The following is an excerpt from a speech delivered at the 2014 Graham Sessions, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2014.
“Here’s to the crazy ones….because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs1
Practice location: Rhinelander, Tomahawk, Eagle River, and Wausau, Wisconsin.
Practice specifics: Four locations, 20 employees, and 20 years in practice.
What is the most influential book/person/event that enhanced your professional career and brief description of why? The Bible is my most influential book. The most influential person in my career was Jim Gould, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. He spoke to me and my young family when we needed it most while I was in physical therapy school. He made significant contributions in life and to the profession despite passing at a young age.
Being organized is preceded by feeling and looking organized. Can any of us actually feel and look organized with dozens of sticky notes attached to our computer screens, desks, or phones? I challenge you and your team to imagine organizing without the use of sticky notes. Where would all that valuable information go? Would you be better off if you embraced this challenge in your practice? Here are a few tips that can help make this a possibility:
Use a contact management program. Free contact management programs are ubiquitous online, and most of us have desktop versions through our software productivity suites. Any time a phone number, email, or address begins to make its way onto that little yellow piece of paper, enter the information into your contact management program instead, and enjoy permanent access across electronic devices.
Use a password storage program. If you store passwords on sticky notes, not only are you risking the potential for a serious security breach, but you are also losing precious time. Stop the unproductive habit of constantly looking for passwords to frequently used accounts and websites accessed nearly every day. A password storage program allows secure and quick access to hundreds of passwords, providing you with peace of mind and an uncluttered desk.
Designate a notebook. When the phone rings or a team member walks into your office, action will likely follow. Instead of using sticky notes to capture (and potentially lose) the information, keep all of your important notations in a designated notebook for later storage.
Take the “Sticky No Longer” challenge and break free from your reliance on those 3 x 3 inch squares.
Tannus Quatre, PT, MBA, ATC, CSCS, lives at the intersection of physical therapy and entrepreneurship, spending his time helping physical therapists build and operate successful practices through his company, Vantage Clinical Solutions. He specializes in marketing, finance, and business planning, and authors and speaks regularly for the APTA and PPS. He can be reached at tannus@vantageclinicalsolutions.com.
Think back to the last time your water heater broke, or you had to replace a major appliance. I bet you were not thrilled to spend the money or be inconvenienced by the time it took away from your busy schedule. I am not sure people seeking physical therapy services feel much better.
