In recent times my practice has gotten quiet.
Dr. Andrew Arnold talks about how to manage a quiet day in practice.
As per my own teachings, I implement the appropriate behaviours and protocols also known as rational thinking.
- First, remind myself, I am a good person, a good Chiropractor, and have an excellent team and practice community.
- Remind myself we have previously been busy, which means this can happen again.
- Go to the stats. Look at the over-arching trends, compare last week, last month, last year. Try to get a different perspective.
- Check in with my colleagues and other business owners. Find out what’s happening in the local economic climate.
- Check in with the wider, global climate, e.g. recent floods, fires, virus out-breaks, politics, other weather extremes etc.
- Check in with my advertising manager, make sure all on track in the back-end.
So, I tell myself hang in there, with every down-turn there will be an up-turn. It’s all good.
The practice bumps up a bit but then something unexpected happens. It gets quiet!
I’ve been in practice for 22 years and on this day, it felt like days of old. I turned up to 2 patients in the morning with my next coming in at 4.30pm!
Everything I’ve learnt, everything I’ve taught my student practitioners in my programs and in my practice went out the door. Yes, it also gets to me at times!
I fell into an almighty slump, literally. There I was slumped in front of my appointment book presuming you have got to be joking. What is going on?
The old ‘me’ was back with a vengeance, someone I had not seen in years.
I tried to pick myself up and go to my rational thinking plan, but it wasn’t working.
I wonder if you can relate?
After a while I started to accept my day, reluctantly. I sometimes realised s, it simply is what it is and is little you can do about it.
There is, however, one thing you always have control of and that’s your reaction and actions that follow.
I glanced at my book and took charge. I saw my two patients in the morning, then blocked myself out till 4pm. This way any last minute bookings could be scheduled together with my remaining patients, thus sustaining a little momentum.
I then went out of the clinic to my happy place, the swimming pool.
After smashing 80 laps I came back much clearer minded. I was no longer as perturbed, although quietly frustrated and worried but far more in control.
The take-away for me on this day was I needed the space. I needed the down-time whether I wanted it or not. The universe, if you like, was calling the shots.
Sure, there were significant external events influencing business but, the real key was in my mind. I had been in over-whelm with other projects and concerns for some time and no matter how hard I tried to manage them, it is impossible for it not to impact my practice.
So, I decided to simply let it go! That didn’t mean absolve all responsibility or accountability far from it, rather an energetic letting go.
I trust the universe will unfold exactly as it is meant to.
So, next time you feel the world is crashing in on you, take a breath, collect your thoughts, follow my advice and let go. It will all come around.
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About the author:
Dr. Andrew Arnold is a Chiropractor and Naturopath, and ACTP accredited Business coach. He is the founder of Million Dollar Wellness.
Andrew believes for health practices thriving, practitioners and practice owners need to, what he refers to as ‘step up into their power’. Leadership is about leading. Sounds simple right? So why are so many practitioners are struggling to make a living, eventually burning out and giving up?
Andrew has successfully built 2 multi-disciplinary, health practices to nearing a million pa. He has mentored many leading practice owners, helping reach their targets and beyond.
Andrew is married to Dr. Linda Wilson and has two children, Isaac and Bella. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.