Excuses why I am not succeeding, by Dr. Ogi Ressel
June 24 2009, 12:00 am
Warm hellos to everyone;
Ok......enough excuses.
Let's get down to the nitty gritty on this; many doctors seem to have every excuse known to Man why they can't possibly succeed.
Here are some of my favorites:
One doctor from the West Coast once said this to me; "You just don't
understand, Dr. Ogi. The people in my state have no money for Chiropractic
care. No one wants to spend money on Chiropractic." He said he as he was
going bankrupt. (I was going to fly out there to meet these strange people!).
Four weeks after Module I, this same doctor phoned me on his satellite
phone from his boat on the Pacific Ocean (how cool is that?) and told me
that he just bought a plane and that he doubled his practice.
I asked him if he moved. He replied; "No, why?" I said; "Well, you told
me that no one in your State has money for Chiropractic. So... you must
have moved." He laughed once he realized how silly his excuse was.
How about this one:
"My patients drop out as soon as their insurance is over."
You see that in itself is not the problem. It is only a symptom. Yes.
They have no idea why they are in your office. Do you think it is their fault?
As far as they are concerned that is what Chiropractic is - an insurable
"treatment" of something that is "out." Whatever.
And the fact that their insurance company only pays for their 12 visits must
mean that this is all they should require. Makes total sense to me! Why
would they think otherwise?
You never told them what you really do.
Do you think they reach Chiropractic Enlightenment and Nirvana all on
their own steam?
No?
There's a shock!
If that is the case, what is the problem? You see, you just went along with
their perception of Chiropractic and accepted their coverage. Why? Because
it was probably easier to do so. Or - and this one may sting a bit - you
don't really know what you do either! Or why you do it.
Here is another:
"It's just my luck. I just have bad patients." Right. No comment here.
Or another:
"I can't get my patients to bring in their kids."
Listen.....I mentioned this in a previous article in the WCA Journal; the
percentage of children you see in your practice is directly proportional to
the level of trust your patients have in what you do.
Ouch!!!
The reason the level of trust is not there is that your patients don't really
understand what you do. And you don't really know how to explain it to
them at a level, they need to hear!.
That's it!
Think about it - would you ever take your own children to a doctor you
did not trust?
No?
Then why would you expect your patients to do what you wouldn't do?
Something to think about.....
"But, Ogi, I work downtown and see mainly adults who don't have kids."
(I like this one - almost seems plausible....almost) And, of course, these
people don't know anyone who has children - they probably live on an island
and never speak to another Human Being.
Get real.
Everyone knows people who have children who need help. That is the reality.
The only reason you are not seeing them is because your patients have no
idea why it is so important.
Why would that be?
Well, most likely because you may not understand why it is important
yourself or people do not trust what you do - brutal reality.
How about this excuse:
"I advertise, do Mall screenings, have the biggest yellow page ad, and
we can't seem to keep 'em. I have a bad location."
That's not it. ...And this is the most difficult point to have you see.
The reality is that people will generally not see a doctor with what they consider
a serious problem straight out of your newspaper or yellow page add.
No.
They will most likely be referred. They will also not see someone who is simpl
y mediocre,
Ok, average, or second-best. No. They only want a doctor who is the very
best at what he does - I talked about this a hundred times!
They want a doctor who is caring, honest, has integrity, and will go out of
his way to help them. They want a doctor who is the absolute best. May I
remind you that you have the same want.
Here is the reality on this: When a patient finds a doctor who they consider
to be the best, would they be worried about his fee? Would they be concerned
that his office does not accept their insurance plan? Would they be concerned
that he is on the 25th floor above Mario's Bakery overlooking the back alley?
The answer to all these questions is a resounding NO! These things pale in
significance. They are not important. But here is the other side of this
issue however:
If they are important to a patient, then their perception of you is that you are
not the best. Period.
If they even get the slightest idea that you are not the best then you have all
sorts of problems: location is not convenient, your fees are too high, you are
not on their insurance plan, your hours are not convenient - they want an
appointment at 11:00 pm., they don't want any examination or x-rays, they
only want you to crack that "one over there"., they don't want wellness care
from you, they don't come back for their report, they decide to go see their
MD, they want to pay you per visit until their coverage ends, etc.
Please let me help you.
You see, success is not negotiable and failure is not excusable.
You need to realize this truth: If you are not succeeding and living your Dream
Practice, you are not helping as many people as you originally wanted to -
and can.
...And I really want you to succeed - I want you to be able to help as many
kids and their parents as you can!
...And if you still have not done the Practice Health Mini Check-up on
my web site, what are you waiting for? Go to www.practiceevolution.com
<http://www.practiceevolution.com/> and just do it.
Make a commitment to do it now before that procrastination disease hits!
I know that this THOT was sprinkled with some "tough love" but I feel
very strongly about these issues.
There is no reason why you cannot succeed and help tons of people. None.
The only thing that stands in your way is you!
You know what to do.
Warmest wishes,
Dr. Ogi Ressel
