Welcome to the Planning for Practice Success Newsletter

 October 23, 2006

As one goes through life one learns that if you don't paddle your own canoe, you don't move.    Katherine Hepburn

In this issue:

Business Resource:  Bankrate.com
Marketing Tip: Greeting Cards for Referrals

Leasing Tip: Build-Out

Relevant Reading: Life's Greatest Lessons

Bankrate.com. Check out this website for lots of good financial information. Just a sample:
* Financial calculators, including mortgage and auto loan
calculators
* Rent vs. buy decision calculators
* Loan rates by area
* Lists of credit card rates by type (low interest, airline
miles, etc.)
* Checking account comparisons

Marketing Tip:  Did you ever wonder why lots of
chiropractors send out greeting cards (especially birthday cards)?  It's because greeting cards are one of the best ways for you to stay in patients' minds, both for their own continuing care and to encourage them to refer patients.
One DC told me that he ran into a former patient and asked her directly why she wasn't coming in.  The answer: 'I forgot about you.' If people don't have health issues, they tend to forget about you.  But if you keep in the front of their minds, you have a better chance that they will think of you when they need care or when their friends need care.  This principle is also a good reason to send out newsletters (online or in print), or just about anything that will keep people thinking about you.

Leasing Tip:  Build Outs. When you are ready to do a build-out, you need a contract, including the agreement of how and when to disburse funds to pay the contractor.
Here's how to pay for the build-out: ¼ up front and then ¼ and ¼ at several points along the way, saving ¼ for the end. This keeps the construction people on task and allows you to have some leverage when things don't go the way you want. If you pay up front, you have no way to force changes or to push for completion. For more information on finding and leasing an office, see my new e-book: Leasing Your Office.

Relevant Reading:  Life's Greatest Lessons, 4th edition by Hal Urban Fireside/Simon and Schuster (2003).  The subtitle is '20 things that matter.'  Urban discuses attitude, honesty, habits, respect, motivation, hard work, an self-esteem.  It's a small book (only 162 pages), but full of good quote and advice.  For example:  What makes people successful? Urban lists characteristics of successful people. Ultimately, he says, success is becoming all you're capable of being.


Ask Dr. Jean Murray a question: email her at jean@dcpracticesuccess.com
Order Planning for Practice Success or one of our other
products or call our toll free number at any time (24/7): 1-866-940-7526

Best wishes for your continued success,

Jean Murray

Planning for Practice Success
Online at http://www.dcpracticesuccess.com

The most absurd and reckless aspirations
have sometimes led to extraordinary success.
-- Vauvenargues

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