Lessons from the Success Files
September 23, 2009
Hello!!
What an AMAZING opportunity we have as chiropractors to impact the lives of thousands…WOW!!! It sends chills up and down my spine (nerve system is at FULL potential, baby! ;) ) Serving others is the BEST way to redirect focus and harness passion! Agreed?
I can remember as a child our futile attempts to pout and feel sorry for ourselves in order to get attention or to get our way. Those antics did not go very far in our family, whatsoever. It was as futile as taking a pill, potion, or lotion to correct subluxation. Yah, that is NOT going to happen.
IF my siblings or I felt sorry for ourselves our parents wisely instructed us to think about others and to do something for someone else which immediately shifted our “poor me” antics into positive and useful actions. I am thankful for my parents’ loving teaching and their example to reach out to others instead of just serving me because I was filled up WAY more when I did for others than just myself. Thanks, Mom and Dad!!!
What about you? Which gives you more pleasure-complaining about your present circumstances OR taking action and serving someone?
If you’ve been “down in the dumps”, moaning and groaning about how bad your circumstances are, I invite you to IMMEDIATELY change your present condition by stepping out into your community and serving for the pure joy of serving. You will be transformed AND your expenditure of energy will be productive v. destructive. That’s WAY better!!! Serving others does serve self to over-flowing too. How radically cool is THAT? We have a sure-fire solution to migrate out of the “poor me” mantra and into a place where we will be served while in service to others. How ’bout it…?
Upon examination of my weekly schedule, I am serving my clients in BIGGER ways and more frequently than ever before. They know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I’m 100% committed to them and their support. Period!! You’re likely doing the same for your members as well. I won’t quit on my clients and they don’t quit on their members. These are the days of intense service and passion.
I interrupt this letter with a VERY special invitation….
REGGIE GOLD LIVE in Phoenix-October 10th from 12-2PM
Dr Reggie Gold, myself, and Ali from CLA, request your presence on Saturday, October 10th. This will be an explosive time of celebration, inspiration, and innovation to help YOU on your journey to serve like NEVER before!!! We’re meeting at Dr Jose Lara’s office (2735 West Union Hills Dr, Ste 102, Phx 85027). Space is limited. You must register with me: DrB@drbarbarasturm.com When you register, include your Name, Email Address, Best number to contact you, and the number of seats you want to reserve. Come experience the excitement and get FIRED up!!!
And now, back to our regularly scheduled letter…
My mom taught my siblings and I skits, songs, Bible verses, etc and then we would perform at senior centers. She helped us over come any fears we had, or would have, about being in front of people while serving in this manner. She demonstrated to us the reality that more is “caught” than taught. Maybe it’s time to unveil your Doctor with a Heart Day, doc? Or perhaps it’s time to look at volunteering your time at your child’s school, your church, the service crews at local high school sporting events…there are endless ways. And if your excuse is, “I don’t have enough time…” I’ve got news for you, you do. It’s just time that you learn how to be more creative and innovative with your time. Every human being has been given the same amount…
If you don’t know how to serve consider these sources:
1. Shelters-serve food to those who are hungry and in need of a warm smile and acceptance.
2. Transportation-drive others to appointments that they need to go to or take them to the store.
3. Support-offer to carry the load of child-rearing for a few hours or a day for a mom who is struggling. Honestly, you could spare that child abuse and heartache.
4. Affection-take your kids to a nursing home and shower the residents there with love and affection.
5. Listen-open your ears and hear what others have to say. Model value…
6. Share-share more than you tell and you never have to sell!!
All of these can also be used to expand your business as well. Want to know how? Simple…be the model, not the expert. Invite your members to participate with you and enroll your family in the mission. That’s it. Serve together which builds relationships, connections, and bonding. It’s a DEFINITE WIN-WIN.
Check out this letter written by three chiropractic students regarding what they “caught” on their journey. VERY touching…
3,000 Miles in Search of Philosophy
“How much does chiropractic philosophy mean to you? Is it apparent in your office? Recently, a band of chiropractic students embarked on an adventure that spanned ten days and over 3,300 miles in search of chiropractors and offices that truly embodied the chiropractic philosophy. Three college campuses, 13 states and 18 chiropractors later we found exactly what we were looking for.
When we set out we had a few specific questions: Can any patient, practice member or, as some like to refer to them, people, truly understand the chiropractic philosophy? And even in these hard financial times, are people still seeking the necessary chiropractic care? What makes a great chiropractor? During the trip we found the answers to these questions and many more.
Like many students, our understanding of true chiropractic philosophy was rather incomplete. Each of us have listened to hundreds of hours of audio, read numerous green and blue books and had countless discussions regarding the philosophy. What we lacked was the insight into the “real world” side of chiropractic philosophy that only comes with practical experience. Each stop added to our understanding and the hours on the road in between helped to solidify our beliefs in what chiropractic really is.
It is truly not a treatment for numerous musculoskeletal conditions nor is it the one cure for all of the problems that plague man kind. No, chiropractic is the process of analyzing and removing subluxations thereby allowing for a greater expression of innate intelligence resulting in increased efficiency and a greater expression of life.
All of the people (both chiropractors and patients) that we encountered in our travels understood this principle and have been living it out for a number of years. In fact, some have been coming to the same office at least once a week for over 40 years! This helped us to answer the first question that we had. When people understand what chiropractic is, they do not want to live without it. All of the chiropractors we met were experts in simply explaining the profession to their practice members. Keep in mind that understanding the principle and putting it to use are two totally different things. (side bar from Dr Barbara: Do you know the way? Do you know the how? Do you have the desire to share chiropractic with more people? What’s holding you back?)
With many chiropractic offices struggling in these tough financial times, it was refreshing to see all of the chiropractors we visited relatively unaffected by the changing economic climate (side bar from Dr Barbara: hmmmm…must just be THOSE chiropractors towns, hey? They live in the towns that have the money trees. Nope, it’s always the WHO, not the what!). Because these chiropractors stress lifetime family maintenance care and have a correlating fee system that provides families the ability to afford long term care, they had seen very little drop in their visit numbers. In fact, many have actually seen an increase! How many chiropractors can say that they have seen an increase in their visits over the past few years? Not many! (side bar from Dr Barbara: if you want to read inspiring success stories about growth despite these economic times, please visit my website or just ask me for them. Each doc would be delighted to share their journey with you!)
Besides explaining chiropractic and having very affordable fees there was something else that set these chiropractors above the rest, namely their drive to help others. Each of them took hours out of his or her day (even Sunday) to meet with us for as long as it took until we had a complete understanding of exactly what they did within their office as well as to answer EVERY question that we had. And trust me we had questions! Many of them went above and beyond the call of duty: feeding us, offering any and all office material that may be of service, giving us green, blue and self-help books, provided us with hours of audio and video, and allowed us to stay in their homes. How many chiropractors do you know that would do all of that for students that they have never met? Are you that kind of chiropractor?
The final three nights of our journey were spent in the beautiful home of Reggie and Irene Gold in Pennsylvania. Each night after dinner they would sit up with us, patiently answering all of our questions for the night. They had most assuredly been asked each of them many times before, they always answered like it was the first time they had heard the question and gave a very thorough answer. (side bar from Dr Barbara: Do we answer our Practice Members’ questions the same way?) Once all of the questions had been answered and our brains had reached their cognitive limit, Reggie and Irene would retire for the night saying, “Now be sure to make another list for tomorrow!” (side bar from Dr Barbara: That’s LOVE!!!)
The trip (side bar from Dr Barbara: not the event…but the journey) was a life changing experience for all of us. After experiencing a trip like this it seems impossible for anyone to visit that many quality chiropractors and not be affected. It is our hope that this article will inspire other students to make a similar trip and have their understanding of chiropractic tested, sharpened and refined. It seems fitting to end this paper with a quote from Dr. Joseph Strauss in his book Still Higher Ground, “We need to give to our community and what better thing to give than chiropractic. You don’t give to your community by giving chiropractic care. You are reimbursed for that, most of us are paid handsomely. You give to your community by giving the message with no thought for reimbursement. Try it and see what happens.”
If you have any questions or would like any other information regarding the trip feel free to email us at rruehle@nwhealth.edu, jmckeague@nwhealth.edu, or rbrott@nwhealth.edu.”
A HUGE thanks to each of the chiropractors who made a lasting impact in these students’ lives AND for the students who have shared their experience with us!! And of course…Reggie and Irene…THANK YOU so very much for your ENDLESS selfless contributions to and for chiropractic!!!! You are both admired and loved!!!!
I look forward to seeing you October 10th at 12PM for REGGIE GOLD LIVE in Phoenix!!! Experience the passion…we’re CONTAGIOUS!!!
Enjoy your week and may you dance WILDLY in God’s endless blessings!!
Living LOVE for an Audience of ONE,
Dr Barbara Sturm
www.drbarbarasturm.com
www.chirocollege.com
“I began with Dr Barbara by enrolling in 0-180 in 90 days or less. Honestly, I didn’t do anything for the first four months. My staff did it all. Then I began coaching, one-on-one with Dr Barbara, and less than a year later…my business has DOUBLED!!! I have exceeded EVERY goal that I established and I know you can too but it’s not going to happen, especially in Michigan’s economy, by doing what you’ve always done. Join 0-180 in 90 days or less. It’s fun, easy, and VERY effective!!!” Dr Jeremy Shaft Romulus, Michigan PS Dr Barbara’s referral request is SO easy that my four year old daughter does it!!! Watch the video at Dr Barbara’s website. She simply listened during our staff meeting and then started doing it on her own.
