All posts tagged: Dr Matthew Kenney

Dr. Kenney’s Friday Spot – December 10th

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share 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 hear often from patients.  “I don’t know why I’m in pain, I haven’t done anything.”  This statement is one I hear dozens of times each week and I bring it up because it’s significant.  Though it may seem counterintuitive, doing nothing for your body is in most cases far worse for you than being active.

For example, I see more symptoms associated with prolonged sitting and/or lying around watching TV than I ever do from people that exercise regularly.  Your body is meant to be in motion and when it is, it alleviates pressure and tension. When it does not move enough, it tightens up and makes it tougher to move the next time.  Even for those already in pain, beginning to move/exercise more will improve the way they feel rather than cause regression. 

A mental technique I rely upon.  I’m a huge believer that the right mindset can change anything into something far better.  Over the years I’ve learned ways to strengthen my mind and outlook because of how crucial it is to succeed in various endeavors.  One way I do this is by changing my mindset from “I have to” to “I get to.”

For example, as a chiropractor I have days that can be hectic.  A schedule full of patients to begin the day, and dozens of others calling and needing to get in as soon as possible.  I often used to see my busiest days as a burden because of the energy they’d require helping so many people, trying to fit everyone onto the schedule, and dealing with different personalities.   Now, I only see these days as a blessing.  I remind myself that I’ve built a practice that people are eager to come to, I’m able to help many people, and I’m able to earn a good living for my family.  The exact same situation can feel completely different depending on the mindset you bring toward it, so make sure it’s a good one!

Something I teach my family that you may like to try.  Being decisive is something I believe is of crucial importance.  It allows us to process information, deal with stressful or complicated situations, and have the confidence to decide quickly.  Like everything, it’s a skill that can enhanced.

One of the simplest ways I work on this is through what I call the “menu test.”  Anytime I go to a restaurant, I will decide what to order within 1-minute tops.  If I can’t decide within that amount of time what I’d like to eat, how can I expect to make more important decisions in a much more serious situation?  I have done this test for years and have taught this to my children as well.  I always enjoy watching them try to make up their minds quickly when we go out to eat.  I have other ways of building decisiveness as well, but this is the most fun to try!

An interesting comparison and lesson.  I have two patients that are both associated with the same multi-level marketing company.  To my knowledge, neither knows the other but at their appointments they will often tell me about their business.  One of them always has complaints about not making enough money, why the people below them aren’t doing enough to generate business, what they aren’t doing that they should be, and on and on.  They also always have a mild complaint about the fact that they must pay for their treatment as though for some reason I should be working for free.

The other person is a completely different story.  When they refer to their business, they’ll mention things that have been working for them, things they need to change, things they’re excited about and more.  What strikes me about this person is that they are undeterred and optimistic.  They’re simply determined to succeed and do whatever is necessary to make that happen.

These two people both reminded me of a saying that I love, “no one cares, work harder.”  Complaining and blaming others is a waste of energy.  Rather than fall into that trap, produce solutions, try different things, learn from mistakes, and keep moving forward.  No one is going to feel sorry for you so you’re always better off giving the best effort you can.

Some quotes I love.

“Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.” – Epictetus

“When a person can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.” – Viktor Frankl

“Do not get addicted to escaping.  Face your sh**, handle your business, and triumph.  No battle was ever won by people who run.”

“Strangely, life gets harder when you try to make it easy.  Exercising might be hard, but never moving makes life harder.  Uncomfortable conversations are hard, but avoiding every conflict is harder.  Mastering your craft is hard, but having no skills is harder.  Easy has a cost.” 

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday Spot – December 10th
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – December 3rd

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share 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.   

A beautiful lesson.  My wife is a nutrition and fitness coach and earlier in the week I overheard her speaking on a Zoom call.  She talked about wanting to surround herself with people that value themselves.  One example she used was that of a friend whom she noticed would never partake in any form of gossip. My wife explained that when she observed this, she knew her friend valued her friendships.  The friend never told her this directly but based upon her actions, it became obvious.

Another point she made was that when you are around people that value themselves, they never need to convince you of how they feel, you already know.  For example, when you see someone that is upbeat and positive, eats well, exercises, and is in great shape, they don’t need to tell you how much they value health.  You see how their actions and behavior and know immediately they value their own health.  People that have value for themselves pass that on to others and for that reason, you can never have enough of those people in your life!

An interesting interaction.  I had a conversation with someone the other day who was asking me a lot about the way I work out, the races I continue to run and about my training in general.   Each time I answered one of their questions, they would give me advice on why I should stop doing something and what I should do instead.  Was this person an elite athlete with years of experience?  No.  They were overweight, sedentary and had exactly zero expertise in athletics and/or training.

I mention this because I have encountered this many times.  Often the people that will give you the most advice are the least qualified to do so.  When we get advice from someone our instinct is to respect it and try and take it seriously, but many times we shouldn’t.  Everyone has an opinion and there is nothing wrong with listening.  However, when it comes to the most important things in your life, be careful who you listen to because not everyone knows what they’re talking about, and you want to avoid becoming sidetracked heeding advice from people that claim to have expertise but don’t. 

Something I believe.  Earlier this week I had an interaction with someone to whom I used to be very close.  Without fail I am always kind, respectful and tolerant of this person but unfortunately, I am often a target of their anger and this week that was the case once again.  I didn’t say or do anything to incite them but found myself on the receiving end of some serious vitriol.  Though this wasn’t pleasant, it did remind me of a couple lessons.

First, the way people talk to you is how they feel about themselves.  Kind and confident people never say horrible things to friends, family or even strangers online.  They understand that making someone else feel bad will never make them feel better.  However, people that are unhappy with themselves will do this.  They don’t feel good about who they are and therefore don’t mind trying to make others feel bad as well. 

Second, sometimes the best gift you can give yourself in a situation where someone is attacking your character, insulting you, etc. is to simply ignore them.  I am from Boston and have been a fighter since the time I was young, so I am no stranger to conflict.  However, when I find myself being attacked by someone over text or email like I was earlier in the week, I just ignore them.  I cannot control their behavior but can certainly control my own.  Engaging people like that is fruitless and only leaves most of us feeling horrible about ourselves.  In cases like this, I say nothing and give myself the gift of being able to walk away knowing that I kept it classy and didn’t stoop to a level I’d later regret.  I’m not suggesting you must allow yourself to be someone’s punching bag, but sometimes it’s better for you to just simply ignore someone rather than engage with them.

Something I teach when I’m coaching.  I was reading an article the other day about a pro athlete making suggestions about ways to make practices more “fun.”  The head coach did not seem thrilled and suggested the player worry more about playing well and less about how to make practices more fun.  This reminded me of something that one of my coaches and I have always preached which is that success is the most fun. 

When we coach our young men, we teach them the goal is to improve each day and as that happens individually, it will strengthen us cumulatively.  We want them to have fun (and they do), but we don’t structure things so that the goal is to entertain them.  Rather, our goal is to work with them and improve on their skills and awareness at each practice and game.  As this occurs, they grow more confident which makes things fun for them.  Whether in sports or life, becoming successful can be the most fun you have. 

Some quotes I love.

“Not everyone who openly criticizes you is your enemy.  Not everyone who openly praises you is your friend.” – Ryan Michler

“You can come back from anything no matter how bad you think the situation is.  It’s all about your mindset.”

” There is no being generous to a fault.  Because there is no fault in being generous.” – Marcus Lemonis

“99% of the harm is caused in your head, by you and your thoughts.  1% of the harm is caused by reality, what actually happens and the outcome.  Most of the time, the problem isn’t the problem.  The way you think about the problem is.” 

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.  The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela

“When you’re confident in what you bring to the table, you don’t have to chase and beg anyone to sit down and eat.”

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – December 3rd
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – November 26th

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share 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 encounter often in practice.  As a chiropractor, I often encounter people that have had ongoing issues – pain syndromes, recurring symptoms, etc.  Understandably, this can be frustrating for anyone to deal with.  When I ask what they’re doing (or have done) to deal with it, they often say they’ve “tried everything.”

In my experience, this rarely actually means they’ve tried everything.  More often, this usually means they’ve tried a few things in a half-hearted manner.  As an example, I listened to a frustrated patient the other day talk about how nothing had helped an issue she had, when I asked follow up questions it came out that over multiple years, she’d tried stretching a couple of times, does no exercise, has not changed any habits, and had sought no treatment.  If you are really going to try everything, make sure you give whatever you’re doing a full effort and chance.  Not everything will work for you but doing something with a weak effort just to say you’ve done it, will never provide worthy results.

A cool interaction I had.  I went to get takeout food last week for my wife and I.  When I went to get my wife’s usual order, the young employee told me they’d had a problem with a piece of their equipment and could not make it.  He was apologetic but then answered questions I had about other items and made great recommendations.

As I checked out, I gave him a large tip and he asked me if I’d done that by mistake as they didn’t have what I originally ordered.  I explained to him that in business, things will always go wrong from time to time.  What impressed me and earned him the tip, however, was he tried to fix the problem by providing suggestions and attempting to improve the situation for me.   He didn’t make excuses, didn’t get flustered, and did everything he could to help in an upbeat manner.  I always like people that make the best of situations.

A piece of holiday advice that works year-round.  I eat clean throughout the year…but not on Thanksgiving.  On Thanksgiving I indulge in all the comfort foods I eat only once per year, and I never feel badly about it.  One thing I do though is begin that day with strenuous exercise.

My oldest son and I will usually do a hard workout and end it with a moderate length run.  Doing this gets my body moving so that I feel like I’ve earned some delicious calories while also setting me up to not feel lethargic throughout the day.  I use this same principle anytime I know I’ll be sitting around more than usual, eating more than normal, etc.  If you have a day of heavy calories and low activity coming up, get up and get your body moving, it’ll make for an even better time!

An interesting observation.  I encounter patients that are different in every way you can imagine.  A common theme that stood out to me this past week, however, was that while some are always determined to be positive others are not.

I have patients that complain about the same things each time I see them.  In fact, I know what they’ll say before they say it.  Usually, these issues are not major, but they play them up.  There are other patients I encounter that have endured (or are enduring) so much that it’s staggering and yet they refuse to be negative.  These people inspire me because though they have every reason to complain, they don’t.  Instead, they take the situation they have and make the best of it.  I have found these types of people always heal faster and commonly find them to be successful in many areas of life.  We cannot fully prepare for every situation we encounter but we can control the attitude we bring toward it.

Some quotes I love.

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” 

“If everything is under control, you are going too slow.” – Mario Andretti

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

“Start where you are.  Use what you have.  Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – November 26th
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – November 19th

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.   

An important question.  Whether for my businesses, upcoming races, fatherhood, or life in general, a question I find valuable is “How do I not want to lose?”  There is no way to control every variable in anything, so this question helps me control what I can.

For example, when it comes to an upcoming race, the way I never want to lose, is to show up out of shape wishing I’d put more time and effort into my training.  Therefore, I make sure to train hard and consistently.  As a chiropractor, the way I don’t want to lose is through poor business practices and/or not giving my patients my full energy and focus on every visit.  To avoid these, I run the business of my office well, while being present and focusing on each individual patient and giving them my full attention. Decide how you don’t want to lose, and it’ll help you make the right decisions.

A valuable lesson I’ve learned.  When I’ve run many of my tougher races, I am often exerting myself for over 24 hours straight.  As you can imagine, this means that my body takes a pounding and as the race progresses, my body regresses.  Over time, this has taught me a great deal of critical thinking skills.

What I have learned, is to assess where I’m at, and make plans accordingly.  As an example, if I’m running a 100-mile race and can no longer run straight through without stopping I might opt to power hike hills, run downhills, and do a mixture of walk/run on flat ground.  Rather than feel sorry for myself and start generating excuses, I ask myself what is still working for me and accentuate that positive.  I know this is an effective strategy because it has gotten me through many tough spots.  In addition, there are often instances where I adopt a strategy like this and rally and get stronger later.  Whatever goal you’re after, assessing what things are still producing satisfactory results and relying upon them is helpful.

A thought on principles.  I’ve had several recent conversations with people about principles.  The common theme among these conversations was that each person explained to me one principle they had.  After discussing the principle, they explained how had to change their principle based on a current situation. This was interesting to me.

I believe principles should be followed regardless of a current situation.  Feelings are variable and can change by the minute, but a principle is meant to be set in stone.  A principle is a guiding light to guide your behavior in the toughest of times.  It is a map of where you will or will not allow yourself to go.  If it changes based on circumstances, I will argue it is not actually a principle.  I have heard it said that behind your feelings is nothing, but behind every principle is a promise.   

Something I believe.  We all have different strengths and weaknesses.  Therefore, we will not all get the same outcomes in a certain endeavor.  What we can control is our effort.

I believe strongly that a lack of effort is an insult.  This pertains to business practices, sports teams, marriages, personal goals, or any number of things.  Lack of effort is a signal that you do not care.  It is also dangerous because it can become a habit and permeate into other areas.  Always seek to put forth as much as you can.  This is how you honor yourself and those around you. 

Some quotes I love.

“People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.” – Frederick M. Alexander

“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” – George Washington

“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius

“God doesn’t call us to be successful; he calls us to be significant.” – Tom Ziglar

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – November 19th
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – November 12th

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 believe.  I graduated in the top five of my chiropractic class.  Among my classmates I was one of the best adjusters and most clinically proficient.  When I left school, I did so with the highest level of skill I could have attained.  I mention this because when I think back to my earliest years in practice, I realize I knew nothing compared to what I know today.

This is an example of something I believe strongly in, that you can only truly learn and grow by doing.  When you are new at something, you will make mistakes but through them you will learn.  You can only understand how to run a business when you have one, you won’t know much about caring for a child until you have one of your own, and so on.  Do not be afraid to begin because once you are underway, you will begin acquiring experience through which you will acquire the most significant knowledge of all.

Something I try to do during each workout.  I believe that constantly challenging your limits is crucial to growth.  That includes physical, mental, performance, and more.  To help facilitate this, I make it a point during every workout I do to push my limit at least once. 

For example, when I run, I will often sprint up the hills.  This gets me breathing heavy and gets me accustomed to continuing after being tired.  Other times I will add on an extra mile or two, to prove to myself that I always have more in the tank.  When I do weight workouts, I’ll add in something extremely challenging at the end of the workout to get me used to pushing when I’m fatigued.  The next time you work out, find a way to challenge yourself in a significant way even for just a moment; over time it will produce amazing growth and progress!

A concept I love.  I have a series of important things that I feel must be prioritized each day.  For me, these include quality time with family, exercise, productive contributions to my businesses, prayer, planning, time with my own thoughts, and more.  Cumulatively, I consider this my “rent.”

I consider this “rent” due each day and I must do the things I mentioned to pay the rent.  If I fail to pay the rent each day, I will fall behind – physically, mentally, with my family, etcetera.  Therefore, I do not allow that to happen.  This week, give thought to what you would consider to be your “rent” and then decide whether you’re paid up or behind.

A supplement you should be taking.  Exposure to sunlight is the easiest way for our bodies to produce vitamin D.  As the weather turns colder and the sun sets earlier in the fall and winter months, we get less of it.  This may not seem significant until you consider what a lack of Vitamin D can lead to – decreased immune function, osteoporosis, certain cancers, heart disease, depression, brain issues, diabetes, and more. 

I recommend taking a vitamin D3 supplement at least during the fall and winter so that you avoid having low levels.  D3 supplements are not expensive and can be taken via capsules or drops (I use drops and usually use the Sprouts brand).  I promise you, if you do a quick search of the problems linked to Vitamin D deficiency, you will want to start supplementing immediately.

Some quotes I love.

“People won’t bat an eye at buying a $1,000 phone but will think twice before investing $100 into themselves.” – Joe De Sena

“A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.” – Confucius

“Be afraid of the calmest person in the room.” – Bruce Lee

“If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission.” – Zig Ziglar

“All the knowledge in the world is useless without action.”

“Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could.  Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If you don’t fight for what you want, don’t cry for what you’ve lost.”

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – November 12th
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – November 5th

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.   

A concept I believe in.  One of my best friends from Boston and I used to go to a lot of restaurants and large family events together.  Something he would often tell me, was the person preparing the food either preparing it either did or did not put love into the food.  For example, we’d go to his grandmother’s house, and he’d tell me “You’re going to love this, she puts a lot a lot of love in her food.”  Other times we’d be going or have left a place and he’d say, “there’s no love in that food.” 

What he meant by this, the best food comes from the best effort.  When you care, you do all you can to make something great.  When you don’t, you cut corners and say, “well that’s good enough.”  This premise applies not only to food but to anything and everything you can imagine.  When I adjust a patient, I make sure to clearly focus on the outcome both the patient and I desire while giving the best adjustment and care possible.  This is how I put love into what I do.  Whatever you’re doing, if it is something you want to turn out great, put love into it!

An excellent life lesson I’ve learned through my races.  Competing in the long, grueling events that I do; it can often get lonely and painful.  One of the things I have trained myself to do when things are going south is to smile and look around at the scenery.  As simple as this is, it gets me out of my own head and reminds me that there is more going on than just my footsteps and mileage.

I use this same premise in my personal life.  For example, if something has stressed me out or I have a lot on my mind, I focus on being present with my family.  I try to make them laugh, enjoy watching how they interact with one another, etc.  Just like in the races, this takes me out of my own head and reminds me of the bigger picture. 

An example of something I often teach my patients.  Last Thursday, I went for a run in the morning and felt great doing so.  A few hours later, I could barely put any pressure onto the inside portion of my foot.  I tried working on the muscles and did a session of cryotherapy which helped but it hurt to walk.  Based on where the pain was and how it came about, I thought there might be a structural issue causing it.  I had my 15-year-old son (who is strong) pull my big toe in a few different directions and eventually it went back into place.  Instantly, I felt 100% better and could put full pressure on the foot without pain.

Patients often come to me with severe pain expecting something severe to be going on with their body.  It feels horrible so they assume the worst. However, many times it is a simple thing causing the symptoms and it can be resolved quickly with the right care.  In terms of the spine, a misalignment may dramatically irritate a nerve and cause severe pain but can be easy to correct with an adjustment.  In my case, my big toe was jammed causing my foot muscles to contract and over-compensate to the point I could barely stand on it.  Putting the toe back allowed everything to function normally again and I went from barely walking to 100% improvement instantly.  The take home point is that the severity of what you’re feeling does not always indicate the complexity of the actual problem.

Something I heard that resonated with me.  I came across a random video clip on either Instagram or YouTube last week about self-talk.  The person in the video said that for years he would talk to himself in a very negative way.  He’d call himself stupid, weak, dumb, whatever.  Then one day, he had the thought if he talked to his friends in that fashion, he’d have no friends.  From that point forward, he started talking to himself as he would his friends.

I thought this was a valuable lesson.  If we can’t learn to talk positively to ourselves, how can we expect that from those around us?  For much of my life, I talked to myself far worse than anyone else did.  If your best friend struggled in something you wouldn’t tell them “You failed because you always fail and you’re a loser,” you’d be constructive and help them through it.  Take that same principle and apply it to your own self-talk and you will surprised how much better things start to go.

Some quotes I love.

“You can beat 50 percent of your competition by consistently showing up and working hard.  You can beat the next 40 percent by doing things with urgency and detail.  The last 10 percent…is simply a dogfight.”

“The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the Trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them.” – Turkish proverb

“Always take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” – Elie Wiesel

“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” – Robert E. Howard

“You are always one decision away from a totally different life.”

“The one who plants trees knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” – Rabindranath

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – November 5th
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – October 29th

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.   

A leadership mistake I see often.  Leaders such as employers or coaches are responsible for putting forth a plan of action to generate results.  A common mistake I see is a lack of leadership to adjust course based on results or lack thereof.

Both of my sons play on different tackle football teams.  On one, I see the coach making weekly adjustments based on results, personnel, and the next opponent.  This team has performed amazingly well due to good leadership.  My other son plays on a team that makes no adjustments.  They’ve done the same thing week in and week out and the results are never great.  They make no changes, and it baffles everyone from players to parents to opponents.  When it doesn’t work, the coach falls back on platitudes and excuses and absorbs no responsibility.  He says “well it should be working” though it never has.

A great leader must be fluid and make changes, as necessary.  Leadership is not a one-time event but a continuous process.  It may involve addressing weaker links, course correcting or even completely changing course.  I like to believe the best leaders are navigators, always evaluating where they are and where they want to end up.

A great lesson.  A couple of years ago I was about twenty miles into my first 100-mile race when I came upon another runner.  He began talking to me and we ended up chatting for a bit.  He talked to me about how tough the race was, mentioned previous races he hadn’t finished, and started making excuses for why he hadn’t trained harder.  I mostly listened, said little and just kept running.

After a mile or so of this, I could tell it was giving him comfort to have this conversation with me.  What did I do?  I sprinted away from him as he spoke.  I didn’t care how tired I was or how socially awkward it might be, I wanted that man away from me.  I could tell by his negative self-talk and excuses that he was going to quit, and that is a cancer.  I did whatever I could to get myself away from him because I didn’t want any of that negativity getting near me.  Sure enough, we both arrived at the next aid station around the same time and as I continued through it, I turned back and saw him leaving the course.  He had quit just as I knew he would.  Do whatever you can or must to remove negativity from your life because it will weigh you down like an anchor and impede your goals.

Rules I follow in coaching and life.  I got into a conversation the other day about coaching.  I shared with them the four rules I follow and believe they are just as effective in business and life as they are for sports.

First, I never make coaching personal.  Insulting or making fun of someone is uncalled for and only ruins morale, so I refuse to do it. 

Second, I focus on coaching skills rather than just outcomes.  If someone misses a tackle, yelling and screaming at them isn’t helpful.   Instead, I may help them with footwork or body position so that they can make the next tackle.

Third, I try to find something (even small) a player does well and build their confidence even more for that skill.  Once they feel confidence in one area, my experience is that they are more comfortable learning other skills. 

Finally, I am not afraid to yell and get in someone’s face if they are putting in a poor effort either physically or mentally.  Regardless of ability, these two variables are always under our control and there is no excuse for not putting forth a maximum effort. 

An important piece of exercise advice.  As a former trainer and doctor for over 16 years, I’ve had thousands of conversations about working out.  One of the more common mistakes I see is performing the same type of exercise in the exact same manner each time.  For example, someone may go to the gym and do the same exercises in the same order, using the same weight, and for the same number of repetitions for every workout.  The problem with this is your body likes to be as efficient as possible.  Thus, when you do the same things in the same manner over and over, your body has no reason to get stronger, build endurance or lose weight.

My advice is to avoid doing the same workout twice in a row.  This does not mean you must completely change everything, but I would encourage you to vary things.  For example, you could do the same exercises but change the order.  You could go up in weight but down in reps or you might want to do less rest in between sets.  If you’re out running, walking, or cycling; you can try and go faster over shorter distances and then try a day where you go longer and slow.  What you change is up to you, but when you keep it fresh, your body will react with far better results.

Some quotes I love.

“Agreeable men leave no legacy and watch from the sidelines as the world is shaped without their input.  Being a yes-man and an obedient boy is a pathetic existence.  Allowing your bloodline to grow weak and quiet is an insult to your forefathers.” – Ian Smith

“The right attitude very rarely leads to the wrong action.” – Tom Ziglar

“You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change.”

“Set a goal.  Make a plan.  Stay focused.  Work hard.  Succeed.  Stay Humble.”

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – October 29th
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – October 22nd

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.   

A common nutritional mistake.  I got into a conversation with a patient who began working out a month ago and is frustrated that she hasn’t lost a pound.  She has been eating better and when I asked about her nutrition it didn’t sound bad.  However, when I asked about what she’d been drinking she told me she just drinks sweet tea all day.

Liquid calories are a common pitfall for many in the quest to become healthier/lose weight/etc.  Soda, juices, alcohol and more have considerable amounts of calories from sugar do little help to your body.  They can do quite a bit of damage such as weight gain and insulin sensitivity.  It is also extremely easy to consume many calories that you may not want or are not aware of in a brief period.  Drink water as much as possible and consume the sugary beverages occasionally.

Something I believe.  Though we often say we often say we want things to be easy, things are not always going to be easy.  If something that is too easy or handed to us, we have no appreciation for it.  In sports for example, beating a great opponent is much more gratifying than destroying an inferior one. 

When things are not easy, the great ones among us will raise our game.  We will problem solve better, become more creative, work harder, work smarter, and try and find better ways of doing things.  Success may not come instantly but succeeding when things are hard will create immense pride, satisfaction, and fulfillment; all of which will make us better people.    We don’t need to wish hardships onto ourselves but should accept the fact most things in life worth attaining will never be easy, are not meant to be easy, and should never be easy.

A workout I loved.  The other day my 12-year-old son and I did a “hill repeat” workout.  We went to a hill that was about fifty feet up and steep and we would sprint up, walk down, then sprint up again.  We did this fifteen times, and it was an intense workout.  I enjoyed the workout itself but particularly enjoyed it because of what I saw in my son.

First, it made me incredibly happy to be reminded that he is someone that can get through challenges without complaining or giving up.  Next, once we finished the workout, he was extremely energetic and obviously proud of himself, which was an additional reminder that he values working hard and the feeling that it gives him.  Finally, as hard as the workout was, he didn’t see it as anything unexpected.  This tells me that he expects challenge and welcomes it.  These are all traits I have come to find vital in my own life and I’m thrilled when I see them in young people (especially my own!), because it took me many years and mistakes to learn them myself!

Reminder of an important lesson.  For about 6 years I’d been using a company for fax services.  It’s not a huge need for my business so I’d pay a small monthly fee to meet my needs in this area and it went fine for 6 years.  Recently however, I began to see over-charges, additional fees, and other changes that I’d never seen previously.  I called to inquire about this and with no warning to their customers, they drastically changed their pricing structure.  My cost was 5 times what it had been though nothing on my end had changed.  I called and canceled and refused their offers to “improve my service” with reduced pricing.

The reason I did not want to stay with them wasn’t about the money.  Trust is a sacred thing, whether it’s in a business or personal relationship.  Trust built over years can disappear in seconds.  In this instance, I had built a trust of the company over 6 years and once that was broken I would never feel comfortable dealing with them again.  No one is perfect, but we should always strive to behave in a way that builds rather than shatters trust. 

Some quotes I love.

“A mistake that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant.”

“The twin killers of success are impatience and greed.” – Jim Rohn

“Doubting yourself is normal.  Letting it stop you is a choice.”

“A hard beginning maketh a good ending.” – John Heywood

“Our country was founded by rebels who risked their livelihoods in pursuit of freedom.” – CJ Pearson

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – October 22nd
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – October 8th

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 interesting I see often in practice.  As a chiropractor, I see people in pain on a regular basis.  When people get into pain, they often look for a reason why.  You would tend to think that to get into such pain something major must have occurred to cause it.  However, I can tell you that approximately 90% of the time, there is not one single major event that causes it.  Rather it is the accumulation of what I call macro-traumas that eventually catch up to them.

Macro-traumas are the smaller things we do on a regular basis that we rarely notice in the moment, such as poor posture, ergonomics, lack of exercise, too much sitting, repetitive positions/motions, and more.  On their own, none of these are necessarily enough to cause a major problem but cumulatively they add up.  Dealing with these usually involves a combination of improving habits (creating better ergonomics at work for example) and having some form of chiropractic care at least on a somewhat regular basis, like how you’d get dental checkups.

A great question to ask yourself.  There is an excellent book I read years ago called “The Boys in the Boat” about an American crew team in their quest to win gold at the 1936 Olympics.  A question they would ask themselves and each other was “will it make the boat go faster?”  In other words, will a particular action lead to a better chance of succeeding at the goal?

I find this premise to be important and relevant for everyday life.  We make hundreds of decisions each day, some small and some major.  Regardless, we should constantly ask ourselves whether the decision is helpful or harmful.  Examples of decisions that will help the boat go faster include regular exercise, good nutrition, proper rest, time management, spending time with the right people and more.  The next time you’re faced with an important decision, ask yourself if it will make the boat go faster.

Something recent I think is relevant.  I enjoy listening to podcasts and have for many years.  There are two football podcasts I’ve listened to for many years, and both did something recently that I think it provides an important example of current behaviors.

The first show had begun a trend of diverting away from football and delving into some of the current events we are facing in this country.  Essentially, they began bad mouthing those that didn’t share a basic mainstream view of certain topics (which includes me).  I stopped listening after a few weeks of this and will never tune in again.

The second show also diverted to talk of these matters but was not insulting.  They mentioned a few times some of what they believed and actions they took.  The difference was that they did not insult the beliefs of those other than themselves.  They have different opinions than I do but I will happily continue to listen because I love the show.

Why is this significant?  These days, people forget that in a free country it is not expected we will all feel the same about every issue.  There is nothing wrong with divergent opinions and there is no need to insult or try to eliminate those opinions.  When people feel differently than I do I am happy to find other common ground.  However, when they want to mock or insult my beliefs, I have no problem not giving them my time, money, or support.

An important concept.  “I’m so busy” is a phrase we all hear constantly.  We live in times where being busy is glorified and in my opinion it really shouldn’t be.  Anyone can do busy work, procrastinate, or take more time than necessary to complete tasks.

When I was new in chiropractic practice, I worked with an amazing doctor that was a wonderful mentor to me.  I would often get sidetracked on lots of small projects and ideas and it was noticed by the doctor noticed this.  He told me my focus should be on either treating patients or bringing in new patients.  As simple as this was, it taught me to focus only on major objectives and keep everything else on the back burner.  I follow that advice to this day and believe the same premise applies to not only work but life as well.  What is ultimately most important is not whether you’re getting a lot done but whether you’re getting the right things done.  Finishing the correct tasks leads to effective time management and a greater chance of success.

Some quotes I love.

“Be nice until it’s time to not be nice.” – Patrick Swayze, Roadhouse

“Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.” – Will Rogers

“Hard days are the best because that’s when champions are made.” – Gabrielle Douglas

“I respect the man who tells you how he really feels to your face more than the man who smiles at you while he talks sh** behind your back.  In fact, the man who can’t address you like a man is no man at all.” – Ryan Michler

“Embarrassment is the cost of entry.  If you aren’t willing to look like a foolish beginner, you’ll never become a graceful master.” – James Yaeger

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – October 8th
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Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – October 1st

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 believe in.  In football, we coach players to “play to the whistle.”  Meaning you give a maximum effort until a whistle blows and signals the end of play.  I believe this is useful advice for everyday life as well.  It is easy to leave things for later, procrastinate or come up with excuses not to do things in a timely manner.  This can lead to stress and a poor outcome.

Rather than wait, I like to “play to the whistle.”  In other words, if I can fit 10 more minutes of work in today, that’s 10 less I need to do tomorrow and can get ahead on something else.  I don’t always get everything done in a single block of time, but I do make sure I take full advantage of every second I have and do all I can with the time I have.  Play to the whistle in everything you do, it will make a difference!

Should I take a multivitamin?  I believe everyone should be taking a multivitamin.  It is certainly possible to get all the nutrients from food but nearly impossible to get everything in the correct amounts each day.  Therefore, to cover your bases I recommend a good, whole-food multivitamin.  This means the vitamin is derived from actual food (fruits and veggies) and not synthetic vitamins.

A vitamin like Centrum will be cheap but because it is comprised of synthetic vitamins, your body will not absorb much, and it will do little.  Conversely, if you are using a whole food vitamin (such as Juice Plus for example) you will notice your hair and nails grow very quickly which is a sign your body is retaining and utilizing nutrients.

A piece of advice I mentioned recently.  I gave a talk recently and during it, I mentioned a conversation I’d had not too long ago.  I was asked by a runner training for a 10K (just over 6 miles) if I had any advice on how to get better at this distance, as he was really struggling between miles 4.5 and 6. 

I told him I did have some advice and he looked at me no doubt expecting something to do with nutrition, VO2 max or something scientific.  Instead, what I told him was to have his wife drop him off 12 miles from his house and to run home.  He looked at me like I was crazy.  What I explained to him was that our minds deal with what we give them.  So, to his mind, 6 miles was a giant task.  I suggested the 12-mile run to “reset his normal.”  If you’re worried about miles 4 to 6 and you throw a 12-mile run in, do you think the next time you run 6 miles your body will find it as difficult?  No chance.  In fact, it’ll be thankful you’re only doing 6 miles.  Sometimes you need to throw a large task at yourself to reset what you think is possible or comfortable.

A great question to ask yourself.  Are you easy to root for? In sports, there are people we simply love to cheer for people based on their character, performance, perseverance, redemptive story, you name it.  Conversely, there are people we’d prefer to root against.  Life works in a similar fashion.

I believe in general people that are honest, positive, kind, loyal, loving, humble, hardworking, energetic, passionate, and unique (among other qualities) are easy to root for.  They contribute to those around them and in turn, people want to see them do well.  On the other side are people that are negative, arrogant, self-centered, untruthful, lazy, complainers, low energy and more.  These people tend to drain those around them, so people don’t want to elevate them, they tend to want to get away from them.  If you are the type of person that people want to cheer for and see do well, it’s likely that you are doing a lot of things right.  If not, you may need to consider making some changes.

Some quotes I love.

“If you leave your children a world where you never stood up, they’ll inherit one where they can’t.” – Robert J. O’Neill

“Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will.” – W. Clement Stone

“I would like to be measured by what the people who learned from me taught other people.” – Seth Godin

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie

“It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.” – Confucious

Want more?

  • Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
  • To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
  • Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic
Matt KenneyDr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot – October 1st
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