TNR Declassified: 2nd Edition
Although all of our TNR Declassified stories are based on actual people and true events, we are not disclosing the names of the DCs as respect to their privacy. The events discussed took place during some of the darkest days of their lives. To publicly relive them for the world to see is a challenge too hard to bear for some. However, our members believe that if their stories can relate to someone going through the same struggle and gives them the strength to better their lives, well the story will be for the greater good.
I graduated in 2010 secure in the knowledge that if enough people knew what I knew, my practice would be successful. My career path started not long after graduation, with a doctor taking me under his wing as an associate. I was an optimistic new graduate, enthused by the fact I was already in the field of Chiropractic adjusting patients. At least, it beat the life of a broke Chiropractic student.
A few years spent doing my best for my patients, a handful of public health talks, screenings, and local business partnerships had now changed me from a broke Ch
iropractic student to a struggling doctor. I was part of the ‘living paycheck by paycheck’ club, and as someone who spent many years in school to become a doctor, I didn’t find this fair. So what did I do? I looked for some guidance. What I got was a very charismatic, energetic Chiropractic coach who I believed had all the answers.
I started coaching with this gentleman in spring of 2012. I spent my nights reading books he suggested and my car rides listening to his CDs. I crafted a vision board, typed up a mission statement, and submitted my office stats for him to review. In conclusion, I did everything he asked me to do. And where did my efforts get me? A 75% decrease in my practice. I was shocked. Weren’t coaches supposed to increase your practice? But here I was, in a tighter spot than before, with the threat of losing my job and everything that went with it. Desperate, I asked my coach what the next step would be. He didn’t know. He said that in all his twenty-five years of coaching, never has he come across such a situation. And with that lack of answer, I fired him.
I was through with coaches. I was tired of the nonsense they spouted. Jot down your goals, track your stats, be more excited. Oh, and let’s not forget my personal favorite: You should start seeing more patients. Get busy getting busy. Ahem, isn’t that why you’re here, to increase my patient numbers? How useless. And so I was left alone in the battlefield, except with a little more money in my pocket.
After a few more months of feeling helpless with my life spiraling out of control (I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but that’s how I felt), I found myself at my old school for an event that earned me some cheap CE credits. You know the drill, pay your money, get your stamp, and wait for the bar to open. In one of those instances wandering away from the bar, I ran into a couple of doctors going on about patient education. Whoopie . And yet, despite my feigned enthusiasm, I found my feet stationed to the ground. They really knew how to light up a room. Their stage presence was eminent in the way they had captivated us word by word. No one shuffled their papers around or turned their heads in search for an exit. We listened as two doctors spoke about how exciting Chiropractic should and could be.
“What’s holding you back?” asked Dr. Kevin to the crowd. Through an obscure diagram he showed us how our ego and fear stifles us from having great practices that truly reflect our talents and abilities. I don’t know why, but his words really stuck with me. I spent the following days mulling over them as I analyzed my situation. It was probably these days of reflection that prompted me to jump on the phone with Dr. Kevin when his assistant called to follow up on me.
What happened to being through with Chiropractic coaches? Well, for the first time in a long time I stopped being a deer in the headlights and started to see where I ought to be in practice, with the help of a road map to guide me. And so I caved and got myself another coach. But if he was able to break down my resistance, I figured he could teach me a thing or two on how to break my patients’ resistance.
That was last spring. Through a string of TNR events that taught me the ins and outs of difficult cases, patient procedures, and key factors in myself that was hinderi
ng my growth, as well as the weekly coaching sessions, I am suited up for my next battle. You see, with my newfound courage I took a stand against my boss who was handing me leftovers. He wasn’t so keen on my act of protest and fired me shortly afterwards. You might be gasping now, thinking to yourself, “Oh you poor thing.” Put a rain check on your pity party because I have a happy ending for you.
You see, despite my current state of being unemployed, I am more confident than ever. No longer does the feeling of overwhelm consume me, but rather this notion that everything is falling into place. I am proud to announce that I am close to securing a loan to open my own office. And with the help of other TNR members coming down to assist with the installations, my office will be up and running in no time. If you told me that I was going to have my own practice by the end of 2013, I’d laugh in disbelief. But here I am, released from my chains and finally my own man.
