The heartbreak and horror was almost too much for him to take. As the “rescuer” walked through the “kill shelter,” he not only saw neglected and abused dogs… he saw an incredible abundance of irresponsibility that was represented by each and every abused, neglected, abandoned and suffering dog.
What made things worse is that this is a high rate “kill shelter.” It was 8:00 pm on December 23, 2009… and… most of these dogs would not make it to see the New Year
Walking down death row was almost too difficult for the rescuer to take. But he was there for a very good purpose.
What was his purpose?
He was there to rescue a little cocker spaniel girl who has been on “death row” for about a month. She had been severely neglected… had a nervous tick… and her head twitched.
Good news for her is: she is safe now. She is leaving with the rescuer that night and going to be taken good care of and rehabilitated by a heavenly rescue group. She will finally have a wonderful, loving…
“Forever Home”
But this is not about her. Not even close.
What’s that? You want to know who this is about?
Patients my dear members… patients. I told you this was a good story – it will all come together nicely in the end J
Anyway… where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?
Oh yeah… the rescuer is walking down doggy death row – on his way to pick up his little cocker spaniel…
On his way, the rescuer sees so many wonderful candidates to rescue. Friendly, smart dogs that would be great in any loving home. One after the next are so beautiful in there own way.
But then all of a sudden… rescuer is stopped in his tracks.
He Sees Stanley…
And his heart skips a beat.
Stanley (who is currently nameless and known only as number on death row) is an all white pit bull… that cowers as rescuer walks up to his cage. Head hung low, tale between his legs, Stanley slinks to the back corner in an attempt to hide.
An infection has completely closed Stanley’s right eye. His left eye will be closed soon from the infection.
He has bald, bleeding patches from demodectic mange. The infections and mange are treatable. Stanley is suffering mentally and physically for absolutely no reason. He is sad, defeated and has given up all hope. His raw, bloody skin must hurt.
The rescuer knows, at first glance…
No One Will Ever
Take Stanley Home
And neither can the rescuer. He is just one person and he has come for just one dog.
He can’t just walk away – so he enters Stanley’s cage and offers him a cookie. Stanley calmly, peacefully takes it.
All these dogs deserve a wonderful home, but it seems like this one could use a little extra help.
So This ONE PERSON
Decides To Do
JUST ONE THING
At 8:00 of that same night (12-23-09) he sends out an email. The email contains pictures of Stanley, a video clip and a simple request for help. He sends this video to everyone he knows.
Each person who receives this email decides to do JUST ONE THING. They forward the email to everyone they know – with their own individual plea to help poor Stanley.
By 10:00pm offer for donations are coming in.
Stanley doesn’t know it… but a whole heck of a lot of people he doesn’t know are all doing JUST ONE THING for JUST ONE DOG.
Then something happens overnight.
Just 12 hours after the rescuer sent that email – at 10:00am on December 24th…
A Rescue Group
Offers To Take Him!!!
More people step forward to do JUST ONE THING.
A vet offers a generous rescue discount offer.
One person rushes to the shelter to get Stanley out because it’s Christmas Eve and they are closing early.
Another person brings Stanley to the vet – who stays open late and sacrifices his Christmas Eve with his family.
Another Person…
And Another Person…
And Another Person…
All call the vet and make generous donations.
Was this a Christmas miracle? Or did this happen because so many good, big hearted people all decided to take pause… and then action… and do JUST ONE THING for JUST ONE DOG.
Stanley had a Christmas miracle. He has a wonderful place to live, is getting the best medical care… and is being rehabilitated to learn to trust again and be a wonderful companion.
Ok Ben… that’s a wonderful story… but…
What’s It Got To Do With
Me, My Practice and My Life?
A whole heck of a lot.
And here’s what it is:
We live in a pretty messed up time. Pop-culture has ransacked goodness and value.
Hollywood teaches our children if you make a porn (that “accidentally” get’s out) and act like a self-absorbed, selfish-centered, shallow person – you become a celebrity and are rewarded with fame and millions of dollars.
The “stars” that are created from reality shows are always the jerks.
This is a sad commentary of our time.
And that’s why I would like to make a request. No, not a request…
A Challenge!
I want you to put on top of your goals list for 2010… TO BE A BETTER PERSON!!!!
Be the anti-reality show idiot.
Be the person who does JUST ONE THING for others. And be that person ALL THE TIME.
Check this out – it’s important. I was reading a newsletter just a few days after I got Stanley’s email. It was written by a great marketer who has had his ups and downs.
And here’s what he said:
You should…
- Pay less attention to yourself and more attention to other people
-Focus on opportunities, not problems
-Listen first, talk later
-Criticize only when your criticism is helpful
- Never speak badly about anyone
-Never complain about anything
-Perform an act of kindness ever day
He went on to say…
“This will have a profound effect on your happiness and success. Nothing else you do will bring you peace of mind. Money won’t. Success won’t. Fame won’t.
The secret to substantial and enduring happiness has nothing to do with putting yourself first, nurturing your inner child, or any of the many other forms of narcissism so popular among today’s pop psychologists.
As someone who has spent too much time in the vain (and I do mean vain) pursuit of self-gratification, I am here to tell you that happiness and fulfillment in life is usually about doing less for yourself and more for others.”
Wise words.
Words to live by.
They are also very ironic words… and here is why:
When you go about it the wrong way – living a life of uncontrolled self-gratification and narcissism – you end up living a nightmare.
All of the quick fixes and pleasures are all build on a house of cards that continually collapses without notice.
But when you go about it the right way – doing JUST ONE THING – the right thing – for other people – success flows into your life.
Real, Honest, Wonderful
And Long-Lasting Success
Delaying gratification stops all the short, hollow success and leads to long-term MASSIVE achievement.
As I wrote about in one of my recent daily emails…
Chiropractic is inundated with multi-level B.S. It seems so incredible to get in on the “ground floor”… do no work… just recruit your friends, patients and family… and then sit back and get rich.
Don’t be ashamed… most of us drank the MLM cool aide at one time or another.
But once is enough.
The best way to destroy your practice and lose friends is to badger them to join your multi-level nonsense. Trust takes a lifetime to build and strengthen and only a nana-second to completely destroy.
Ask Tiger Woods about that.
Contrarily, the BEST way to build a wonderful, profitable, low-stress, referral based practice that supports you and your family for the rest of your life is to do JUST ONE THING for all your prospective patients and patients.
And this “JUST ONE THING” is always the right thing.
It is putting your patients’ wants first. And giving them exactly what THEY want – not you.
I can’t emphasize that enough.
If a new patient comes in and they are not a candidate for your care… or… there is another doctor or treatment that is better for them… for goodness sake…
TELL THEM!
Don’t see dollar signs… see people. And see people like yourself. Your spouse. Your children. Your parents.
And come to grips with the fact that THERE IS NO EASY WAY OUT!
There is no “no work get rich” method out there. Believe me… if there was… I would know about it and have done it already.
But there are correct and better ways to do things so your effort is rewarded and you do not simply waste your time spinning your wheels.
Real success is about:
1) Working hard
2) Working smart
3) Being exceptional at what you do (yes EXCEPTIONAL)
4) Having realistic goals with the proper strategies, tools and action steps to achieve them – and knowing where and how to implement them
5) Growing your practice and success with hundreds and thousands of “Base hits,” not constantly stabbing in the dark, swinging uncontrollably at out of the strike zone, high fast balls in an attempt to crush a homerun. And maybe most important of all…
6) DON’T SCREW PEOPLE!!!!!!
Number 6 might seem obvious to you… but let me tell you… it’s the one I see violated the most.
Most people don’t even mean to – and don’t realize they are.
There is an old quote that says something like… if you help one person, they may tell one other person. They may not tell anyone at all. But it you do someone wrong – they will tell 10, 20 or more.
Your patients are no different.
And when it comes to referrals, it might take 5-10 of your patients telling someone how great you are to get them to believe it.
But it only takes ONE with a negative comment to have them turn off completely.
This is so important, I have to get into it deeper. Because I bet you are “screwing” some of your patients… right now… and you don’t even know it.
Allow me to prove it to you…
You must accept the fact that people buy what they want – not what they need.
And what most or your prospects and patients want it RELIEF CARE. Some want more – but almost all want relief care.
What almost no one wants is a lecture on YOUR philosophy. At least not in the beginning.
This is extremely important. It is NOT your job to attempt create a desire that does not exist. Because you will fail.
Too many others have failed for thousands of years. So what is your job?
It is the fusion of an already existing desire with belief. This belief is a conviction… a certainty… a feeling in your prospects and patients of being right in their choice… of being assured of what they were promised… that you have exactly what they are looking for and you will come through for them.
I bet you have doctor friends you treat. Have you ever noticed that treating your Chiropractor friends is much different than all your “regular” patients?
That’s because you are a Chiropractor. Your prospects and patients are not. You and your Chiropractor friends have a very different reality than the rest of the world. And if you try to introduce your reality on your prospects and patients – it is one of the worst things you can ever do.
No matter how much “proof,” research or whatever you have to show them.
Because once you confront a patient or prospects already existent beliefs… you will lose them faster than our government spends money.
Watching your back,
Ben
I’d like you to check out a new marketing campaign that I developed, intended to leverage common headaches and our ability through chiropractic to heal such symptoms. You can get it free now, by clicking here: the Headache Letter