It’s tempting to imagine that a better life (or practice) will manifest by adding this or that to the mix.

Our culture seems fixated on the latest and greatest. Granted it fuels our consumption economy, but is there actually a void that needs to be filled?

Adding procedures, processes, and gadgets gives the impression we’re in action. Improving things.

Besides inviting complexity, creating noise and adding friction, it also increases the opportunity for breakdowns.

In the same way patients don’t have an aspirin shortage, you don’t have a gizmo shortage.

If your closet, cupboards and drawers remind you of an archeological dig, exposing the strata of abandoned programs and discarded “solutions,” it may be time to deploy subtraction rather than addition.

Often, success is about shedding, not acquiring.

What can be eliminated, simplified or streamlined? What extra steps needlessly consume time or resources? What’s distracting you from the main thing?

Bill Esteb has been a chiropractic patient and advocate since 1981. He is the creative director of Patient Media and the co-founder of Perfect Patients. He’s been a regular speaker at chiropractic gatherings since 1985. His 12 books explore the doctor/patient relationship from a patient's point of view. His chiropractic blog, coaching program, patient focus groups and consulting calls have helped hundreds of chiropractors around the world. Since 1999 Monday Morning Motivation has been emailed to over 10,000 subscribers each week.