A young DC attended one of my seminars recently. At the mid-day break he approached and said “This is brilliant! I’ve got pages of notes and love everything I’m hearing.” I was flattered and said thank you, but there was more than delight in his voice – there was great surprise.

I smiled and asked him if he was surprised that he was enjoying himself and here was his answer: “We were told that people like you were the devil and here I am in the devil’s lair and I’m loving it!” We both laughed.

I pressed further by asking what he expected and what he found. “I have always been told that what you teach is not in the patients best interest; you are just in it for the money and what you teach is American rubbish. However, it’s just the opposite; your clients that I know swear that the patient is better served in your system and that you teach and practice quality service first and foremost. PLUS, I find the teaching is smart and user friendly.”

I asked my new British friend to do me a few favors: “First, if you find anything I teach that doesn’t serve the patient, tell me. Second, if you can, tell others what you found to be the truth about my work. And finally, PLEASE don’t step on my tail again.”

Angela had never met a chiropractor when she interviewed for the job. She was intrigued by the job posting for a “Health Promotions Assistant” and when she walked into the office she was impressed with how friendly people were and that the doctor herself was involved in the hiring.

What she learned that day was amazing. No wonder the doctor wanted someone to help with getting the word about chiropractic out to the community – she had never heard what chiropractic was all about AND if it was half of what she heard today, she’d like to get paid to tell people and see them become new patients.

Everything but the name is accurate in that story. But the rest of story is the good part. Our little Health Promotions Assistant went on to produce an average of 5.7 additional new patients a week for almost two years. The practice exploded and her employer had to hire an associate to assist her with all the health that Angela had promoted.

In the interview the doctor told the applicants that health promotions looks and feels like a sales position. But what Angela found was that most of the people her “selling” put into a chiropractic care plan were thrilled with the results. Several patients made a point of thanking her for directing them toward the best health decision they had ever made.

As you might imagine, Angela ended up becoming a chiropractic patient, experiencing her own “chiropractic miracle” and frequently used her own life as an example of what people could expect from chiropractic.

Her doctor, boss and friend hated to see her go, but eventually she moved several hundred miles away where she does quite well as a commission salesperson.

So, what did her former boss do? Hired, trained and managed another Health Promotions Director. Here’s what the doctor told me: “Noel, this is the best position I hire. It’s the only one that actually produces more than she costs as a normal course of work and I wouldn’t have met literally hundreds of people with out it.”

Doctor, who’s helping you promote health in your community?

 I first heard the term “silly-season” while in Australia. I was there during the start of the silly-season, which is Christmas and New Year’s. I must admit it did seem silly to me – walking by shops trimmed for Christmas in sweltering summer heat. I had invited my older son, Bryan, to come along to the Great Barrier Reef. Turns out that December is a great time for the Great Barrier Reef. 

Get to the point, Lloyd! (My inner voice is a tougher critic than you are, but why don’t both of you indulge me for a moment.) We are now in the THICK of the silly-season and I’m in full sympathy with the “relax a little” sentiment. This year has been a big push on all fronts and by God’s grace and with a lot of hard work, we have hit record years for Five Star and Sound Chiropractic at Northgate. After you press hard for a goal – and attain it – you at least take the time to appreciate, celebrate and contemplate what just happened. 

It’s also a chance to rest. And I don’t mean run away from every positive discipline you’ve worked on all year. This is a big point coming right here: We have an obligation to structure our practices in such a way that we look forward to work. And that means that I’m not just holding my nose and pushing through “the misery that is practice” (as one prospective client put it). I refuse to live that way. 

But even if you learned to love it all, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t work – even when it’s our mission and our passion. Great example: My client, friend and hero is Phil Kriss. Phil is 50-plus years old and an iron man triathlete. Just recently he did his personal best time of under 4:53 and change. There’s a lot more “go” than “quit” in Phil Kriss. However, after the training and racing there’s a rest, if for no other reason than to let his body recover. That’s what I’m talking about – a little R & R. 

At this time of year I want to spend a couple days setting up an electric train for my grandson, Sean. I want to have third cup of coffee sitting by the fire watching the sun come up late over Port Susan. I want to do nothing long enough to get bored with that and look forward to coming back to help you and others do what makes us chiropractors. Merry Christmas and a happy and very successful New Year!

Dr. Lloyd addresses New Jersey Chiropractors in the US

In 2009, Drs. Noel Lloyd and George Birnbach presented a challenge to the chiropractors of the UK – take one day and learn the critical elements to a successful practice. Two dozen doctors took the challenge. Since then the success stories have been exciting.

Five Star invites you to attend The UK Chiropractor 2010 Success Seminar – 4 December 2010 London, Heathrow

Help More People, Have More Fun, Be More Successful

Teach your team to generate lots of qualified patient referrals: Team training is the key to efficient, successful offices. Bring your staff and learn the secrets of the professionals for generating an endless stream of new patient referrals who are excited about your office and chiropractic care. These drills are fun and create a wonderful office full of happy referring patients.

Master Patient Psychology: Learn to explain chiropractic to generate motivated new patients. There are techniques for speaking and educating patients about chiropractic, treatment programs, and lifestyle changes that create fast, wonderful changes in the office-patient relationship. This training session demonstrates the most effective patient education skills that will impact your practice. Immediately.

Advanced Leadership Skills for the Successful Professional: Learn to lead your office, expand your reputation in the community, and become a successful business owner using the 5 leadership secrets of the most successful chiropractic professionals. These drills will leave you feeling powerful and effective while providing clear, written systems for debugging any breakdown in your clinic.

How would your practice change with just an extra 3 new patients a week?

$199 for the DC

$99 for the CA

$49 for the chiropractic student