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You're Not Alone

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Started 1 year ago by drhuynh
Latest reply from DrPerron

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drhuynh
Member

That was some great dialog today on our POD call. I was going take some time to get my thoughts down but I decided to take my own advice to do it now rather than wait until later. These calls really get my juices flowing and it just reminds me about how many great conversations I've had with the coaches, as well as many of you.

As you guys hear all the time, there are many doctors that are doing great in practice right now. For those of you who aren't in that boat...you're not alone at all. Really though, isn't that why most of us were here in the first place? But remember that there are many of us that are also struggling with you. There are many of us that have had our ups and downs, and as you've heard from others, there will ALWAYS be things that you will have to struggle with regardless of the number of patients you see or how much money you make.

If I've learned one big idea over these past few years is that we simply aren't alone on these matters. I've had some great times over the years and have had many low ones too. The difference between me now and the old me is that I'm even more determined not to give up, so it frustrates the heck out of me when I hear that someone has identified something in their life or practice that is preventing their growth, and yet they're "not ready" to handle it right now. If you're feeling frustrated...well hell I say that's good so come feel frustrated with me. Now just go do something about it.

I view my practice similar to a giant maze. Sometimes you're going to hit a dead end. So you can sit and cry about it or you can go somewhere else. If you've still got the drive in you, turn around and find a better path...or scratch and claw your way over the walls if you prefer. The only thing different about this maze is you're not trying to get to the end, but rather looking for a better path in your journey. Your struggles now are going to make your rewards so much sweeter. The things we are trying to accomplish right now aren't impossible missions. If you want to see some, rent the mission impossible movies and you can see some things that are out of reach. You CAN do it, and the people who are succeeding should serve as evidence and motivation for you.

If you stuck around on the call late, you might have heard that Dr. Sovinsky mentioned that my wife and I drove out to Brain Spa...which by the way, we did that two years in a row. When we first started, we didn't know how we were going to afford, only that we couldn't afford not to. So we scratched together everything we had and drove 24 hours straight and then back home to practice. All of us have our obstacles. Cars break down, bills pile up, people get sick, etc. But I don't think people succeed in life in spite of these excuses; they rather succeed because they don't let their vision get clouded every time they run into a dead end. I can tell you that when we signed up for Brain Spa, we didn't do it knowing how we were going to afford it--and still really don't know. All we do know is that we've already signed up and are committed to being there. The rest we figure out as we go along. So I hope to see all of you there. Everyone here is apart of your support system so you don't need to feel alone in this tribe. We share in our successes and our failures.

Posted 1 year ago #
Dr Hassig
Member

Great post Dr. Huynh. I think you nailed it when you mentioned that we all share our victories and setbacks together, but most importantly, that we all just keep taking action and serving our communities. The only way to lose is to quit. Sad to hear about former mentorites struggling, but any time I've ever questioned whether DCM is for us, it only takes imagining life and practice without the tribe to reinforce our commitment.

Another great takeaway from today's call was how several members could hear in Dr. Mairead's tone of voice how she was struggling, and identified with her to try to help. I expect that of Dr. Frank, because he is a master and knows us all so well, but it's impressive how much we care about one another. My hope for Dr. Mairead is she wears that terrific smile everywhere she goes, and shows everyone she meets that girl that was dancing her arse off on stage. It's hard to feel joyful while you struggle, but if your vision of yourself is one of great success, that's what you will embody.

The other thing that ties in with Dr. Huynh's post is we have to learn to enjoy even our smallest victories. If you help one person, that's a great day. Now thirst for more, and aim to have a bigger impact. I can tell you from experience, when you are struggling, all you can think about is seeing a certain number of people so you can relieve some of the stress. The problem is, once you achieve that number, many (myself included) will take too big of a breath, and watch things contract back down. Struggling less is no goal to strive for. It can't sustain us. Focus on what gets you fired up to make an impact, and start kicking ass. Once you kick some ass, kick some more. Then evolve and figure a better way to do it next time, until you need to reinvent your approach again. Wash, rinse, and repeat.
Rant over.

Posted 1 year ago #
Alan
Member

My only comment is that both of you nailed this so well it needs it's own bookmark for rereading.

Posted 1 year ago #
Kelli Winarski
Member

Agreed... Unfortunately I wasn't on the call, but this post was exactly what I needed to hear today. Here's to the small victories. While I was worried about our new patient numbers being down this afternoon, we had our first "walk-in" new patient ever at 5:00. My brand new office staff didn't miss a beat and he was in the exam room before I was even aware. Although numbers aren't where I would like them to be, it was a good day :)

Posted 1 year ago #
drshannon
Member

Very well said Dr. Huynh and great follow up Dr. Hassig.
I go back to the tone of the conversation today. I too picture that winning smile, singing her heart out on stage, full of life. I remind you to take THAT to the office with you every day! You are amazing and good for you for "getting out there" like you said you've been doing! That's half the battle but remember, doing that won't all of the sudden have people knocking your door down. Doing this keeps the steady flow and the rewards come much later than you would expect. Becoming established in the community takes time! Keep doing that!!!!!
The purpose of our tribe is to support, inspire, uplift, share, etc. and I'm so glad that you opened your heart today. It is so true that we all have our challenges, our struggles, our blocks. No matter where each of us are, we ALL want to grow or we wouldn't be here. Identifying the block is key. Use the tribe and coaches for that. Is it you? Is it your space? Is it your systems? The coaches will know... are you listening to the coaches or putting a few things on the back burner that you just aren't really ready to do YET? I think that's what many of us do:)
I found after returning from Sioux Falls and evaluating our office that the overall energy of the office has some major shifts. I discussed this with my staff and they too agreed, they wanted to find a way to keep the energy up as a whole. We devised a few strategies to keep the overall energy of the office up it has been instrumental in how the office "feels" every day.
We also made the layout change that we had been putting off since it was recommended. Dr. Sea and Dr. Frank had said, "you need an additional exam room, etc. etc. " and to be honest, we thought "okay, maybe but it's not pressing..." Hmmm. Well, we did it and what a difference. Now we can see what a difference a shift in the flow makes! I can't believe how many times we've said, "why didn't we do that sooner" yet we still get stuck for whatever reasons.
Pat yourselves on the back for the changes you have made, look at the strides we've all taken. I liken it to parenting... Sometimes it feels like there are SO many things I should be doing different. However, I'll never wake up as the "perfect mother"... but I can grow, work toward a goal and be better every day!

Have FUN and make your office FUN. Energy is contagious!!!!!
SHAKE IT UP and be willing to change!!!!!!!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
Ed
Member

This is the reason why I love being a part of this Tribe - we can all help support, encourage, motivate, advise and even celebrate those little victories! But what you also highlighted Dr Huynh so clearly and passionately was the fact that you are simply not the type of person who is prepared to sit around and wallow in your own misery; you realised you had to take action regardless as to the cost! As Dr Frank often reminds us there are 3 types of people - those that make things happen, those that let things happen and those that wonder what the hell happened! For certain Dr Huynh you are not a victim! And that is exactly the example that we all need to follow! We all do have down days, down months even down years but it is how we respond to life’s adversities that will define our futures! And this is I think truly the beauty of the message of the Emyth Chiropractor - the book is not only about the systems and all that stuff but it is truly about the bigger picture - The DREAM! Our dream MUST be an impersonal one; we cannot let our focus purely be on the personal because that is a sure fire guarantee for contraction! I am only successful when I see x number of patients, or I will have made it when I have x amount in the bank or I am doing all these talks but; blah, blah, blah! The problem with these goals is that they are personal and made most often from a position of scarcity and that will unfortunately repel success! Because needless to say your focus is on what you have not got rather than what you have! And yet the hardest thing to do when you are facing real struggles is to remove your needs and wants from the equation! It is hard when the bills are mounting up and the overdraft growing to regain your focus, but regain it you must! Stop It. Stop making it about you!!! We have talked about this before but with all the recent emphasis on quantum physics and auto-suggestion our physiology, attitude and energy is of absolute paramount importance! The worst thing that any of us can do when we hit a speed bump is to become self absorbed and yet that is the hardest thing to avoid! How can you not make it about you when the bailiffs are knocking at the door? Yet by having a bigger goal or aim to focus and direct your energies on will undoubtedly make you more attractive! So if you have not got an Impersonal dream then focus on the paltry 8-12% of the population that are currently benefitting from chiropractic care and take what action steps that are needed to improve this miserable statistic. Realise that if you, we, don’t get our stuff together and make a difference, in 20 years time chiropractic may not even exist! As Dr Frank said we certainly cant rely on the majority of the current so called leaders! So surely that can motivate each and every one of us to take action so that we can start changing the face of health care! Become totally selfless in this, and really start seeing each patient one at a time. Be grateful and realise that that is one person’s life that you can influence right now! Don’t worry that that may be the only patient you see in that day because that means that your focus is on YOU and NOT THEM, give them your best! For years Dr Frank often asked me what would happen if this was as busy as I was ever going to be, and would I be truly happy. Now until recently I truly never appreciated the enormity of this question. But having finally realised that this journey really is not about me only then have I come to begin to truly appreciate what I have now! The sobering reality is that things can always get worse! Yet they really don’t need to and wont if you change your focus and mindset and stop being needy!
So as Shannon said have fun, change your energy state as energy truly is contagious, she is is so spot on. Change things in the office, the flowers, the decor, furniture whatever you need to but as was mentioned last night treat the office like an organic structure, focus on it, appreciate it, be pleased to see it and love it! When we are truly present things happen. And again paraphrasing what Shannon just said this idea is no different than how we should treat our spouses and children, take them for granted and dont appreciate them and problems arise! Well treat the office like a mistress or a lover and give her or him some attention! As Dr Sea reminds us where your attention goes your energy flows!

Posted 1 year ago #
Chip Patterson
Member

TRUST...Trust in the systems, the procedures, the coaches, the tribe, your business, your staff, YOURSELF, your community, in the time it takes for things to come to fruition. This concept defined/defines my struggle. "Things are going well now, but it's going to come crashing back down like always, How can moving my office, remodel my office, exercise every morning, read every day, focus on the patient in front of me, fire my staff, hire staff, ...you fill in the blank, really help?" TRUST, Faith, whatever you choose to call it. For the first time in many of our lives we are actually working ON things that work, that really matter. Is it the "easy" run this ad and get 50 New Patients in the door? I think we all know the answer to that...however, if we TRUST in the process, we can create something AWESOME! Something that is self-sustaining and expandable. We are all in this together and that is what makes this Tribe special...we can share our deepest fears without judgement and receive encouragement and advice. Take ACTION! Don't wait until the "Perfect" time. If we are frustrated, that's a good thing, we can do something about it. DO SOMETHING, I would like to thank Dr. Huynh, ever since SF, my staff and I have been doing "Challenges" during our tweener time, instead of getting distracted by the computer, paper work, our woe is me selves, etc...and you know what? The tweener time is getting less and less...and look out for brainspa, I'm going to master those planks and wall squats yet!
We all struggle, and I think that is a good thing...we have each other and the coaches to help get back on track and move forward...enjoy the ride!

Posted 1 year ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

Dr. Chip, I've read all of these posts and I am feeling a lot from each one but somehow, the emotion and the urgency with which you posted is the one that really went to my heart. It's great to "get this all out". I always felt like I was the only one on the special bus with the special red helmet. The danger (for me at least) is to take a 'tude (yes, I'm in Philly) that my B.S. is OK because everyone else has just as much. Let us all (ZACH!) take this as a challenge to not only outbehave the neighbors but even each other in a sense of healthy camaraderie and most especially ourselves (that's where the coaches and their glaring honesty come in to burn through the places of our own dishonesty with self). THANK you Mairead for allowing us all to explore this area.

Posted 1 year ago #
Alan
Member

Though I was not on that pod call (wishing I had been) based on what I have read so far, I feel as though I was there vicariously. Great stuff everyone. I can imagine our coaches smiling as they observe their "kids" growing up. As Dr Perron said in another post, "If you focus on results you will never change. If you focus on change you will get results."
- Jack Davis (Beginning of Chapter 20 in The E-Myth Chiropractor)
Numbers are the past, which we no longer have any influence over so why dwell on it? Our current actions will influence our present and our future." Or as the great philosopher Yoda said, "Always in motion the future is." Now go forward Jedi warrior. ;-)

Posted 1 year ago #
Jason Whittaker
Member

Some great posts here. I just wanted to touch upon a point Zach made- that of the coaches burning thru the places of our own dishonesty with self. If I had a dollar for the times I had my "BS" called by the coaches.....well I'd have 5 dollars cause thats the amount of times I remember pivotal times in which the coaches veered a potential runaway train (my penchant for "chasing shiny objects"-ask Dr. Frank what this is) heading "off track". I remember one particular call I made to Dr. Frank at the beginning of a year asking him "what my next step should be", thinking I was all hot shit (was just hitting a major growth milestone for us), thought everything was on easy street ("cause I made it"), living life large, doing my tennis thing....blah, blah, blah. By the time that call was done and I had hung up, my ego was smaller than a gnat and I actually think he made me cry. Was it out of love? Knowing Yoda our Jedi Master, probably not (memories of Tad's Facebook post- offended or hurt, you are? Care I do not?.....<love that one>) But I began to realize that I had not even begun to scratch the surface of my potential and talent for this profession. As Yoda said yesterday on the pod, "it's lazy when you don't develop your talent". So as Dr . Cuong says you can do it. Re-committing to this profession (and I mean in every facet possible) has brought me more tears of joy than I could have imagined. There is so much to know and do in our profession and to play this chiropractic game at the highest level is a legacy that will touch and impact not only countless lives in your lifetime but beyond, I guarantee it. Just play....just play full out.

Posted 1 year ago #
Alan
Member

Didn't get to edit my post quick enough. I wanted to add that in conversations with Dr Sea when telling him my woes he would say something warm and fuzzy like, "Dr Ludwig, all I ever hear you say is what you DON'T have; Not enough money, not enough patients, not this, not that. How about being grateful for what you HAVE? Until you're grateful for what you have you'll not receive anything more." I'll tell you, it is an area I deal with, being on guard, capturing my thoughts, because as Charles "Tremendous" Jones would say, I was a 'thumb sucker'. We all have to be on guard as to where our thoughts wander and take them captive.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ed
Member

One other salient piece of warm fuzzy advice that Dr Frank gives is .......... to quit taking ourselves so damn seriously! In Life the Manual he suggests doing naked jumping jacks in front of the mirror! I assure you it brings contraction/expansion to a whole new level! But as you just said Alan it is very easy to be held captive by our thoughts!

Posted 1 year ago #
Jason Whittaker
Member

Just finished doing my naked jumping jacks (Gawd, I look good!) and this was the result of that,

http://drwhittaker.blogspot.ca/

Posted 1 year ago #
DrPerron
Member

Is that supposed to entice us to click onto the link?! No offense but...... ewwww. :)

Posted 1 year ago #
DrPerron
Member

For me a great book to read, which I have read several times when my head starts to wander in the same direction described, is The Dip. It describes this entire scenario and headspace that EVERYONE goes through and on certain levels continues to go through until you decide to stop playing the game of owning a chiropractic office anymore. The Dip is this time when you feel like you are going no where or at the least, not as quickly as you one may have thought and so you feel like you are going no where or it must not be in the right direction, etc. etc. Basically it is self doubt when the results we are hoping for have not come to fruition in our imaginary timelines. I have declared "victory" at least as often as anyone on here, I am quite certain, only to find out that I was wrong. That is the letting up on the gas pedal and the consistent push forward. That is where the focusing on the actions comes in and not on the results. I would look at the numbers rising and believe that I had "figured it out" while not realizing that it was all the things that I was doing that was creating that enertia, not that things were set for autopilot. I have matured in that sense (not in many others :) to where I verymuch realize that it is the constant push forward that is the ticket and all the things that go with it that creates the Wave building. We all of great coaches to ensure that we are going in the right direction, that is a HUGE advantage. We just need to apply effort and try and keep our heads clear. Easier said than done but the bottomline truth. I was part of the reason that Dr. Frank brought up the consistent exercising on the POD and the laziness that is the cause for not doing something so straightforward. My plate got a bit extra full recently and that was the first thing I cut out due to logistics and that was a bad idea. I know it was about me because I know that the rest of you work out daily. :) I started typing a post to this thread numerous times and just ran out of time, due to the same plate but I am very glad that Mairead was courageous enough to stick herself out there and volunteer her feelings that all of us have/had. They will continue to come and go it is just a matter of recognizing how to best snap out of it faster and faster so it does not slow the momentum. Whenever I feel those thgouths creeping in I do a self assessment immediately. What has the sleep, diet, exercise, and reading/audio books in the car been like lately? Without fail it is always one or more of those and the second I tidy that up the head space comes around as well. Add in phone calls to the coaches as well. I talk to them so much that it is not bound to be my reason but at last check many of you are crazy enough to not be taking advantage of their advice on a regular basis.

Posted 1 year ago #
swaimer
Member

Great suggestion Dr. P. You recommended that book years ago and I have referred to it often. Seth godin makes the point that you must determine if you are in a Dip or a cul-de-sac. If you decide it is a cul-de-sac, you must stop because you are truly going nowhere. if on the other hand you are only in a dip, and you persist, and learn, and push thru, the rewards are great. I have to remind myself that routinely. I hear you Chris about gaining traction and then letting it coast. What a stupid, yet very human, thing to do. I do it all the time. But as we as a tribe have engaged the question of pursuing an impersonal dream, I find that I don't want to take my foot of the gas. There is more at stake than taking care of me and my family. We have a social mandate that needs to be pursued by all of us, at 10 a week or a 1000. Thank you Mairead for stepping up and being brutally honest.

Posted 1 year ago #
Kelli Winarski
Member

So since we are being brutally honest, I'll stand with you Mairead, here goes... I almost quit. Not just DC mentors, but chiropractic. I was thinking with my pea brain and looking for any avenue to survive and protect my family. I started reading my lease, trying to find out if there was any way out. I said I didn't have the funds to coach this month. Which is entirely true. And the 24 hours that lasted were the loneliest 24 hours since I graduated from chiropractic school. Because no matter how hard practice is, no matter how much I struggle (or succeed), knowing that you are all behind me or that I can reach out to you all makes me a better person, a better chiropractor, manager, and entrepreneur. My community and every patient that walks through the doors receives better care, better service, and better health because of this tribe. I took a leap of faith. I don't know how exactly, but I know that I am supposed to be a part of this tribe, and somehow God will provide the means to do so.

I think there are 2 conditions we need to be very cautious of. The first is survival mode. We are looking out for ourselves and our basic needs and on the complete other end of the spectrum is comfort. Comfort can occur as the result of success but ultimately is still related to serving ourselves. It's easy to bounce back and forth between the two because when you've been struggling in survival mode for a long time, any little bit of success makes you breath a sigh of relief. Anytime we reach either end of the spectrum, we focus on what "we" need or want and neglect what our patients and community need: a leader. When we are truly patient centered we hover somewhere in between, I guess you could call this "flow". Which is where everyone wins.

Posted 1 year ago #
drhuynh
Member

If we're going to be brutally honest Kelli, the honest truth is that (and I know from speaking to them that others would agree with me) you're a friggin superstar. We're really glad to have you here.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ed
Member

Sadly Dr Kelli I am afraid that your “old” sentiments are still widely felt throughout the profession particularly on this side of the Atlantic and especially within the student body! To hear how students, who are on the cusp of graduating, feel so disillusioned is an absolute travesty! They feel nothing more than over qualified masseuses with no future or hope! Yet their mindset is understandable when you listen to the rubbish that they are being constantly fed by the fear based contracted mindset of the so called leaders within our profession! The colleges and indeed the major associations over here in particular are convinced that chiropractic needs acceptance and validation from the medical profession to survive! Which obviously means changing those things that make our profession so great, such as our whole paradigm? A subluxation and the notion of above, down, inside, out is rapidly becoming relegated to the confines of history! Yet as a group we cannot allow this to happen and that is why we all must get our acts together, to become shining examples of what our profession can truly achieve. And a significant and crucial piece of this is by us developing and defining our own impersonal goals! Because if we don’t then in 20 or so years time chiropractic will just not exist! Yet sadly doing it, doing it, doing it, is not sufficient! So your leap of faith Dr Kelli was not simply that you started taking action but significantly that you stopped being a victim and started putting your needs last! We all get “overwhelmed” at times but if we truly have a vision and a dream that is bigger than each of us then that will keep the fire burning or as Swaimer said keep the foot on the gas! And if I am being totally honest those times that I get frustrated or over whelmed are simply when I am becoming contracted and I resume making things about me! So I agree Dr Kelli, survival and comfort are indeed conditions that we need to avoid because they both are about us, our needs and our interests! Yet we simply cannot afford to just survive or indeed coast, we all have to expand and grow and serve more! And to help keep us in an expanded mindset is why we must choose our friends carefully, birds of a feather and all that, as it is easy to get sucked back in to that scarcity mentality!

Posted 1 year ago #
DrPerron
Member

This is a GREAT conversation, IMO. Since we are all sharing...

One thing that keeps rising as I read alot of these posts, especially Ed's with regard to students that he encounters is my appreciation for my time at Life University. Send your students there!!! I, and my classmates, left school on a high believing we could save the world, as described coincidentally in EMC. But holy smokes, defeat before you even step on the playing field is simply pathetic. Send prospective students to Life, they still believe and Atlanta is a decent place to go to school as well.

Dr. Kelli, I was literally ready to quit the profession at the time I met Dr. Sovinsky. I was making "good" money but the grind was killing Karen and I and once we started our family I knew that things could not continue the way they were with the stress of insurance dealings and all. The only part that was fun and kept me going was helping people get better. But I was not willing to sacrifice my family for someone else's. I was looking into other interests and had calculated out tuition and living expenses for going to The American Culinary Institute. I like to cook. :) Certainly I am glad that I met Dr. Sovisnky when I did and do believe that I am looked after as well, but I also believe that we need to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, as we are all doing on some level by being a part of this tribe.
Your summary of the survival and comfort was briliiant!! I can sooo relate. Survival is not just financial though, as I described for me it was the quality of my marriage and the raising of my children that was taking precedent, because we were doing well financially. But it was not worth it. As I steadily implemented new DCM systems into my office, life got ALOT easier. And comfort settled in. We are making a decent living and the workload/stress has decreased dramatically. I have described to the coaches as feeling like I am on a vacation relative to how things were, and have been just enjoying a chance to breath for the first time in years. So the lack of drive to push, when things are comfortable became very real and I have been thinking about why I would want to put more effort in for a few years now. Don't get me wrong, I work a great deal, it is just that issue of "we could always do more". The whole "saving the world" does not resonate with me and nor does more money, otherwise I would already be doing it, my guess. Don't get me wrong, in that I love taking care of people but if that was all it took then I think it would have already been enough. It is a part just not #1. For me it is to set an example for my children of giving it their best and not taking the easy road. We have all been blessed with just being born in the countries that we were, there really is no excuse for failure. However the reason is that we just may not have figured out how to do things yet. So keep the "yet" front and center in your mind and know that this is all quite doable, it is just a matter of doing it individually. As with all of it, survival or comfort, it all begins in our own heads. Our actions will follow.

Posted 1 year ago #
swaimer
Member

This thread just keeps getting richer. Dr. Kelli, thank you for sharing. Chris, that was remarkable. I have often wondered if I woke up tomorrow and had enough of everything, (money, patients, community respect) would I put my best self forward? Let us know how you are pushing thru this. And Ed, as always, right on the money. (Well most of the time!)

Posted 1 year ago #
DrPerron
Member

So this is how I am "pushing thru". I turned 39 last December and I have always planned on being further along by the age of 40 than I was, and am. So that lit a fire under my butt to push it. Also, I looked at myself and honestly said "You are only 39. Have you seriously peaked?" How pathetic that would be to not progress beyond what one has accomplished at (hopefully) not even half way through life. That does not sit well with me either, particularly related to the example that I am setting for my children. Last, the reasons just compile you just have to look for them, the Business Residency Program (Revive). That is along the same lines as setting an example for my kids (I am not putting Dr. Hall in that category :) but with regard to setting an example. I have someone in my office looking at the example I set EVERYDAY! Think about that all of you that are clammering to be the next "host", EVERYDAY. There is a sense of obligation to me for what I have commited to providing with regard to education and just my own ego certainly does not want to have her just compile a list of "what not to do." :) There are lots of reasons, you just need to look. I having been looking for a couple of years now. Soul searching for the "why". If you noticed, my "why" 's are not quite as "save the world" as some and I am not knocking that in the least. I put that out there so that maybe there are others that don't necessarily get genuinely pumped to save the world. How about just getting the kid back on the lacrosse field faster than the plan his orhtopediat had for him not to run for a month? Or releasing the tortocolis on twins that were about to get launched down the therapy "chute" for who knows how long and how uncomfortable when they are straight after 2-3 visits? That is all I need to keep pushing.

Posted 1 year ago #
Dr. Tad
Member

Thanks Dr.Perron, I have been struggling with not "wanting world peace or saving the world" feeling. Great ideas, I feel like I want to be the savior in my world. Thanks for reminding me that I can feel that way.

Posted 1 year ago #
DrPerron
Member

If it makes you feel any better Dr. Tad, I felt I might be the only one in that boat. I just didn't care. :) So I threw it out. We make this journey with support from each other but it is really a personal journey when it comes down to it so we can't borrow other people's "why" 's, nor should we. Hearing what some others are can be helpful in finding our own though.
One additional thought I wanted to throw out was something told to me/us a while back but may have gotten lost, is that when contemplating your purpose in life (impersonal goal/ "why") we should look to our Motivators for guidance. Those are the scores for Utilitarian, Social, etc. and that is where we will find the best clues as to what gets our juices flowing. Even though the goal may be in service to others, it can still have a spin that fits our personal drives if we want it to sustain. In my most recent assessment I took in January, my Social score was not a top three, or four for that matter, and that would be the one that would fit into save the world the most. Many of you probably have a much higher ranking for Social and that would likely be a part of the reason for such an immense broad humanitarian purpose. My Utilitarian, Individual and Traditional are the highest. To me that translate to Expecting a return on my effort as well as seeing the bottomline stupidity in our healthcare system that needs some major shifting, having high expectations of my self and others and a disdain when I see potential not used (strongest when I look in the mirror), and that rules are not bad but many could use some changes as well to be used as a positive influence potentially and a solid religious backing that is the foundational piece for all the rest. I believe all of us have been blessed with an exposure to skillsets that allow us to help our fellow man in ways that they will not be helped if not for us. Beyond that we are continually exposed to managerial training that gives us NO excuse for failure and in fact, no excuse for anything less than true success. Combine the two and as Dr. Sea has put it in the past that his obligation was to continually find a way to take care of as many people as wanted to be taken care of and for it never to be that he personally or his systems were the cause directly or indirectly of anyone not receiving the care they needed. He has turned that into the Terrible Too's and the reality is that our coaches are continuing on that mission through each of us. They reached their personal ceilings and so the only way to help more patients from their is through us. We just need to continue to indentify and rectify all the places that we just simply get in the way of it all. We are the subluxations AND we are the chiropractors to fix them. We are the interference to the perfect plan and we are able to remove that interference if we try hard enough to find solutions. We all have that potential, how much of it will we choose to use is the only question.

Posted 1 year ago #
DrPerron
Member

A quick additional thought Dr. Tad is that as mentorites we are all solidifying Level 3 leadership, at best. So wanting to get one's own house in order is perfectly natural according to Tribal Leadership and in fact required, before we can genuinely grasp and sustain the Level 4 which is to help the community as the primary drive. Level 5 is the world. So Level 3 is not a bad place to be, for now. :)

Posted 1 year ago #
Jason Whittaker
Member

Chris, sounds like you are living the dream-the Chris Perron dream. That makes me happy because you are happy. I haven't read Tribal Leadership yet so I have a question. How long, do you feel, have you been a level 3 leader? And how do you see yourself moving to level 4 (assuming that's the goal)? How does one know he/she has made that transition? I will eventually get around to the book but my impatience wants a Coles notes....better yet, a Perron's notes version.

Posted 1 year ago #
Kelli Winarski
Member

I just download the free audio version of tribal leadership, so I haven't read it either. But I like what you said about "Find a way to take care of as many people as want to be taken care of". Not as many people as "I" want to take care of or as many people as "I" think need my help. It takes the pressure off a little (a nicer way of saying "NEXT"). I plant the seeds, and have the systems ready to handle as many of those little seedlings that decide to grow.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ed
Member

This is a very interesting discussion - and one significant point here is that it does not matter what your impersonal dream is, once you have one! And without a doubt for an impersonal dream to be able to motivate you on a consistent and indefatigable basis it must satisfy your values! But absolutely what stokes our own fires will be very different! Now as regards to the leadership issue I would suggest that there are infact quite alot of mentorites who are stuck in Level 2! Having spent too much time there myself it is a tough place to be ... my life sucks attitude, my numbers suck etc etc! Now speaking from my own personal experience it is hard to break out of, however with persistence and our coaches wisdom, support, gentle hand holding and "warm fuzzy" advice it can certainly be done! How quickly, well that depends! But regardless you have to own a level before moving on, so moving from Level 3 to 4 will take discipline and real effort! Level 3 leaders can appear almost arrogant, however we all need to develop that self confidence and absolute certainty! We have to in a way become totally certain if you will with our own beliefs and abilities. Yet I believe the real difference between 3 and 4 leaders lies in their ability to disagree without being disagreable! That issue of defining not defending and the need to be right is at the absolute core here! So it comes down to confidence and certainty in what we know and do! And I must admit I was reassured to here Swaimer admitting that he would struggle to recommend Chiropractors outside of this tribe! Because that is exactly how I feel, and yet that is Level 3 leadership to a tee! Sorry Swaimer you are still beside me on that back seat of the bus! In contrast however I would suggest that Dr Shannon for one is a Level 4 leader - her attitude was very different! So as to how you progress I suspect it is a discipline that you develop that you start truly seeing the potential in people. We dont need to make someone else wrong just because they have a different point of view!

Posted 1 year ago #
Jason Whittaker
Member

Ed, that's why I posed the question. I wanna know. I'm not sure where any of us are being disagreeable or making each other wrong here but thanks for your input.

Posted 1 year ago #
DrPerron
Member

Actually Jason, I am not living the dream. Comfort is not my dream, although it is enticing. I am guessing your chat with Dr. Frank had something to do with this same subject. :) And I very much refrained from jumping into this conversation because I do not view myself as "successful" but I can be known to be comfortable. It is hard to be open and not sound arrogant at the same time, that was my fear and hopefully it came across okay. The dream is continued development. The best way to know where we sit in the Tribal Leadership hierarchy is to ask a coach. They know. :) As for 3 versus 4 though Ed. It is really hard to be a solid 4 with any debt. That is part of the security of "I am good". Look at our coaches. WeE can visit different levels however and get a taste and then keep plugging away. Those that describe the struggle and the thoughts of quitting are likely in 2 for now and the best way out is to do what they are doing, hang out with some people that are more solid in 3 so at least you can see the possibility and learn from each other. Nothing builds confidence like success, so it takes some time in practice and putting up some numbers to ease the mind. This is all so easy in concept but we are humans in the end. Same with 3 to 4. The coaches a while back told us that what ever level we thin we are at we are likely one below. But check in with the coaches to get some objective clarity from the spectator's seats. In each level there is a broad range of how close you are to the level below or above. So someone easing into 3 will not own yet as well as someone that has been anging out there a bit longer. All part of the process. This book allowed me to be okay with where I am at. I am in 3. That is competitiveness and making your mark, etc. Level 4 is more into legacy and broader impact. And I would be the first to acknowledge that I am not done with 3, I dont' need to be told. That does not mean to not look ahead but as the book also states quite clearly, there are no short cuts. Just like in practice you need to work in the now (manager and technician) with an eye on the future (entrepreneur). A good guage as to whether you are in 2 or 3 would be your level of "envy". I don't mean that badly but in soul searching truth. If you look around at others and wished you had what they have and believe you can then that is likely beginning of 3, if you have the same view of others and have trouble believing that you can do the same that would likely be 2. The thing is whatever it is it is. You still just work on what you need to now. It is like starting a weight lifting program and one person can bench 200 and the other 50. So now you know, so what. Keep working out and you will both progress if you do the right thing. There is no need for worry, just for consistent effort.

Posted 1 year ago #