A singleness of purpose

When groups work with a singleness of purpose, they can accomplish great things.

That’s what happened when S.1955, the small-business healthcare bill, went to the Senate for a vote.

Both supporters and opponents of the bill tried to make the Senate listen to them. The opponents got the Senate’s ear. The bill never came to vote.

Among those who strongly opposed S.1955 was the chiropractic community led by the American Chiropractic Association, the International Chiropractors Association, and the World Chiropractic Alliance.

Each of these organizations (plus others, such as the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations and the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research) conducted an aggressive grassroots effort that encouraged its members to bombard the Senate with a “vote no” message.

The defeat shows that singleness of purpose accomplishes great things. And that is why associations in three separate states are taking active steps to unify their individual chiropractic organizations. Chiropractors in Virginia, Michigan, and Colorado are looking to find their common grounds, so that they can present chiropractic as one voice within their states — to the public and to the legislature.

Having a singleness of purpose benefits you in other areas, too — for example, corporate wellness.

Wellness is catching on. According to 2005 survey by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), 62 percent of companies have started wellness programs to improve employee health, and another 33 percent are considering such programs, mainly to reduce healthcare costs.

The wellness trend is definitely growing. That’s an opportunity for you.

Your goal for getting into corporate or industrial consulting may be to build your practice. A company’s goal in establishing a wellness program may be to reduce healthcare costs. Both are admirable and worthwhile goals.

The common goal? A healthier workforce that embraces lifetime wellness.

Common goals bring people together — even people who otherwise have differing opinions and ideas. When the issues are big enough, people put aside their differences to stand on common grounds. And everyone benefits.

Common grounds, strength of purpose.

Until next time,

Linda Segall, Editor-in-Chief