouring their hearts out about their lack of patients, inability to pay their bills or their fear of losing their house. Deep in their pity party, they rarely see the connection.

"I wanted to help people."

"I'm good with my hands and I've always been interested in health."

"It seemed like an easy way to become a doctor."

"I had a positive chiropractic experience and it seemed interesting."

I could go on. Not a single one has observed, "I've always wanted to run my own small business and the getting and keeping of chiropractic patients seemed like a profitable way to make a living."

Strip away the emotion, the philosophy, the "big idea," and the do-gooder mentality of helping those who are hurting, and you have a small business. If you don't run a profitable small business, you'll find the ability to "help people" and all the other Hallmark card intentions disappear. This is often when I get the phone call or email. What appears to be a lack of new patients is no different than a struggling restaurant without hungry diners, a pet groomer without pets or a hair salon without people who want their hair styled.

In the short term, I have to assume the struggling chiropractor has adequate technical skills. I know this is a huge assumption, but it's something unlikely to change or improve in the next critical weeks and months. What else can we work on?

Win an Oscar. First, realize you're not able to hide your doubts and distractions from patients. I know, you're trying, but most patients can see through your pathetic performance. You'll need to be considerably more convincing if you have any hope of extricating yourself. One way is to...

Stay present with patients. When times are tough you're inclined to leave the patient (in your mind) and do some math. Patients may not know you're multiplying the number of patients on the book for the rest of the day by the likely fee you'll be getting. But they sense you're energy isn't focused on them. Follow Kenny Rogers's advice, "There'll be time for counting when the dealing's done."

Count your blessings. When you lack patients, money or confidence it's tempting to think you have few resources and even more tempting to forget the gratitude you should be feeling for what you do have. You may be cash poor but knowledge rich. Ask yourself how you can turn your knowledge into cash (new patients).

What is the lesson? What is a lack of patients telling you? What meaning are you attaching? If you were a restaurant, pet groomer or hair salon, what would is the marketplace saying? Find the lesson. That's where the solution is.

Stop worrying. Worry is merely is praying for what you don't want. Which takes place in the future. You must remain in the present because the present is the only place you can do anything about your circumstances. Ask yourself dozens of time each day if you must, "What could I be doing right now to help get and keep more patients?"

Apologize. Take out the file folders of inactives that you shortchanged because you were too busy thinking about yourself. Sequester yourself in your office and pray. Apologize. Visualize the patients and how you might be a better servant in the future. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for another chance.

If all goes according to plan, every successful practice will go through a time or two of struggle, frustration, crisis and resolution. Chiropractors who start up and achieve success (however you define it) without the painful doubts and confidence-shattering difficulties are not only rare, but rarely appreciate the fundamental truth that they run a small business first, and a healing center that helps people second. Because if you can't do the former, you won't get to do the latter.