Q:

I am very distressed about a decision I have to make and I need some advice.  I have been 
working in an office with another doc.  We only see about 60 patient visits per week.  The 
other doctor has all the incentives and I am basically the CA although I adjust half the 
patients.  The owner wants to pull her and let me run the office.  Problem is I opened an 
office on Tuesday and Thursday in a gym about a half hour drive away about 1.5 months 
ago.  I did this because I had to take a proactive step bec I couldn't live on what he was 
paying me.  If I stay in the first office I will have to give up the gym office which is where 
I would like to be.  Second challenge is that I can't afford to go to gym fulltime bec I am in 
credit card debt and student loans.  The gym has potential although I haven't had much time 
to build it as I live in the city of the first office and I am only in gym area T and Thur. and 
some Saturdays.  Next week I should see 15 PVs in the gym.

There is a chance of buying the first practice in the future but I really don't want to be there 
partially bec there are 102 Chiropractors in the local phonebook and bec I like living there.

I guess my challenge is that I want to be in the gym area but I "might" be able to get out of 
Credit card debt if I meet some of the incentives in first office.  

I am very stressed about this and I really would appreciate your words of wisdom.  Thank 
you.....I know you are very busy.  Thanks for keeping up your website.  It is very 
inspirational.

A:

Thanks for the e-mail. Your dilemma is quite common .. should I be here or there. Planting 
roots and having it grow into a strong and stable tree is the key to long term success. 
Holding patterns to achieve goals .. such as paying your debts and gaining experince in 
practice management and marketing area reasons to be in a temporary location.

As long as you are in heavy debt and full of student loans .. you are unstable and stressed 
to the gills. I would advise you to feel what it right in your gut. You have a potential 
growth practice in the first practice even if it is not yours and you take only a portion of the 
funds. You donžt have overhead and you can breath easier seeing your debt lower and your 
experince grow. The practice in the gym is on a growth phase .. although I question the 
gym alliance for the long term (is it yours or do you associate there and what is the 
arrangements .. equipment etc. ) meaning the potential for new patients outside the gym 
etc. 

So .. my objective answer would have you sit still .. push aside the doubts of success or 
failure .. and see which office gives you the clearest picture for immediate goal achievement 
.. and that is getting out of debt and getting the experince you need to finally go on your 
own. If it is the first practice .. then be sure you get assurance the owner will make you the 
primary and only DC .. and forget about how wealthy you get him but build up that 
practice for the experince and the quickest way to get out of debt. If it is the gym .. then 
lock up the best way to expand this practice in and out of the gym and what pitfalls there 
could be if the gym decides to kick you out or the owner plays games for whatever reason.