Dear Doctor,
You’ve probably heard it said that “character isn’t built in a crisis, it’s just displayed there,” and these days, we’ve had more than enough occasion to test this theory out -- between the conflicts in world politics, the onslaught of corporate and pharmaceutical scandals, and the muscle-flexing by Mother Nature, we’ve had plenty of chances recently to show what we’re made of.
Sometimes we mistakenly think of heroism as applying only to grand acts in the battlefield, or when a major issue occurs, but it can be significant when someone faces even a small adversity and comes up with an empowered and productive response.
A great example of this comes from outstanding Masters Circle and Winners Circle member Dr. Bryan Strother of New Buffalo, Michigan. It seems that he and his team were preparing for a busy day, when the power went out -- a
tree fell across some essential equipment in this town of four thousand, and put the entire area out of commission.
Instead of closing up and going home as most did, Bryan kicked his team into high gear. They bought some flashlights and candles, and as it got darker, he pulled his truck up to the window and put the lights on, illuminating the office. He had assistants escorting patients back and forth through the
dimly lit hallways, and when the dust settled, instead of the 68 visits he had scheduled for the day, they actually served 85 people – their positive energy was a beacon, attractive through the dark.
Dr. Strother remarks, “Many practice members commented that ‘nothing stops you, the rest of the town is closed and you’re still going.’ We didn’t have anyone cancel because they thought we’d be closed. None of my staff even
thought we should close. They didn’t even suggest it. It’s amazing what happens when people are dialed into a purpose!”
At first glance, what Bryan did may not seem all that important, but representing chiropractic so proudly and providing unflinching service when others had fallen short is worthy of notice -- at some point, you may have something similar happen, and may be tempted to take the “easy” and mediocre path. Stepping up for himself and his staff, for his patients, and for chiropractic positioned him in his community as someone who goes the extra mile, and the people he serves didn’t miss that. And, the statement he made
to his staff about the value of chiropractic care is more powerful enough than anything he could try to teach them. It’s real, what he did, and it had real impact on real people.
When life’s little challenges present themselves, think about your outcome – what do you want to accomplish? What should you be focusing on? What empowering meaning can you assign to the current circumstances, and what is your best course of action? Asking yourself questions like this will guide your attention toward your best options, and access your best resources for quick and appropriate action, leading to the best results possible.
The clearer you are about your outcome, and the more you take control of your state and your behavior, the better you’ll show up as a leader when the chips are down. Take a page out of a small town chiropractic hero’s book, and hold yourself to a higher standard when the opportunity arises.
Dennis Perman DC, for The Masters Circle
PS “The Master Plan 2005” seminar is this weekend, and includes a 98-page workbook filled with the latest practice-building ideas – for info, please visit
themasterscircle.com, or call 800-451-4514.
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