What's Your Call?

A pivotal baseball game was being played and it came down to the bottom of the ninth inning. The pitcher was trying to close out the game clinging to a one run lead. The bases were loaded with 2 outs. The count was three balls and two strikes. The next pitch could decide the game. He checked the signs, wound up and let the pitch fly. The batter watched the ball hit the catcher’s glove, as he was sure it was a ball and the tying run was to be walked in. The catcher jumped up as if the game was over as he was sure it was a strike. The pitcher looked at the umpire and held up his arms to ask what is it? The batter turned to the umpire and said, what’s the call? Each dugout began to empty out on to the field surrounding the umpire. The managers were pleading with the umpire what they thought the call should be. “It’s a ball! It’s a strike!” Finally the umpire raised his arms and he spoke. He said; “It ain’t nothin’ till I call it!”

I listened to this story told many years ago in crowded ballroom in Atlanta, GA by Dr. Sid Williams. He was making the point that our reality is what we make it. He was telling all of us that we have a choice in every situation. How we choose to react, what we choose to think, what emotion we want to have associated with the situation. Ultimately, it comes down to us making a conscious decision instead of an unconscious default setting that was preprogrammed by our past experiences. Your situation whatever it maybe is whatever you make of it.

In chiropractic today we are seeing a big split not only of the philosophy of docs, but we are seeing a split in levels of success. There are more and more successful and highly profitable practices than ever, and there are more and more practices struggling to stay afloat. The middle-class chiropractor is becoming the minority. Adversity and problems will come no matter what level of success you have obtained in practice and in life. The question is what are you going to do about it?

There are a couple of sure-fire ways to not overcome adversity. Number one is to not take responsibility. Blame it on someone else or something else: your staff, the economy, the weather, insurance companies, your school, or your government. This is an effective way to protect your ego while you continue down the path of sucking in practice. Another one that is rampant in our profession is to do nothing. Just pretend that everything is all right, bury your head in the sand and hope it all goes away when you wake up from your fantasy nap. The other very common ineffective solution that is being practiced daily is the “Jack of all trades, master of none” tactic. Imagine going to your dentist and while you are in the chair for your cleaning she starts telling you that they are offering mammograms, pap smears and colonoscopies now. Some morons would probably think that was great, but most people want their dentist to focus on their teeth instead of their other parts.

Successful chiropractors see their challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. They face them head on, take responsibility and find a way to grow beyond them. They work harder, work smarter, and grow to become a better leader, teacher, healer and philosopher. They run toward problems instead of running away. They attack fear because they realize it is imaginary and not real. They can embrace the haters as a sign of growth because they don’t compromise their ethics always remaining in integrity. They realize success is mindset, a choice to be success, to do success, and to have success. At Chiropassion consulting we teach the time-tested strategies of success because they work. Join us is Chicago May 8^th and 9^th for our only seminar this year where our primary focus will be dedicated to financial success through building the lifetime family wellness practice of your dreams.

The only question that remains is what’s your call going to be? 

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