Johnny Appleseed Joel E. Margolies, DC Page 1 From: Dr. Margolies Johnny Appleseed and Chiropractic In my class at Life University, I discuss a very important aspect of practice management and that is creating a „Farm.¾ As with any land owner attempting to furrow their soil prior to planting their seeds ... they test the soil .. clear it of rocks, debris, adverse critters, etc. They may test the soil and place the proper chemicals necessary to sustain plant life. In other words they accept a natural fate .. but they attempt to „adjust¾ it as best they can. Along with fate there must be hope. With hope comes promise and all because of a vision ..... a vision of bumper crops .. fields of vegetables, fruits, trees and flowers. So too with the new and established chiropractor. Considering that our world is surrounded by patients .. we must plant our ideas correctly by preparing our „farm¾ area ... which is usually five or ten miles arround the usual urban office. It is in this area that you will create awareness .. a beacon to your office. Remember Johnny Appleseed (for those DC¼s in Australia and Isreal .. Johnny Applessed is an American young child¼s tale) had such a vision. He took with him a handful of apple seeds and looked across the land. Claiming his „farm¾ he staked out the area to plant his orchards, nurture the soil and let nature take its course. The end result was bumper crops of apples .. orchards and orchards worth .. as far as the eye can see. Can you visualize this with your office „farm.¾ Have you begun planting your Springtime seeds? .. do you expect a bumper harvest of new and maintenance patients? .. are you willing to beat the trenches or train someone to do it for you .. not for you .. but for your community? I think you have to sit quietly and determine your level of confrontational and emotional/practice stress .. that level of purpose. Discuss within yourself and with those responsible with you where your energy lies .. what you need to do to extend it a bit further ... where the gaps are in office procedures and where you must follow through .. also determine when it¼s time to open the practice new patient faucet and let those who need you enter .. smoothly .. lovingly .. and with knowledge that they too have a purpose for the wellness of others. Be prepared to determine where you can continually receive the Purpose message and keep your eternal flame from flickering .. such as at Dynamic Essentials. This is difficult if your cup is overflowing with garbage and waste. Trim down the crap that takes energy from you ... I¼m not talking about your social life .. but your practice life .. with enough time put in for fooling around. Spend that new found time looking for gaps .. where you are losing patients .. where you are losing precious quality patient or staff time .. when patients begin to drop out or stop communicating .. get these lines tightened and then fish for more. Look at your team. The CA, your spouse, the other paraprofessionals assisting in patient management. Are they so entrenched in their role that asking for more will create practice havoc? Are they crossed trained to do their specific job as well as public relations .. whether internal or external? Are they On Purpose .. or do they waver with the enthusiasm of our gift ..Chiropractic? Do you have a bonus policy that will allow them to profit from increased practice growth .. or do you have them work harder with no appreciable reward but extra work? Give this some thought ... get programs in gear ... plant your seeds within your community ... and reap the harvest later. Dr. M