Confessions of an Ignorant Chiropractor
Let’s just get real and not kid ourselves here. All doctors especially myself, coming out of school tend to know more about everything than anyone who has ever been in this profession before. Personally, I’m the biggest do it yourselfer ever. There’s nothing I won’t try to do myself, and when I think I know something about it, no one can do it better. Although confidence is an essential part of being a leader, and all health care providers need to be one, there comes a time when confidence becomes ignorance and then you learn those valuable and often painful lessons (you wish you never had to learn). The most difficult part for me is then admitting that someone, particularly my parents, may have been right about something. Now I’ll never admit on record, and you can’t make me admit, that I was wrong and they potentially may have been correct. We’ve all been in that position at some point.
Now, there are several things that I absolutely love in life. Number one is the Lord and our Savior, number two is my family (my awesome wife, my best buddy (my 5 year old son) and of course Jake the dog). Number three is Chiropractic, every facet of chiropractic. The process of opening my office was a blast, sheet rock, paint, leases, equipment, marketing (did I mention I’m a do-it-yourselfer). Day to day patient care and the bodies healing ability is absolutely amazing to experience. The business end of the practice is also a favorite of mine, managing the nuts and bolts and actually earning a profit from serving others is incredible. There is no reason that every student coming out of school can’t achieve the success we’ve found in chiropractic.
The one thing that did hold me back and delay the opening of my chiropractic practice for a year was my absolute Ignorance of what awaited me after the stroll across the stage at graduation. Our office has always been open for other doctors (even the guy down the street) and we love students to come and observe ask the questions I should have asked before throwing my cap in the air. The problem with answering doctors and student question that way is that you would have to come to my office for the information, and Pennsylvania in the winter time…well some folks like it.
Have you tried to find answers and information about opening a successful chiropractic office, or any helpful information for a chiropractic student without someone trying to sell you something? I know I didn’t and haven’t found any up to date other than one or two articles from the ACA or a chiropractic periodical. With National health care staring us in the face, if we don’t come equipped out of school ready and willing to make our mark, we as professions are in trouble! No pressure… students! If any there was a time for the next generation to step up this is it baby.
It is my hope that this blog will be for you, what I was dying for as a student. I’ll never claim to be an all knowing resource; even I am not that Ignorant to think I know it all. One thing I’ve learned is to ask those who have gone before me and learn from their failures and triumphs so that I reach my goals as quickly as possible without the costly regrets and errors they have made. I read a quote one time from Dr. Jim Saeli that said “Success leaves a path…Follow it”. Every new grad does not need to and shouldn’t have reinvent the wheel. This blog is an opportunity for you to interact and ask questions of someone who has been there and has succeeded. I love this profession and do not want to see the next generation of chiropractors fail simply because they didn’t have an opportunity to ask questions and find the resources necessary for success. Asking even dumb questions, is better than the being the ignorant know it all chiropractor, using my original method of trial and error.
Question: What is the most important questions that chiropractic students never ask?
p.s. You only get one life to be happy and make a difference, don’t waste it!
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