Play the Hand You're Dealt: Why Copying Other Chiropractors Is Holding You Back

In this episode of the Rocket Chiro Podcast, Jerry Kennedy dives into one of the biggest mistakes chiropractors make in business and marketing: trying to copy someone else's path to success. You are not the chiropractor you heard speak at a seminar. You are not the person you follow online. You are not even the chiropractor down the street. Your skills, personality, finances, family situation, timing, and opportunities are all different, and ignoring those differences dramatically lowers your chances of success. This episode breaks down why cookie-cutter strategies often fail, why context matters more than tactics, and how to make progress by being honest about your situation and playing the hand you're actually dealt. Key Topics Covered Why copying other chiropractors rarely works How differences in skills, finances, family, and timing shape outcomes The danger of seminar success stories and online comparisons Why "If I can do it, anyone can do it" is a misleading idea How lack of context leads to frustration and burnout The Big Three Framework Jerry introduces three foundational factors that determine meaningful progress: Interest What you are genuinely interested in, not what looks good or sounds impressive. Skill What you are capable of executing well right now, along with the skills you still need to develop. Opportunity Your real-world circumstances, including finances, location, relationships, timing, and access to resources. The overlap of interest, skill, and opportunity is where the greatest potential for meaningful change exists. What Creates Long-Term Progress Short-term change requires interest, skill, and opportunity. Long-term success adds two more elements: Structure Clear systems, standards, and guardrails that remove guesswork and allow you to measure what's actually working. Consistency Boring, repetitive execution over time that compounds results. Structure does not have to look the same for everyone, but everyone needs it. Hard Truths Chiropractors Need to Hear Stop pretending to be more successful than you are Stop copying practices that don't match your reality Stop forcing niches and patient types you don't enjoy Stop relying on motivation instead of discipline Honesty is the starting point for real progress. Practical Takeaways Be honest about your interests, skills, and opportunities Start from where you are, not where someone else is Learn principles and strategies, not just scripts Understand why something works so you can adapt when it stops working Show up prepared to think for yourself, not just follow instructions Final Thoughts You cannot start from a better place without first starting from where you are. Your choices are to start now or let things get worse and start later. Understanding principles, concepts, and strategies is far more valuable than blindly following a formula. When you know why something works, you gain the ability to adapt, adjust, and make better decisions over time. Play the hand you're dealt, build structure around it, stay consistent, and move forward. Resources Mentioned • Rocket Chiro chiropractic websites and local SEO: https://rocketchiro.com/best-chiropractic-websites/ • Website and SEO review requests at RocketChiro.com: https://rocketchiro.com/contact/chiropractic-practice-assessment/ • NEXT Step chiropractic business coaching: https://rocketchiro.com/chiropractic-coaching/