Larry Markson, DC, CEO, of The Masters Circle, Lake Success, NY

Do you find that, after earning your chiropractic degree, you are not only expected to practice chiropractic but also to be a savvy businessperson? Many DCs find the business aspect of a practice gets in the way of ridding their patients of disease. Chiropractic Products asked Larry Markson, DC, CEO of The Masters Circle based in Lake Success, NY, for advice on running a successful practice.

What is the most common misconception DCs have about management consulting?
To be successful, all they have to do is join an organization and show up at seminars, and consultants will do the rest. Telling DCs what to do (the strategies and action steps) is not enough. Most DCs do not have trouble knowing or learning what to do they have trouble understanding that who they are detemines whether what they do works, and success comes from them, not to them. It is not the do; it’s the who.

How can a DC determine if they are a right fit with their firm?
They should preview a seminar first to determine if they resonate with leaders, speakers, theme, and quality of production. Then they should actually interview the leader(s) of that firm to determine if they are on the same page with regard to concepts, visions procedures, and style of the chiropractic practice.

What is the Identity-Based Coaching program?
It is an individualized coaching program that does not attempt to put every doctor in the same cookie-cutter mold. The basis is that each doctor doing the same thing gets different results based on who they are as a personality—their strengths and weaknesses, their confidences and fears, whether or not they can confront, and if they feel rejection. We build the doctor and his or her self-image, they then make the strategy work better.

How did The Masters Circle begin?
The Masters Circle began 23 years ago under a different name, and we were hugely successful. The name changed when we transformed from strategy-based teaching to identity-based coaching. The change was necessitated when we discoverd that DCs who took the same seminars, read the same text, and listened to the same CDs got different results. It was based on the fact that they were different people with different skills, likes and dislikes, and securites and insecurites. Now we work on improving and building the doctor first, and the results of that change and how it increases their practice is amazing!

Tell us about The Masters Circle's commitment to the chiropractic profession.
We are completely committed to the profession, and our number one goal is to help raise the standards and consiousness of the chiropractic profession. To that end, we not only work on helping DCs each become an outstanding model of ethical, clinically competent, and successful pratictioners, but also encourage them to participate with their colleges and to join a national organization.

What do you see for the futre of Chiropractic?
I see a future of unity and harmony and singleness of purpose that drives our profession to the top of the natural health care delivery system in America and around the world. One voice, one chiropactic profession, one passionate purpose to help sick people regain and maintain their health through chiropractic wellness care. There has never been a better time to be a chiropractor! CP