I have found that in today’s business world what medical practitioners want more is their time back. I work with medical practitioners that work very long hours and help them reduce their working time.
But I have had a frustrating week this week. I love what I do and most weeks I only work 3 days a week. But this week I was working on Friday. And I hate that. So what made this week different?
Well, I have a passion for learning about ways of increasing profit with reduced hours. So, when seminars come up on the subject I tend to check them out. So, I spent a day at one. The content of the seminar was good. I would not say it was anything I had not come across before, but I learnt a few things which are always exciting to put into practice.
But here’s the thing. The presenter had the knowledge but did not seem to practice what they preached. They were employed on a full-time basis and probably earnt an above-average decent salary. My question was if they knew how to do it, why was it they were not doing it and if they are not doing it how were they going to get me to do it? Yet for $24,000 over two years they were prepared to show and teach me.
It reminded me of a story I always tell people when they must decide on an advisor to choose.
It goes something like this:
Joe was walking down a dark road when he fell into a hole. Injured, he could not get out. So along comes a doctor and Joe asks for help. The doctor looks down and says ‘sorry, but I can’t get you out. But I will write a prescription for the pain so that when you do get out you can use it.’ The doctor writes the prescription drops it and goes home.
Then a priest comes along and Joe asks him for help. The priest looks down and says ‘sorry son, but I cannot get you out. But here is a prayer and your troubles will be answered.’ The priest writes his prayer, drops it and leaves.
Then Joe’s best mate and advisor, Jack comes along and Joe asks for his help. Jack immediately jumps into the hole. Joe shouts at him. ‘Are you an idiot? Now we are both in the hole!’
Jack looks at him calmly and says. ‘Yes, we are both in the hole, but I know how to get out because I have been here before.’
And that is why I was so frustrated. I see this time and time again. We have, in Australia, created a massive industry where the sole purpose is to show ways that help. We are constantly bombarded by information, yet no-one seems the wiser. If anything, it is getting worse. You don’t want information. You want answers that work.
If you want to reduce time in your medical practice and make more money the only way you are going to achieve it is to learn from people who practice and live it. If they are working a standard week taking 4 weeks holiday a year and earning good incomes, it actually does not work for you. Because guess what? That is what you already have and want to get away from.
You want someone who works in the business because they want to, not because they have to. They take at least 8 weeks holiday and year and earn a bucket load of cash. If they aren’t doing this, then the chances are they won’t be doing it for you either.
So, here’s the question. Who do you want in the hole with you?
