TNR Happenings June 10, 2019

happs june 10

DCME Seminar is on July 20th

It’s a celebration in TNR and it’s our reclamation of freedom to not only accept, but to get, crazy clinical results with cases that 99% of our profession doesn’t see and doesn’t want to see. There are vast contrasts between the DCME cases that TNR offices and the average cases in DCs' offices. In particular, is the difference between visits and cost. More commitment brings better results.

There is a rumor floating around that we may have a special event on Friday evening before the training. Hint: it looks like an ancient Mayan ruin, gets hot, and works on your resonation. Special note: we have an early bird special through Friday of this week of 10% off the ticket price.

DifficultCasesMade July 20th

Code of Honor

This is a reprint from 2014. It speaks volumes about TNR and of the heart of a TNR style warrior.

Everyone has heard about the Code of Honor, but what exactly is it? Loosely defined, it’s the standards in which you live your life. Everyone has one, but they vary immensely from person to person. It's certainly hard to explain, but when you’re in the presence of a person with a highly developed Code of Honor, you’re in good hands. There is a sort of old fashioned “you’re in their command” feeling when around them. You will not be taken advantage of and whatever they are helping you achieve, you will achieve it. 

I don’t usually read books on the NY Times bestseller list, however, Lone Survivor made it onto my reading list. Lifetime learning, reading, and experiencing are the hallmarks of high achieving warriors. Don’t worry parents, finding time to read with young kids is especially tough, but when they’re grown, four to five novels of biographies a week is very doable. Lone Survivor has been out since 2012 and the movie has been in theaters and on Netflix for some time, yet it continues to be a smashing success because it strikes a chord in the hearts of Americans. It makes a spiritual connection with those who you wouldn’t necessarily think would be into war stories. It’s more than just mere entertainment, it asks you to reflect on your own life. What would you do in similar circumstances? It asks those provocative questions that many Monday morning quarterbacks answer with enthusiasm and convincing words. However, the problem is there’s nothing behind those words. The reality is that most of us, sadly, would not measure up. But now we have a higher standard to which to aim our sights. 

The twist: the Code of Honor that binds the two most unlikely people together 

In 2005, a four-man US Navy SEAL recon team has a mission in Afghanistan that’s been compromised by goat herders. Here is the ethical dilemma: if you kill unarmed civilians who have nothing to do with Taliban forces, you go against the US Code of Honor. If you spare their lives and let them go, they’ll rat you out and you will die. What would you do? Upon releasing the goat herders, the Taliban was informed of the Americans’ whereabouts and within the hour the four SEALS found themselves face to face with and heavily outnumbered by the Taliban. The team members fought valiantly, but three of the four died, leaving only Marcus Luttrell as the “Lone Survivor”.

Marcus Luttrell survived with a broken spine, along with bullet and shrapnel wounds, only because of a centuries-old tribal Code of Honor called Pashtunwali. This mandates that Tashtuns (tribal members afford protection to anyone in need. The Lone Survivor was found by a Pashtun village elder named Mohammed Bolab, who took him in, hid him from the Taliban, had his wounds tended to, and made sure he was fed and clothed. He risked not only his life but his family’s and his whole village as well. The tribal code of honor transcended armies, religion, and politics. 

When the Taliban hunted the “Lone Survivor” by his blood trail to the village, they demanded that he hand over the American. Gulab refused. The Taliban—which doesn’t take no for an answer and has no Code of Honor—persisted, alternating between promises of money and threats to murder him, his family, and the rest of the villagers. None of it changed Gulab’s mind. He and his neighbors would protect him from harm to the last bullet, even if it cost them their lives. Gulab ignored these threats for a complete stranger. That’s quite a Code of Honor. 

Did you know that part of the Navy Seals mantra is, “my loyalty to country and team is beyond reproach. I humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Americans. I do not advertise the nature of my work nor seek recognition for my action.” They do a lot of dirty work so we can enjoy our freedom. However, we sometimes forget that we did not invent the Code of Honor. In fact, it stretches back thousands of years and is not confined to one group of people. It’s a universal code but is not adopted by the masses—too hard, too many temptations, too many shortcuts. Many people do not know about this deep, Muslim Code of Honor. How could two dissimilar people be united by such a Code? It’s because their differences did not matter; it was their similar beliefs about humanity that brought them together. 

I couldn’t help but think of the Code of Honor and its presence (and absence) in Chiropractic. Such a focus is made in SEAL training about TEAM, TEAM, TEAM. They celebrate their brotherhood. The individual isn’t celebrated, it’s the team. Many DCs lose this concept and concentrate on their own concerns instead of celebrating the bigger picture…CHIROPRACTIC. When you love Chiropractic, everyone wins. You win, your practice members win, and the world wins. 

If you’re a SEAL, past or present, you’re in the brotherhood, no questions asked. Philosophy, skin color, religion: it doesn’t matter. It’s that simple. It’s all about this bond and their love of serving the big picture that makes them different. Sounds familiar to TNR, doesn’t it? When SEALS are in difficult circumstances, they will get out of it together or they won’t get out of it at all. They hold themselves to higher levels of expectation. They are willing—on any given day—to lay down their lives in the act of service to their country. Talk about being a warrior.

Without a love of Chiropractic, we’ll eventually be led down the path to compromise our Code of Honor. Many DCs will simply not take a stand for Chiropractic and will instead take a stand for income production, all in the name of the individual. There’s nothing right or wrong with this, however, it doesn’t reflect the uniqueness of being a TNR-style DC. It takes no Code of Honor to wave an ultrasound instrument on a back sprain for ICDA reimbursement. Is Chiropractic sacred or just something to make an income? Miracles everyday or business as usual? We see it every day in integrated practices with everything from medical services to weight loss, teeth whitening, and hair weaving, just to be accepted by others who have no need for a Code of Honor. In the allopathic model, it’s all about the economics and the control of the people they serve, but not for the betterment of the people they serve. Just like some professional athletes, they think they’re bigger than the game itself.

The Code of Honor in TNR and beyond 

Your Code of Honor goes everywhere you go. It’s not a situational Code of Honor; it’s with you as you relate with spouses, children, society, kids on the Reservation, practice members, potential new patients, CAs, strangers, DCs—you get the picture. Are you in it for the greater good or self-gain only? What is your Code of Honor? When first joining TNR, many of us are on a competitive plane that leans heavily toward, “What’s TNR going to do for me?" But after a while in TNR, it switches to, “What can I do to make TNR an even better place than when I joined?" It’s like asking yourself, “Who am I when no one is looking?” 

What is your Code of Honor? 

Everyone who joins TNR begins immediately to work on their Code of Honor. They begin to raise the bar. It happens as a result of having a person in your life who demands more of you. There is a dynamic tension in the TNR community that asks you to continually strengthen your personal weaknesses and move forward. Allowing someone who you respect to put pressure on you is the mark of humility. You can’t do this by yourself—isolation fells so many a great DC. Most DCs feel they already did this at Chiropractic school and now they’re on their own. They think they don’t need this and it’s not necessary for their lives. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.   

Many of our members are married, have kids, or are thinking about starting a family. They have many obligations and there is a price to be paid for having this Code of Honor. Being gone on weekends during the year isn’t easy on family members, but spouses understand that these events bring out their best. We know it isn’t convenient or easy and we salute every past and present TNR member who does what it takes to develop this Code of Honor. Like going back to school, maybe it’s too difficult, inconvenient, or there’s an easier way. Yet there is a HUMILITY that develops when you commit to making yourself better. Stop looking for shortcuts and start looking from a different vantage point…the TNR team. Your whole family benefits from the role model that does the work required to develop a Code of Honor. No practice management steroids, no shortcuts, no BSOs…just the emergence of the greatness that exists in all of us. 

A Code of Honor is not something you develop and forget about, it’s something you continually develop your whole life. One of the crazy things you do to develop your Code of Honor is actually traveling away from the comfort of your home and attending TNR events to be with other like-minded people who are participating in the same process. The real test begins when you have to explain to your inner circle back home why you aren’t going to be at the pig roast that weekend. Now you’ll see how bad you want it…or not. 

“TNR events are like going to a concert. Not in a way that I’m going to throw underwear on stage with my digits attached, but you get the point; the experience is everything. It’s almost like skinny dipping—that feeling of excitement and freedom is the same. Sure, I love my spouse and my kids and all of my responsibilities at home. But for just a few hours, I leave that behind and I’m free. IT recharges my spirit. I don’t get that anywhere else.”

Love Has No Color is a striking example.  Once aware of the atrocities of life on the Reservation, if your Code of Honor is developed, it kicks into high gear and you will ask Dr. Kevin how you can be a part of it to a higher degree. 

 

Practice tip of the week

Give up the need to explain why to your practice members. By answering rhetorical questions that don’t have an answer, you fall into the trap of being defensive and squandering personal power by the bucket load. Remember, you are there to help, not to provide research or answer questions when they have no intention of becoming practice members, etc. Willingness on the practice member’s part is the ingredient, not understanding. Understanding only comes from looking backward and most use it as an excuse not to participate.

 

DCME confidential

Confidential

Question 1: I seem to have missed the ship that has set sail for most members, I don’t have the foggiest idea how to do DCMEs. HELP!

Answer: Get your ticket for the upcoming DCME training and have a Head-to-Head specifically for DCMEs! H2Hs are individualized and have allowed many TNR members to get to know the ropes of DCMEs. The day after the seminar, Sunday, is still available at the time of this writing.

 

Fundraising is in high gear!

In addition to the Love Has No Color e-newsletter, we have a video as well. Some share this video with their practice members since they love hearing what’s going on. We're looking for lots of micro-donations and don’t forget the ‘big fish’. These individuals are in a position to donate heavy. Some want to donate and participate and others just want to donate. If you have kids, let them take it to schools (it's getting late!) or social media platforms to connect them to the world. Last year a six-year-old from Manitoba donated $600 to get a song added to the Don’t Quit Your Day Job setlist (Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple). He got his money via social media with the help of his mother writing about his story.

 

Speaking of fundraising

This is kind of a prank in itself (all songs sound rather the same!), we are accepting a limited number of song requests for the set list. A $600 donation does the trick. One year we actually had an office that wanted an advance copy of the set list for $600. Another office offered $1,000 if the band did not play. We think that was a joke, so we didn’t pay any attention to it.

 

Still looking for the elusive bass guitarist

If you know any bass guitarist that can get themselves out to the Reservation, call headquarters. Finding a bass guitarist is a continuing story, but the ending is we will have a functioning member playing bass in the group.

 

Referrals to TNR

There are so many ways to interest colleagues and classmates to join TNR. Have them join us on the Reservation. Have them do a video chat with Dr. Kevin. Things in people’s lives change. You might think they don’t need help or they just wouldn’t join. Don’t answer the question for them, offer them the opportunity. It’s up to them to accept or not.