You Decide

A critical take on the establishment of a successful
practice that provides a life's worth of patient value and
unending income.

In retrospect, about a year after writing about Commanders
of Change as a progressive new breed of doctors, I did not
realize how prophetic it would be. The most successful
doctors in private practice that we see today are making
their own changes and continuously improving themselves and
their practices. All of it inspite of what is happening in
the outside world. They have clearly learned to Practice
by Design.

On the other hand, those that are unsuccessful in private
practice are actually practicing by default.

It's no secret that your patient's lives are very different
now too. Beyond just an election year uncertainty, entire
pillars of American society are facing changes that come
very, very quickly.

So here's the simple choice: Learn new systems, grow, and
become more patient-centric while reinventing your
practice, yourself, and your future.

Or do nothing and hope that things will continue to be like
they used to be. Either way, know that it is a decision
that will leave a lasting effect on your entire life.

I am not telling you it's easy, far from it. If it were,
all the doctors in private practice would easily gross six-
and seven-figure salaries. For some of us, it's the most
difficult issue in life at the moment.

I do, however, speak from experience when I tell you that
the direction you take now, because of it being such a
pivotal time, can mean dominating your given market area,
building a powerful, profitable practice knowing you are
fulfilling your professional destiny, and having that extra
income committed to permanent interest-bearing investments
that can provide you a lifetime of freedom.

Or failing to act decisively and quickly, while gathering
all the tools and information you must have regardless of
who or what tries to dissuade you, can mean closing your
doors. It's this simple.

Do you hang around with naysayers or dwell upon how tough
things are while worrying about loss of income and your
investments?

It's your choice.

Or have you instead asked for help where you need it, moved
forward with a clear vision of the future instead of
regrets about the past.

While you are reviewing or reformulating your game plan,
here are some of the critical areas that need special
attention.

First, are you and your entire team communicating the true
value, the most meaningful benefits, about what you do?
And are you simultaneously making it easy for those who
want more of what you have to offer raise their hands and
buy more?

Do you talk only about pain, covered visits, or 'Longer,
healthier life with the energy and physical capacity to
engage your passions to their fullest'? Or do you teach
them how to be continuously "Looking and feeling
spectacular" and "Having more energy than people 10-15
years younger'?

Because face it, Doctor, this is exactly what you provide
to people.

If you are not presently fully committed to the idea, I
advise that you provide enough time to see for yourself how
the practice development programs that we have provided can
be more efficiently utilized to make all of this your
reality, as well.

Always note these are the patients that will tell everybody
about their physicians and those that will pay happily for
the service you provide. They come back, year after year,
with their children and grandchildren.

How about your team? Are they crisp, efficient, friendly,
and understanding? Do they do everything to make the
office a place that people would love to come back to and
recommend to everybody they know? Do they fully support
you or stress you out way too much? This is also a choice.
Your choice, Doctor.

As a vital referral-driving and expanded patient care
network, what is the quality of your other healthcare
professional relationships? Have you aligned yourself with
like-minded MDs, DMDs, DPMs, etc.? Do they provide
referrals to you with total trust? Do you offer support to
them as well as their patients?

Primarily, do you have a clear vision and are you
implementing a step-by-step game plan aimed at making all
of this come true?

Not too long ago, I wrote on how to develop a step-by-step
implementation game plan. If you are having difficulty
with any of these critical areas instead of going into
overwhelm, allocate some quiet time, a day or two out of
the office if need be, use the simple system that I have
developed for you and just get it done.

And remember, this is where good coaching and modern tools
and systems are priceless.

I look forward to hearing your success story!


About the Author:

Dr. John Hayes, Jr. is an Evvy Award Nominee and author of
Living and Practicing by Design. You can get a copy of his
book at
http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=978-1-4327-3234-9
To know more about his unique approaches to private
practice success, visit http://perfectpracticeweb.com/ and
register for a FREE CD and Info Pack.