Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.
Something I’ve been reminded of lately? As many of you know, I am a football coach and it is one of the things I enjoy most in life. As I arrived early to our first game last weekend I was walking around the fields and kept getting stopped by parents of kids I coached and former players as well. It seemed like every 5 feet I was hearing ‘Hey Coach Matt!” It reminded me of how important being part of a community can really be. I’ve gone through a tragic loss recently and coaching has been a welcome distraction. Arriving at the field and talking to people really uplifted me and reminded me how great it can be to part of positive groups like that football league is for me.
Something I greatly believe in? A concept I talk about often is that of creating “fertile ground.” Just like your garden requires regular attention, water, proper sunlight, weeding, etc. to properly grow and prosper; so too does any endeavor in which you want to succeed. I’ve had to be out of the office over the past month far more than usual – first for the birth of my daughter by emergency c-section that had me out longer than expected and then dealing with the loss of my brother in law. As a result, I have seen a dip in my business.
While I certainly don’t regret taking that time off, my choice is to either use that as an excuse that it’s not my fault or to get back to work planting fertile ground. I choose the latter which for me means making sure I create content for my emails, making sure each patient leaves feeling satisfied, making sure my office looks 100%, hustling to see as many visits as possible (whether it’s during my lunch hour or a less convenient time or not) maintaining high energy levels and so much more. Whatever you want to succeed in, remember you always have the choice to either turn it into a bunch of weeds or plant fertile ground.
You are so upbeat; do you only believe in being optimistic? A patient asked me this and I thought it was an interesting question. The answer is basically yes and no. It’s yes in the sense that I can take something very small and find a great positivity within it. This helps me to go further in my endeavors, accomplish more, motivate others, etc. and is very useful. Basically, all I need is a glimpse of something good and I can really get rolling with it. On the other hand, I can be pessimistic. If I see something or someone that lacks motivation, doesn’t work hard, is lazy or is just overall not good; I will not be shy in telling you it sucks. In these situations, the pessimism serves the purpose of helping me to problem solve and find a better solution.
As an example of both, if I hire someone or am coaching a player that works hard and makes mistakes, I am thrilled to work with and help them. Conversely, if they don’t work hard, blame others, and make excuses; I would rather move right on and not worry about them.
A cool moment recently? I coach a football team of 9- and 10-year old’s and we had our first game last Saturday. A group of those boys were some of my first players ever and my late brother in law and I coached them for years together. Prior to the game, I gathered those boys and asked them if they’d be willing to play even a little harder in the memory of Coach Sam. They all enthusiastically said yes and then collectively they all played the best they ever had on the way to a win. After the game I thanked them as I gave a post-game speech to the team and it ended up being a very moving moment – especially for myself and my son.
Some quotes I love?
“Don’t make a habit out of choosing what feels good over what is good for you.” – Eric Thomas
“Most of you don’t want success as much as you want to sleep.” – Eric Thomas
Want more?
- Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
- To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
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