Welcome to the Planning for Practice Success Newsletter

Practice Startup Success

Information Advice Encouragement

August 20, 2007                                                                                 ISSN 1934-3248

 The biggest lie we tell ourselves in the area of action is, “I’ll do it later.” As C. Northcote Parkinson said, “Delay is the deadliest form of denial.”

In this issue:

Why delay?  There is no tomorrow.  I recently experienced the death of my mother-in-law, who was 86.  And I have spent a lot of time since then thinking about life and how short it is.  Some wise person once said, “Life is short.  Eat dessert first.”  If you want a fulfilling life, a life of service to others, and a life of prosperity, you need to get started on it now. 

Don’t wait until you can afford it
Don’t wait until you have learned enough
Don’t wait until everything is lined up perfectly.
Don’t wait until your children are older.
Don’t wait until your spouse has gone through school.

Just do it – Now.

SBTV is Small Business TV (www.sbtv.com ).  Most of their content is in video format, but there are some interesting non-video articles, like one I saw on debt collection tips.  Sections are: MONEY MARKETING, MANAGEMENT LEGAL, REAL BUSINESS WOMEN, AUTHORS, HISPANIC TECHNOLOGY EVENTS .  Be prepared for commercials everywhere, including at the start of most videos. Oh, well.  The Legal section is very good; I saw a video on why an LLC or Corporation can’t protect you from malpractice liability.  I’ll be checking these videos and reporting back to you periodically, but you might want to see for yourself.  Let me know what you think.

8 One-Liners That Work:  George Bernard Shaw once said that “The problem with communication … is the illusion that it has been accomplished.” From lifehack (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/8-one-liners-that-stick.html) , here are some important one-line messages you should consider incorporating into your practice.   

• Susan, Susan Thompson. Repeat your name twice, so people remember.  Also, ask people to repeat their first name, to help you remember it. 
• I’ve heard some great things about you. Don’t say it unless it’s true. 
• I’m looking forward to that. “I’ll see you next week.  I’m looking forward to that.”  Give people something to look forward to, and make them understand the value you put on your relationship with them. 
• Leave your name and phone, speaking slowly enough for me to write it down. Use this on your voicemail message to get people to speak slower.  It might not get everyone, but a few might speak more slowly. 
• I’m not sure about that but I think we can do this. This one is a customer service technique, which turns a negative (we can’t give you a discount on your credit payment) into a positive (we can give you a discount for cash).  Always be thinking positive. 
• I think we have something in common. It takes just a few minutes at the beginning of a discussion with a new patient to find something you have in common.  Make that connection, and remember it each time the person comes into the office.  It’s another great relationship builder.
• Let’s strike while the iron is hot! Let’s do it now!  This statement gives the patient a sense of the urgency of scheduling that appointment or doing those exercises. 

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 Ask Dr. Jean Murray a question (email jean@dcpracticesuccess.com )
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