Hitchhiker's Guide to Practice
I think most of have felt entitled at one time, some of us to greater degrees than others. Some have snapped out of it, some still don’t even know they’re doing it.
Walking to our Farmer™s Market this week, I passed a man who was hitchhiking on the other side of the road. He appeared to be in his early 40™s; he was unshaven and generally unkempt. Hitchhiking is fairly common here. Most of the people you see hitchhiking are young people trying to get to work. Many kids come here to work and play for a season before they start college and they don™t have their own cars. This guy didn™t fit the common profile at all.
As a car approached he stuck his thumb out. The car passed him by and he went nuts. He threw his arms up in disbelief and turned around shouting at the car, “Come on. I just need a ride to Tahoma (a town about 5 miles away). Give me a break.”
The next car, of course, passed him too. I don™t pick up hitchhikers, but if I did, I sure wouldn™t stop for a guy ranting on the side of the road. As that car passed, he continued on his rage, “I really need to get down there. What™s wrong with you people? Just stop for me!”
This exchange, switching between anger and pleading, continued with each car that passed while he was within my view. He was ENTITLED to ride. He absolutely felt that he deserved to be picked up. And everyone who didn™t stop was an idiot and wrong. They just didn™t understand.
I think most of have felt entitled at one time, some of us to greater degrees than others. Some have snapped out of it, some still don™t even know they™re doing it.
It might manifest itself in the words you say: “It™s my area, people just don™t get.” or, “I should be busier than I am. I™m the best chiropractor around!”
Entitlement can also show up in a self sabotaging action that starts with, “I deserve a nice car (or bigger house), I work hard.” And even though you really can™t afford the payment, not to mention the added stress of more debt, you make the move and “buy” it.
You feel better...at first...for a moment. Then a couple of months pass and you feel the heat of the extra monthly payment. Now you really NEED new patients and you need them to stay, pay and refer so you can make the new payment. But now the added stress turns your initial anger and deservedness into something more like pleading and neediness. None of this is the attractive headspace you need to care for patients each day. Just like the hitchhiker, who would voluntarily stop to pick up that attitude? What new patient would walk into a chiropractic office with a doctor sporting an entitlement attitude?
How do you solve this perpetual funk once you™re in it? Most doctor™s start the new patient chant (I just need new patients!), but the fact is that needy people attract other needy people. That™s just how you want to build your practice, with a waiting room full of neediness, right? NOT!
First, you have to start working on you. Just because you graduated, got a license, built a big, beautiful office and/or a big mansion that you now have to furnish, doesn™t mean you are entitled and deserve patients. Build you and then patients will come.
And while you™re exercising, reading, and working on your “Personal Power Point,” you also must start understanding the business of chiropractic. Not knowing how to bill insurance with a magic code, but building systems that will attract new patients and provide excellent patient care. Learn to respect money as a tool, not a right. Know where yours goes and stop wasting it away to entitlement.
All the seminars, CDs, books and coaching are worthless if you don™t turn your knowledge into doing. Clients often get overwhelmed by all their new found knowledge and do nothing, often getting ready to get ready. Ask your coaches for priorities and take action. The time is NOW.