The Clinical Coach: The Letter I Wish I Received Starting Out

Well I screwed it up on Tuesday didn’t I,

The email that I should’ve sent in the morning, didn’t get send until late afternoon.

Ooops.🙊

Goes to show that even after sending over 20 newsletters, one can still make mistakes.

I’m sure I’ll still make a few of them in the future—oh well…

Which brings me to today’s newsletter.

I know Fridays are for the clinical cool stuff you’ve been waiting all week for.

While this is not a clinical condition, it fits perfectly within the realm of the Clinical Coach.

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with two students who are getting ready to graduate chiropractic school. During both conversations, oddly enough. The question: “What would you tell your younger self, if you could?” came up.

I decide to type it out, and share it with you.

WHY IT MATTERS: Over 90% of students do not get solid business education to start and grow a successful practice.

Ultimately giving them a false sense of preparation.

BACKGROUND: Schools do a pretty good job at providing students with education in assessments, diagnosis, and treatments. But the practical business experience students obtain once their reach student clinic (at least since 2015) is sub-par—it’s trash.

Students graduate with the idea that they are going to either:

1. Open up a practice and make a f*** ton of money the first year.

2. Go work for someone and find their happy-ever-after in that first associateship.

Out of the thousands of students I have come across. I only know of one person who made close to 500K in their first year in practice, and I know two people who’ve been associates in the same company for longer than 7 years.

If we make the math… that’s not even 1%.

And neither of them were happy within the first 3 years… go figure.

THE HONEST LETTER YOU NEED:

Dear ,

Never stop dreaming of success, but get your head out of the clouds and get your feet on solid ground.

You are going to work harder, smarter and much faster than the average doctor that is already doing what you are dreaming of doing.

Wait… did you think you were the first one?

Not at all.

Gym Clinic? Already done.
Functional Medicine practice? Already done.
Rehab only practice? Already done.
Remote Care practice? Already done.
Hybrid style practice? Already done.
Adjusting only practice? Already done.

Sorry to burst your bubble. If you can think of it… it’s probably out there already.

But just because it’s already been done, doesn’t mean you can’t do it better!

After all this is YOUR practice.

People are going to come for YOU. Then they’ll stay for your approach, your character and your values.

When you get started you are going to work harder, smarter and much faster than everyone else, not because they are going to steal your ideas or steal your patients.

No, because you will experience decision paralysis.

The more you think about launching that membership? The more you are going to second guess it.

The longer it will take for you to launch it. The longer it will take for you to make money.

The more you think about promoting your office? The more you’ll sit in an empty office with bills piling up.

Don’t forget about your student debt—it’s compounding faster than your income.

But where do you start?

Should you go on your own? Should you associate for someone?

If you don’t have a plan. You don’t have a future.

Without a plan you’ll navigate every day aimlessly. I like the idea of fate… but I’m not waiting on it.

Got a new patient. Great. Now wait a few more days/weeks for the next one?

It’s not sustainable.

It doesn’t matter if you go out on your own or you associate for someone.

Earn your keep.  

On your own? Bring patients through the door. Invite them to your office. Create content to attract them. Set up a booth at the gym next door, at the yoga studio, at the farmers market.

Working for someone? Bring patients through the door. Invite them to your office. Create content to attract them. Set up a booth at the gym next door, at the yoga studio, at the farmers market.

Wether you work for someone, or go out on your own. There’s only one truth. You need to work hard to earn your keep.

Stop scrolling.

Just stop it.

It’s useless—unless you are doing it to share and support those who have supported you.

Stop consuming for entertainment, and start learning to improve yourself.

Take a course in business—learn solid foundations.

Take a course on sales—learn how to persuade, not convince.

Take a course on marketing—learn how to write to promote, not to scream.

Take the course you need first, before the course you want.

Learn as much as you can, but apply it.

If you are not applying what you are learning, you are not really learning.

You are hoarding material in your head and not allowing it to benefit you, or anyone around you.

Learn by application
Learn by failure
Learn by association

Never gone a month without consulting with a friend, colleague, or mentor.

Reach out to someone who’s been-there-done-that and ask them how they did it. If they are honest about it, they’ll happily share it with you. Why?

Because you can’t do what they are doing. You can’t skip the steps they took to get to where they are.

But you can implement them, and you can get a taste of their success at that time.

Find friends, colleagues, or mentors who aren’t afraid of telling you you are wrong. These are the ones who’ll challenge you to become better.

As you grow and level up, your circles will change. It’s true.

It’s lonelier at the top.
Only if you let it be.
Bring your people.

As you get started in this journey, wether you go on your own, or you chose to work for someone. You are going to have to work harder, smarter and much faster than the average doctor that is already doing what you are dreaming of doing.

But it’s worth it.

If this letter resonated with you, let me know.

Until our next issue!

In health and strength,

If you are ready to level up your skills here’s how I can help:

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