Today’s blog post comes from Jack Sparacio, MSPT, COMT, CFMT, and owner of PT Marketing Consultants and Sparacio Physical Therapy.
How many times have you heard the phrase “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”? Common phrase, sure, but I like to think of it as the other way around: “extraordinary people doing ordinary things,” because I like to give more credit to the person than the idea. My point, though, is this: we can all be innovators and change the status quo if we try. Yes, it requires tons of energy, passion, and determination, and let’s not forget to throw in just a pinch of stress. But YOU CAN DO IT!
The true innovators of the word simply work harder—and smarter—than other people. And our lives are better because of their efforts. I am reminded of this on a daily basis as I work in my physical therapy clinic. Kinesiotaping is one innovative idea that has helped me to become a better clinician. Using athletic tape to treat athletes has been around forever. However, Kinesiotaping has opened up many more opportunities, especially for the non-athletic patients.
WebPT is another innovation that has helped make my life significantly easier and more enjoyable. The people at WebPT didn’t create or invent documentation or electronic medical records. They just perfected it! The Medically Oriented Gym (MOG) is another innovation that has given us an opportunity to increase revenues. I am quite certain that Jack LaLanne developed his health clubs long before the existence of MOGs. But hey, I am sure he would be proud that someone took his idea in another direction.
Start to get your innovative juices flowing by first identifying the issue, snag, or situation and then asking questions: “How can I do this better, easier, or more quickly?” At your next staff meeting, have a brainstorming session with all of your employees. Start throwing around ideas. Some ideas might be a bit crazy, but those crazy ideas might develop into an innovative product, service, or system. Change has to start somewhere! Start innovating today and make life more enjoyable for tomorrow. And be sure to acknowledge the innovations that surround you. They might just be the inspiration you need to bring your crazy idea to life.
