les wise How to Run a Really Cool Practice and Make a Really Big Profit

by Steve Cagen, D.C.

Reviewed by Leslie Wise, D.C.

As one who has spent more than half his life attempting to prepare students for the vicissitudes of starting and operating a successful chiropractic practice, I am often asked to identify the one quality which will assure a positive outcome in this endeavor. My short answer is “people skills.” By that, of course, I mean people skills combined with clinical competence, compassionate and ethical service, all wrapped up in sound business practices.

My friend, Steve Cagen, has authored a slim volume that touches on all these elements of successful practice with a humorous and insightful tone, while getting right to the pith of a service centered mentality. He serves up succinct pronouncements dealing with the simple but profound truths of altruistic commitment, but is ever mindful that professional success also means making a living, and having a little fun. His terse, one or two page chapters are very palatable and absorbable, making an easy read for the time challenged student or doctor seeking insight in short snippets.

Cool Practice begins at the beginning with an interactive approach to creating a mission statement and setting personal and professional goals. Beginners often forget or forego these important aspects of starting a practice and are doomed to wander the endless labyrinth of books, tapes, CDs and seminars, seeking direction. Cagen deals with these essentials in the first ten pages, reminding us of his alter-ego as president of Life Plan Systems, a company that publishes and markets goal setting and planning aids. He does not dodge the sensitive issues of dealing with difficult patients, dismissing patients, and handling money disputes. In each case he takes the high road and offers sound, ethical advice.

Having a Cool Practice is about being authentic, and communicating your authenticity with deeds and actions that will not be missed by your patients, your colleagues and your community. And, while it is not your primary and overriding concern, the really big profits seem to follow the authentic chiropractor.

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how to run a Cool Practice“Cool” Chiropractor Tells His Secrets

Alumnus Steve Cagen, D.C., ’97, who will be presenting to Dr. Bill Decken’s classes in April and at Lyceum in May, has released a new book: How to Have a Really Cool Practice and Make a Big Profit.

A motivational speaker and trainer, Cagen says that running a really cool, financially successful office is fun, simple and easy to do when you have passion and follow the basic and universal laws of business and success. His new book offers simple and practical advice in the form of tips you can immediately begin implementing. His book contains philosophy, business and success tips he has spent years learning and teaching.. Cagen notes that he educates his staff and his patients to embrace the chiropractic philosophy and the benefits of chiropractic. “Live it! Love it! Do it! Or get out of it!” he says.

“Coolness is about being happy with who you are and what you do with your life,” says Cagen. “Building a practice is an inside job – just like chiropractic.” In the book, he gives almost step-by-step instructions on how to have fun, love going to the office, serve a ton of people and make a great living. “Successful chiropractors find or create processes and techniques which fit their personality and adapt their practices around what makes them happy,” Cagen says. “This makes it a joy to go to work on Mondays and every day.”

He wrote the book to help several of his friends who were not having the success and the cool life that Cagen enjoys. Cagen lives the ADIO philosophy, and his book shares how to do the personal work to escape a victim attitude to become successful, make plans and take action to create the kind of life and practice that the person wants, one that is congruent with personal values and beliefs.

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chiro economics Book review: ‘How To Run A Cool Practice’ – Published in Chiropractic Economics 5/2010

May 25, 2010 — Steve Cagen has authored a slim volume that touches on all the elements required to run a successful business: people skills, clinical competence, and compassionate and ethical service.

He serves up succinct pronouncements dealing with the simple but profound truths of altruistic commitment, but is ever mindful that professional success also means making a living, and having a little fun. His terse, one- or two-page chapters are very palatable and absorbable, making an easy read for the time challenged student or doctor seeking insight in short snippets.

The book opens with an interactive approach to creating a mission statement and setting personal and professional goals. Beginners often forget or forego these important aspects of starting a practice and are doomed to wander the endless labyrinth of books, tapes, CDs and seminars, seeking direction.

Cagen deals with these essentials in the first 10 pages, reminding us of his alter-ego as president of Life Plan Systems, a company that publishes and markets goal setting and planning aids. He does not dodge the sensitive issues of dealing with difficult patients, dismissing patients and handling money disputes. In each case he takes the high road and offers sound, ethical advice.

Having a Cool Practice is about being authentic and communicating your authenticity with deeds and actions that will not be missed by your patients, your colleagues and your community. And while it is not your primary and overriding concern, the really big profits seem to follow the authentic chiropractor.

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chiropractic journal DC Bookshelf

“How to Run a Really Cool Practice and Make a Really Big Profit”

Drawing from his years of experience as a chiropractor and successful business person, Steve Cagen, DC, presents an easy-to-read success manual on creating and running a chiropractic practice.

Topics include:

  • Laying out and designing an office for efficient flow
  • How to speak to patients and get them to understand
  • How to get testimonials to help other patients
  • How to train and reward staff for maximum performance
  • How to use humor to educate patients and create a friendly environment
  • How to do promotions and piggyback for greater success
  • How to create rituals for increased performance
  • The importance of chiropractic philosophy

Sherman College Professor of Clinical Sciences Leslie Wise, DC, gave the book high praise, saying: “Having a Cool Practice is about being authentic and communicating your authenticity with deeds and actions that will not be missed by your patients, your colleagues and your community. And while it is not your primary and overriding concern, the really big profits seem to follow the authentic chiropractor.”

Dr. Cagen is the president of Life Plan Systems and Successful DC Seminars. A full-time practicing chiropractor, with his wife, Dr. Nancy Cagen, he runs a successful family practice in the mountains of western North Carolina. The “Ultimate Success Journal,” his previous book, has been sold at universities and book stores around the country and received acclaim from the county’s highest profile success mentors.