A provocative question for sure, so before I get even more hate mail than I already get …… 🙂
Let me explain the context for this question.
There is no question in my mind that B.J. Palmer was a phenomenal leader and led the chiropractic profession through some dark and tumultuous times.
There is no question in this writer’s mind that I would not have the privilege of calling myself a chiropractor were it not for leaders like B.J. Palmer and the many other pioneers in this profession that blazed a trail for us.
They lead us through medical harassment and quackery reviews. They lead us directly to legislation in every state and province in North America, and indirectly in most other civilized countries where chiropractic is practiced.
B.J. opened and ran the B.J. Palmer Clinic for many years where very sick people came and got well.
He was responsible for opening Clear view Sanitarium for mentally unbalanced/sick patients and had a 45% discharge rate according to the research I did …… which is way better than any allopathic based sanitarium of that era.
B.J. wrote the multi volume set of guiding light chiropractic books called the Green Books.
He dined with Presidents and heads of state. He rubbed shoulders with titans of industry and had the first X-ray machine and radio station west of the Mississippi river.
He was an innovator and a man committed to the mission of bringing chiropractic to the world.
ALRIGHT THEN SMART ASS …… WHERE THE HELL DID B.J. LET US DOWN?
It was not in what B.J. did ……
it was what he didn’t do!
As is so common with bright, driven, self-actualized entrepreneurs like B.J., they take on their mission with zeal and passion and are very capable so they accomplish a lot.
They are naturally curious and optimistic people and often feel they will live forever. They tend to not delegate as much as they could and don’t plan well for succession and the passing of the torch.
In my opinion B.J. did not do a great job at succession planning.
Think about what changed when B.J. transitioned off the planet and his son David Daniel took over the operations of the Palmer Empire?
My research shows that he did several things that changed the culture and flavor of chiropractic at the “Fountainhead” forever, and as a result changed the culture and flavor of chiropractic around the world.
This included taking the epigrams off the walls at Palmer College, closing Clear view Sanitarium, and closing the B.J. Palmer clinic.
In this writer’s opinion, this shifted the vitalistic/allopathic balance in the profession towards more of an allopathic or mechanical approach to chiropractic.
It is my personal belief that B.J. must have rolled over in his grave as he witnessed these changes occurring to his dream and to the profession he loved so much.
So what are the implications for you and me and everyday chiropractors?
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR DREAM AND THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE, YOU WILL PLAN YOUR SUCCESSION WELL BEFORE YOU ARE READY TO RETIRE SO THAT YOU CAN PASS THE TORCH WITH EASE AND EFFICIENCY!
You have worked hard to build a culture and brand in your community based on integrity, commitment, contribution and results.
You have helped your community be healthier, happier and function at a higher level.
You have decades of clinical, business and entrepreneurial experience that is priceless and would be a shame to not pass on.
The young chiropractors of today are begging to be mentored and gain from your decades of experience ….
Will YOU rise to the challenge?
Will YOU reflect and plan out a succession plan?
Will YOU continue to have your community served by your clinic even after you and your present team are long gone?
Are YOU willing to be compensated appropriately for the equity you have built into your business over the many years of service?
Are YOU willing to put up with the small hassles and emotional turmoil that results from having an eager young associate come and work with you?
Will YOU pass the torch and guard B.J.’s Sacred Trust!?
So what is the first step you ask?
Step one is to determine what your current practice is worth so you can start to plan for passing the torch.
This appraisal will clearly document where the “weak links” in your business are and what you can do to not only increase the final value of the practice, but also what you can do in the interim years to add more service and revenue to the bottom line.
If you would like to learn the 5 biggest factors that make up the value of your practice, and how to maximize these, then click here for the free training.
