Posts
“Reason is the slow and torturous method by which those who do not know the truth discover it”
- Blaise Pascal
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving Day
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
May you recognize your blessings and name them. Begin with family and friends...
I've had the privilege to travel to some of the poorest regions of the world during the past year - Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean. In those travels I spent time with impoverished families who survived in mud huts with dirt floors, drinking water that made them sick and even caused their children to die, with not enough food, and too little hope. But, in being surrounded by family they found reason to celebrate and even to share with a stranger...
May you too find celebration in family, old and new friends, and in sharing today and every day.
Bob
May you recognize your blessings and name them. Begin with family and friends...
I've had the privilege to travel to some of the poorest regions of the world during the past year - Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean. In those travels I spent time with impoverished families who survived in mud huts with dirt floors, drinking water that made them sick and even caused their children to die, with not enough food, and too little hope. But, in being surrounded by family they found reason to celebrate and even to share with a stranger...
May you too find celebration in family, old and new friends, and in sharing today and every day.
Bob
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Quotable - Truth Series
"There are no whole truths: all truths are half-truths. It is trying to treat them as whole truths that plays to the devil." - Alfred Whitehead
Monday, November 23, 2009
Game Changers
I've had the privilege to present to over 200 therapists and trainers over the past 2 months from Boston and Adrian, to Chicago and San Diego.
The presentation, titled Game Changers, rang true for participnts and stimulated many productive conversations within Practices across the country.
It included insights into 4 intersecting national trends that represent both threats and opportunities, a look into my crystal ball as to what's ahead, a summary of business issues that leading clinics and studios are focusing on with me this season, an introduction to three dimensional marketing, and a business management matrix to bring discipline and performance to any practice.
One thing is certain, in the months ahead Practices will be run like businesses or will FAIL! There is neither time nor resources to waste.
Feedback from participants has been consistently very positive. I'll share an overview of that presentation via this blog in a series of posting over the next couple of weeks.
I hope you will find value in the series and invite you to contact me if you would like the Performance Builders Insider's Strategies for Success in 2010 and beyond.
In my next post I'll discuss the first of the four trends that are upon us and in which fatal threats and unprecedented opportunity exist side by side.
The game is changing... Are you ready for it? There will be both failures and achievement. Which will it be for your Practice, for your team, for you?
Bob
(c) Copyright 2009
Performance Builders
The presentation, titled Game Changers, rang true for participnts and stimulated many productive conversations within Practices across the country.
It included insights into 4 intersecting national trends that represent both threats and opportunities, a look into my crystal ball as to what's ahead, a summary of business issues that leading clinics and studios are focusing on with me this season, an introduction to three dimensional marketing, and a business management matrix to bring discipline and performance to any practice.
One thing is certain, in the months ahead Practices will be run like businesses or will FAIL! There is neither time nor resources to waste.
Feedback from participants has been consistently very positive. I'll share an overview of that presentation via this blog in a series of posting over the next couple of weeks.
I hope you will find value in the series and invite you to contact me if you would like the Performance Builders Insider's Strategies for Success in 2010 and beyond.
In my next post I'll discuss the first of the four trends that are upon us and in which fatal threats and unprecedented opportunity exist side by side.
The game is changing... Are you ready for it? There will be both failures and achievement. Which will it be for your Practice, for your team, for you?
Bob
(c) Copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Friday, November 20, 2009
Quotable - Truth Series
"The reason why truth is so much stranger than fiction is that there is no requirement for it to be consistent." - Mark Twain
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Traveling
I'll be attending the Gary Gray Chain Reaction Transformation Seminar in San Diego this week... another opportunity to meet with clients, old friends, and new friends.
There's a lot of buzz in both the physical therapy and personal training community these days around national health programs, changes in reimbursement and payor networks, erosion of profitability, cash based business opportunities, increasing competition, variable compensation, and emerging business opportunities. Those conversations have been intense during my recent visits in Hartford, Boston, Manhattan, and Chicago. They have been repeated in my conversations with clients throughout the US. I expect more of the same in San Diego. If those topics are not part of your conversations and priorities they definitely need to be!
Performance Builders' clients tend to be of the progressive type - those that sense opportunity in difficult times. Most agree that significant change and challenge is imminent in the industry. While no one has a crystal ball, its pretty obvious that whatever the outcome, providers need to prepare to do more for less while growing. That means more productivity, quality, and value with less resources consumed. That means old business models need to be replaced with new business models that hold new promise, possibility, and potency.
Performance Builders has earned a reputation for accurately anticipating change and creating opportunity in that anticipation. I'll be sharing a series of posts with you over the next couple of weeks that identify key drivers that will shape our markets and the opportunities they will present.
In the mean time, we are quietly working with our clients to leverage those opportunities and create sustainable competitive advantage.
If you are are not implementing new strategies as you move into 2010, you run a serious risk of being left behind. One thing is certain, Practices that are not run like businesses are likely to fail.
Bob
(c) Copyright 2009
Performance Builders
There's a lot of buzz in both the physical therapy and personal training community these days around national health programs, changes in reimbursement and payor networks, erosion of profitability, cash based business opportunities, increasing competition, variable compensation, and emerging business opportunities. Those conversations have been intense during my recent visits in Hartford, Boston, Manhattan, and Chicago. They have been repeated in my conversations with clients throughout the US. I expect more of the same in San Diego. If those topics are not part of your conversations and priorities they definitely need to be!
Performance Builders' clients tend to be of the progressive type - those that sense opportunity in difficult times. Most agree that significant change and challenge is imminent in the industry. While no one has a crystal ball, its pretty obvious that whatever the outcome, providers need to prepare to do more for less while growing. That means more productivity, quality, and value with less resources consumed. That means old business models need to be replaced with new business models that hold new promise, possibility, and potency.
Performance Builders has earned a reputation for accurately anticipating change and creating opportunity in that anticipation. I'll be sharing a series of posts with you over the next couple of weeks that identify key drivers that will shape our markets and the opportunities they will present.
In the mean time, we are quietly working with our clients to leverage those opportunities and create sustainable competitive advantage.
If you are are not implementing new strategies as you move into 2010, you run a serious risk of being left behind. One thing is certain, Practices that are not run like businesses are likely to fail.
Bob
(c) Copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Monday, November 16, 2009
Quotable - Truth Series
"The voice of truth is speaking to you always. How much you hear depends on your willingness to listen." - A Course in Miracles
Sunday, November 15, 2009
NPR Speaking of Faith Series - Listen Generously
Enjoy this powerful and provoking INTERVIEW with Dr. Rebeca Naomi Remen - its a must hear for health professionals whether their orientation is clinical or management. (length: 53 minutes)
Friday, November 13, 2009
Quotable
"Many a doctrine is like a window pane. We see truth through it but it divides us from truth." - Kahlil Gibran
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Becoming Best in Practice - Part 3
Best in Practice is not a destination. It’s a journey. Like the horizon, Best in Practice recedes at a pace proportional to the advances made by the race’s leaders. If you can’t see the leaders, you are in trouble! If you are the leader, staying ahead becomes the challenge, knowing that everyone is out to get you!
Also keep in mind that the race leaders may not be in your profession. They may not be constrained by law, third-party rules and regulations, or even professional codes of ethics. They may not have bends in their road. They may not even being traveling on roads.
They may be in your market without your awareness. In fact, it’s probable! You are racing competitors you don’t see. Your prize is their prize.
Becoming Best in Practice is about vision, dissatisfaction with status-quo, commitment to serve, professional pride, a competitive spirit, compulsion for innovation, embracing change, and tenacity in execution.
It all begins with leadership.
Best in Practice is all the talk these days. Is your practice walking the talk? Are you walking in the right direction? Will just walking get you there in time? Are you walking alone?
Follow-the-leader or Best in Practice? The choice is yours...
Bob
(c) copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Also keep in mind that the race leaders may not be in your profession. They may not be constrained by law, third-party rules and regulations, or even professional codes of ethics. They may not have bends in their road. They may not even being traveling on roads.
They may be in your market without your awareness. In fact, it’s probable! You are racing competitors you don’t see. Your prize is their prize.
Becoming Best in Practice is about vision, dissatisfaction with status-quo, commitment to serve, professional pride, a competitive spirit, compulsion for innovation, embracing change, and tenacity in execution.
It all begins with leadership.
Best in Practice is all the talk these days. Is your practice walking the talk? Are you walking in the right direction? Will just walking get you there in time? Are you walking alone?
Follow-the-leader or Best in Practice? The choice is yours...
Bob
(c) copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Monday, November 9, 2009
Quotable - Truth Series
"Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth." - Henry David Thoreau
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Becoming Best in Practice - Part 2
Continued...
“Best” is not just about good intentions, but rather its about earnest, conscientious and focused activity that achieves a superior performance in comparison to others. “Best” is one part attitude, one part behavior, and one part achievement. It’s not about being a player; it’s about being a contender. It’s about being competitive; it’s about being the pace setter. It’s about being out front and staying there.
Yes, its about leadership.
The term “in” has connotations of holding power (the in-party), exclusivity (the in-crowd), positioning (in-the-box), and fashionable (the in-thing). But, there is more. To become Best in Practice is to surpass all that is ordinary. To be "in" is to inform, innovate, and inspire.
Traditionally, “practice” has meant the customary knowledge, operations, and behaviors of a profession. Our tendency is to adopt an egocentric understanding of “practice” and think in terms of my-practice. There is also our-practice, as in that of the greater profession; and then there is the-practice of more broadly defined health-professions. In a market of high deductables and co-pays with client interests on value and results and competitors for many disciplines competing for the same client, it is only the-practice that counts.
It is the latter, larger practice pond in which one swims and competes for market share. The stakes just got bigger!
A more insightful understanding of practice is, "translating an idea into action (praxis)".
For most professionals, practice involves the discipline of taking the same old tired ideas and putting them into the same old actions to achieve the same old results – think habits; think follow-the-leader, think prisons.
For those who are Becoming Best in Practice, ideas are fresh, big, bold, and startling.
What kind of ideas?
How about providing amazing new services that get people talking?
How about inspiring clients to market for you?
How about improving productivity by 25 percent?
How about eliminating accounts receivable beyond sixty days?
How about tripling profitability?
How about…
Now we're getting the idea!
More next post.
All The Best!
Bob
(c) copyright 2009
Performance Builders
“Best” is not just about good intentions, but rather its about earnest, conscientious and focused activity that achieves a superior performance in comparison to others. “Best” is one part attitude, one part behavior, and one part achievement. It’s not about being a player; it’s about being a contender. It’s about being competitive; it’s about being the pace setter. It’s about being out front and staying there.
Yes, its about leadership.
The term “in” has connotations of holding power (the in-party), exclusivity (the in-crowd), positioning (in-the-box), and fashionable (the in-thing). But, there is more. To become Best in Practice is to surpass all that is ordinary. To be "in" is to inform, innovate, and inspire.
Traditionally, “practice” has meant the customary knowledge, operations, and behaviors of a profession. Our tendency is to adopt an egocentric understanding of “practice” and think in terms of my-practice. There is also our-practice, as in that of the greater profession; and then there is the-practice of more broadly defined health-professions. In a market of high deductables and co-pays with client interests on value and results and competitors for many disciplines competing for the same client, it is only the-practice that counts.
It is the latter, larger practice pond in which one swims and competes for market share. The stakes just got bigger!
A more insightful understanding of practice is, "translating an idea into action (praxis)".
For most professionals, practice involves the discipline of taking the same old tired ideas and putting them into the same old actions to achieve the same old results – think habits; think follow-the-leader, think prisons.
For those who are Becoming Best in Practice, ideas are fresh, big, bold, and startling.
What kind of ideas?
How about providing amazing new services that get people talking?
How about inspiring clients to market for you?
How about improving productivity by 25 percent?
How about eliminating accounts receivable beyond sixty days?
How about tripling profitability?
How about…
Now we're getting the idea!
More next post.
All The Best!
Bob
(c) copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Quotable - Truth Series
“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” - Winston Churchill
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Becoming Best in Practice - Part 1
It has been said that a bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn. Have you noticed that the road of physical therapy practice has acquired more bends in recent years? There are the bends of more regulations, more competition, less reimbursement, more expenses, greater risks, and less time for life’s pleasures. Is your practice on pace and staying on the road?
Practices today need more speed and better traction to compete. Those with notions of appearing in the winner’s circle need a competitive edge. They need to be Best in Practice!
Let’s get something straight. Just because you adopt best practices doesn’t mean you are a contender for Best in Practice. There is a difference!
Best practices refer to business policies, clinical procedures, and operational processes that have been found to be used by top-performing practices through the process of benchmarking. The concept behind benchmarking is simple. Practices compare performance data. Lower performers adopt the practices of higher performers as a means to improve their own performance.
While benchmarking is an important strategic tool for staying alive and in the game, that “game” is follow-the-leader. Followers are not Best in Practice.
The title Best in Practice can be claimed by no more than the top 25 percent of practices. That means, of course, that a practice has a 75 percent statistical probability of not being Best –in Practice. It’s not a title to claim; it’s a title to earn.
To better understand what Best – in Practice means, we need to consider four questions:
What is “best”?
“In” where?
How big is “practice”?
What comes after “best”?
More next post...
All The Best!
Bob
(c) copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Practices today need more speed and better traction to compete. Those with notions of appearing in the winner’s circle need a competitive edge. They need to be Best in Practice!
Let’s get something straight. Just because you adopt best practices doesn’t mean you are a contender for Best in Practice. There is a difference!
Best practices refer to business policies, clinical procedures, and operational processes that have been found to be used by top-performing practices through the process of benchmarking. The concept behind benchmarking is simple. Practices compare performance data. Lower performers adopt the practices of higher performers as a means to improve their own performance.
While benchmarking is an important strategic tool for staying alive and in the game, that “game” is follow-the-leader. Followers are not Best in Practice.
The title Best in Practice can be claimed by no more than the top 25 percent of practices. That means, of course, that a practice has a 75 percent statistical probability of not being Best –in Practice. It’s not a title to claim; it’s a title to earn.
To better understand what Best – in Practice means, we need to consider four questions:
What is “best”?
“In” where?
How big is “practice”?
What comes after “best”?
More next post...
All The Best!
Bob
(c) copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Monday, November 2, 2009
Traveling: Chicago Chain Reaction Transformation
I'll be in Chicago later this week with the Chain Reaction Transformation Seminar. Over a hundred physical therapists, personal trainers, chiropractors, and physicians will be in attendence.
It will be an opportunity to meet with old clients/friends, GIFT Fellows/friends, and new friends I've not yet met. Be sure to say "HI" if you are attending. I have a number of scheduled meetings on the side during that time but do have additional time if you would like to meet to explore business challenges, ideas, or opportunities. See you there.
Bob
(c) Copyright 2009
Performance Builders
It will be an opportunity to meet with old clients/friends, GIFT Fellows/friends, and new friends I've not yet met. Be sure to say "HI" if you are attending. I have a number of scheduled meetings on the side during that time but do have additional time if you would like to meet to explore business challenges, ideas, or opportunities. See you there.
Bob
(c) Copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Quotable - Truth Series
"There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking." - Alfred Korzybski
NPR Series: Speaking of Faith - Stem Cells
National Public Radio produces a show titled Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett. Today's broadcast discusses stem cells - it is a facinating conversation with a leading stem cell researcher who puts to rest a lot of myth and opens the door to where medical research and therapeutics are headed. The following recording of the show runs about 58 minutes and will be well worth your time. Click on this post title above to go to NPR's website for additional stories on the related topics mentioned in the show or to obtain the free transcript and MP3 download.
Bob
(c) Copyright 2009
Performance Builders
Bob
(c) Copyright 2009
Performance Builders
