Q: This is a response to the question concerning a new DC having problems getting startedL Took some time to answer your questions. Why do I want to be a chiropractor? I love to help people. I love hands on and love the body, I am fascinated in the body. I enjoy chiropractic and love learning about it ,that's why I went to school for so long. I graduated in March 1999, I went on to take part four in Atlanta. During the summer I played around and vacationed until I received my results in August. I immediately bought a practice, that I had been researching since Dec. 1998. I presently am seeing around 60 patients a week. I have been in practice for five months. I have found my greatest obstacle with confrontation. I hate it and would love to avoid it at all costs. For example, collecting money, or giving a patient a care plan because I am afraid they cannot afford it. Another big obstacle for me is Increasing my numbers, I am stuck. Also, fighting my insecurities about explaining to patients what needs to be done. Another obstacle is trying to move past my comfort zone. I have been doing things to help, for instance birthday adjustments, thank you notes for referrals, doing some health talks. I have one at a nursing home in March, and I am very excited. Whats keeping my practice from growing? Well, I do not really know! I know it is not my spontaneity, energy, or compassion towards life and not my love for chiropractic. I am sure my insecurities are holding me back from flourishing. What am I willing to do? Well, I am willing to increase my level of commitment. I have interviewed one person already for the CA position. I have a CA from another office presently help me organize the practice and show me tips on how to succeed. It is definitely helping. I am willing to work on my commitment to chiropractic, when is the Atlanta seminar? The area I live in has potential, the chiropractor down the street is doing very well, and has been established for about 13 years. That doesn't intimidate me, it just makes me want to work harder. I just remodeled office space and the environment is so peaceful. I am excited about my office and my practice but I feel like I spin my wheels a lot. I did not have you as a teacher, to bad. I did go to Life. And now have moved back to my home town, and I am presently snowed in right now. Anyway, I gave you what I could right now and did take time to answer the questions. Thank You for your help, A: Thanks for the reply. I understand your dilemma .. you wish to serve and be helpful without the trappings of business .. asking for money and going through the hassles of creating and maintaining a practice. We all wish this. In the public sector there are many avenues for people to help others with little financial compensation as this is their furthest concern. Social workers and teachers do fantastic work and provide an invaluable service but get paid little for it. Same is true for missionaries and the like .. serve their creator for nothing more than a thank you. If this is what you wish to do .. I and others will support you with good wishes but you幢l still have to provide food for the table .. shelter and all the other THINGS that make for life in general and a better life if you desire more. Remember one thing .. there are many Many people that will .. in all sincerity .. take every advantage you toss their way .. from reduced fees to care for free. These same folks will also be the first to sue you or make life miserable once they feel you turned on them .. any business person can write chapter and verse about this. Therefore .. to break through into a more valuable and profitable practice .. you must be sharp within business. Success is not only how much money you make but how happy you are .. how comfortable you are with yourself and your purpose and how those within your circle of family and friends cherish your presence. This is cheap but with a little cushion of funds and comfort it makes the ride called Life that much easier. Okay .. enough preaching .. now what can you do ... Well .. you hit it on the head .. you must become comfortable with your skills both technical and professional. You must stretch your presence and push through your comfort zone .. literally willing to lose a portion of your patient base if you changed some practice procedures and confronted them .. with concern and love .. but letting them know what they need to hear and place a value on it. Be creative with financial options and cover them with education and knowledge but be firm and demand they respond .. office lectures .. knee to knee discussions .. asking for referrals .. having on going marketing programs .. set in motion specific projects and following through. To do these .. you must also have knowledge and feel good about the direction you wish to go. While I taught at Life .. up until December 1999 .. I knew that even though my class started on Thursday at 8 am and was an elective .. those that didn廠 take it ..especially when they knew the benefits derived .. did so at their risk of graduating without the specific tools to succeed. No great loss though .. I and many other DC廣 have spent time and money after graduation taking post graduate courses to learn the ropes of success .. practice management and public relations .. you have to do the same. Karl Parker Seminar will be in Philadelphia March 16-19 .. $195. Call them at 888- 437-5275 or e-mail them at: behapy@karlparker.com. Be sure and mention when you register that you want the "Special Margolies Offer" and you will receive a $30 Chiropractic Success subliminal programming tape from Dr. Karl at the seminar for free. I will be teaching there Saturday .. we can spend time together as well as you benefitting from masterminding with many other DC廣 and participate within a number of classes .. this is much different than DE and may be very practical for you. I will be sure to have Dr. Karl spend some time with you as he is very concerned with new DC廣 succeeding. If interested .. you can also attend the Fernandez Discipline Seminar in Atlanta March 4-5. Fee for this is also $195 but you can come as my guest for free if you call them and let them know you are my guest for free .. call them if interested at 1-800-882-4476 .. he has a very successful Practice Starters Program .. it is outlined to new DC廣 and he has no heavy pressure to join just an introduction. Again .. this may be worth you time and money. I hope you have .. at least .. my Smart Start Book .. if not call me at 770-491-3639 or order it on-line at http://www.chirostore.com/cgi-bin/netcat.pl?page=cat8.htm .. it廣 $59.95 and is full of HOW to rather than just What to I hope this helps .. Have a Great Day Dr. M