Dear Doctor:
I like being a dad. I like the feeling of having my kids look up to me. I like the decision making, the responsibility, the opportunity to guide them and help them evolve and mature into happy, productive, loving, contributing adults.
That may be why I admire so many famous fathers – for example, George Washington, father of our country; Abraham Lincoln, father of equality; Martin Luther King, father of modern civil rights; and D.D. Palmer, father of chiropractic.
It’s probably also why I’ve selected my line of work – as a consultant and seminar leader, I get to guide people toward making good decisions for themselves and support them in their development every single day. I love that – watching new practitioners rush wide-eyed into practice, get their noses bloodied a bit and then pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get back in there – or rekindling the spark in semi-burnt veterans who have been trying to play a 1980’s game in the 21st Century, seeing those old soldiers come alive again with the promise of a new and more fulfilling way to practice in today’s marketplace – or coaching talented young superstars to break through even their own lofty expectations.
Yes, there are a lot of parallels with fatherhood, not the least of which is that pride in the accomplishments of those with whom we work. Amazing feats occur daily, with doctors breaking through to higher and higher levels of satisfaction, sometimes related to practice volume, sometime completely independent of it. Realizing the many ways to enjoy success is part of the process of self discovery – it doesn’t only have to be about practice growth, though for some this is a primary objective.
No, it’s more about relationships -- the sharing, the confidence, the love and respect. The achievements are important, don’t get me wrong – but it’s watching who these members become along the way that is most rewarding.
They say that if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime – gender insensitivity aside, this saying profoundly summarizes the joys of fatherhood – providing those we care about with a glimpse into our own unique methodology for whole person living. Share your wisdom and experience – you’ll make a difference in more people’s lives.
Dennis Perman DC, for The Masters Circle
PS The third quarter seminar is “Success Systems That Never Fail” – for info or to register, please call 1-800-451-4514 or go to themasterscircle.com.
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