The Secret to Living Longer

I finally got to unwind this last weekend after the long preparation for our SuperConference. It was a huge success. Most of the doctor attendees gave positive feedback on the content as well as the opportunities despite the ongoing perils of private practice today. It was good to spend some down time with all my special friends who were instrumental in making the event so powerful.

In any event, another very special friend, Dennis, invited me on the water all day Friday. And Patti and I to his Yacht Club on Friday night. (Turns out, we'll be joining!)

Friday morning, the fishing was great just off the Boston Harbor hotels and airport runways. It's a fabulous place, with tons of revolutionary war and pre-war history, forts, burial grounds, etc.

Friday night, the four of us cruised the inner harbor, went back on land for a couple of drinks, and had a fabulous dinner back at the club with tons and tons of laughs in-between.

Then Dennis asked me if I wanted to smoke a cigar with him. I must have seemed stunned, because then he immediately started telling me about all these studies that were done on cigar smoking and longevity.

Huh? I read research every morning, but I sure missed that one!

So Dennis says, "It's stress that kills us. Those people that socialize, have fun, smoke cigars and sip Scotch, laugh, stay engaged with each other, live far longer, healthier, and happier lives."

So don't you know it, I look up the studies on centenarians in Cuba and other countries too.

My take after reading the studies? They live simply, stay engaged in life fully for the moment only, and have moderate habits, nothing to excess. Interestingly, in Cuba, they smoke cigars, drink coffee, and still enjoy sex.

But most of all, they ENJOY all of life. Especially simple pleasures, friends and family, most every day.

And that's it.

Boy, did we screw this one up, big time.

Look at the craziness some of us see every day. People stressed out, never disengaging or shutting off their cell phones and TV, bitching about everything, living sedentary lives, not going outside enough.

Or some doctors who are continually stressed. They never get to really discern who is in control of their lives nor their practices; who they care or work for. They have no good systems or organization that really serves them and their goals and dreams.

What a mess we are capable of creating!

But there is an antidote. And it's the very first step I often end up taking with new clients.

That is to develop, work on, and truly develop the essence of Practice by Design.

But if it's really this simple, why do so many of us, very intelligent doctors especially, struggle with our practice on a daily basis?

I'm not a hundred percent positive, but let me tell you a few things.

First, YOU have got to have complete design control in practice. This is really the most valuable part for me personally while working with my doctors.

Next, your staff requires a firm but otherwise fun environment as well as goals. It's a very easy systems that still work (by design) where we have those "no brain" days. However, the government has made this one a little bit harder.

Three, patients need guidance. And the choice is to accept or reject advice. Also, when you can see them, and what your game rules are. This must, of course, include finances. And if they chose to reject your advice, why would you ever keep them under your care?

And you know what, it can be as simple as these three basic rules!

But you must have the certainty, intestinal fortitude, and the underlying tools to pull this all off.

To that end, as Mr. Spock admonished me 40+ years ago, "Live long and prosper."


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Dr. John Hayes, Jr. is an Evvy Award Nominee and author of Living and Practicing by Design. Find out more about his unique approaches to private practice success, visit http://perfectpracticeweb.com/ and register for a FREE CD and Info Pack.