Q: Dr. M, I have been in a slump lately and I wanted to know if it is me or where I am. I remember you telling me in school not to pay too close attention to the numbers and visits that come into the office. But how can you not especially when you are trying to grow the practice. Financially, I have been doing very well in the past. I paid the student loans off and my new car is almost paid for, but recently I have been down in all of my numbers across the board. And to boot, I have been doing more marketing with screenings and talks both internal and external. Does it become a point in time where you run out of fertile ground wherever your market is? Kind of like running out of prospective patients to work on? I know this sounds small minded and crazy, but seriously, in my town there is no one moving into my town. With a stagnant population at best with a declining ratio of people and this is the oldest people county where I practice in. These old people need the care more than anyone else. Seems as though they have made their minds up already. So am I doomed? My education and purpose has never changed. I speak the truth about chiropractic/take the higher road and tell the people about subluxation and how an adjustment for maintenance for life is very important. The people from the screenings haven't been following through with coming in and not many have been coming up to the booth. I have been doing them all over, not just over fishing the same hole if you know what I mean. What is the deal with it all? Is it me or where I am? Do I need to move? A: Thanks for the e-mail and sorry for delay in replying. If you can stand in front of your office counting the cars driving by .. then visit your local supermarkets or retail stores and count the number of people shopping and after getting the total consider how many of these folks go to a chiropractor then you give me the answer if your area has dried up .. I think not. Demographically there are always imaginative ways to create new patients and chiropractic awareness. I recommend you begin fishing with new bait and churn the waters again. There are many local churches .. garden clubs .. civic organizations needing speakers .. attorneys to contact .. medical professionals to send letters and meet with etc. Also .. it's time you spent some of your money traveling to various seminars and getting new and renewed ideas .. such as either of the Parkers .. and of course take me up on a invitation to a Fernandez seminar .. the next one is in June here in Atlanta and is a bonanza concerning PI .. marketing and all. Also .. it is about time you went on your own .. consider this as well. Have a Great Day Dr. M