You can’t medicate you way out of something that you behaved your way into.
This is a great saying I heard Dane Donohue use at a chiropractic conference years ago and it is so true for our patients, simply meaning there is no quick fix for a lifetime of bad habits and poor conditioning. You know the 50 year old who is a little out of shape, does not exercise and wants a perfect back in 2 visits, used to taking pain killers to ease the pain in a few hours. This is what we are up against, and this saying makes it super clear and obvious that the aforementioned is impossible.
To make a real change we need new thinking and a different approach. In your practice that represents longer term care, education that the patient is responsible for their own healing and skill on your part to deliver the service.
But I am sure you’ve guessed; I am not here to talk about that statement as it pertains to your patients. I am talking about you and your practice and/or life success.
‘You can’t attend your way out of something you behaved your way into’. I see it a lot, people jumping on all the courses going. All the personal development, new patient generation and technique courses. Of which there is an abundance out there. I even see a lot of you on my courses.
However, my question is, have you changed? Has your practice grown? Has your life changed?
And I know there are a lot of you reading for whom the answer is absolutely yes! But why do some succeed, and others do not?
There is no magic bullet. No one can do the work for you.
The gym is a brilliant place to take reference for this, that person who is religious in their attendance, works with a PT at least once a week, but never seems to get results, why?
Because they are not committing and doing the work themselves, the work when the doors are closed when no one is looking when no one will praise them, when they could be out getting some instant gratification in a bar or watching TV.
This is a tough love blog today because I so want you to succeed and thrive this year and I know just by being someone who reads this that you have the potential.
So, what can you do?
“Discipline is the difference between the good and the great”.
Your habits are the answer, what are your goals and habits that move you forward each day? You see your goals will not get you where you want to go, it’s the work that does.
“It is easier to act yourself into enthusiasm than it is to enthuse yourself into action”.
Take daily action to move you forward. Starting today I want you to do 1 thing that will move you forward in these three areas:
1. Your relationships.
2. Your health.
3. Your business.
Note that business is last, this will not thrive unless you are and therefore you MUST work on you and your relationships daily. But also notice business is there and should be there every day. Just one thing each day for each one of these three things and you will be predictably moving forwards.
Warning, don’t try to cheat the system and do 3 things of each on each day therefore buying yourself a day off. That simply does not work. Consistency is rewarded and burnout is avoided by doing little and often.
Trust me, I am the one doing it and achieving as a result, and I guarantee anyone worth their salt is doing the same.
With tough love,
Tom