What’s Holding You Back? 10 Dream-Killers to Avoid

If you’re a chiropractor or an entrepreneur, you know the road to success isn’t always smooth. There are obstacles that can derail your progress and leave you feeling stuck.

Napoleon Hill, in his classic book Think and Grow Rich, lists 30 causes of failure. While I don’t like the word “failure” (I believe there’s no failure, only feedback), these are essentially things that can squash your dreams if you let them.

Today, I want to focus on 10 of those dream-killers and share practical steps to overcome them especially as a chiropractor running a business.

1. Poor Health

You can’t pour from an empty cup. As chiropractors, we talk about health all day, yet many of us neglect our own.

If your health isn’t at its best, you simply can’t perform at your peak. So ask yourself:
✅ Are you getting adjusted regularly?
✅ Are you doing your home care?
✅ Are you managing stress and getting enough sleep?

Your patients look to you as an example. Make your health a priority.

2. Lack of Clear Purpose

When you don’t know your purpose, every challenge feels heavier. Your purpose gives meaning and fuels resilience.

How do you discover it? Ask:

• What lights you up?

• What would you do for free and still feel fulfilled?

• What makes time fly for you?

And remember: your purpose can evolve. For me, chiropractic practice was my identity for years. Shifting into coaching felt scary—but it aligned with my calling to help more chiropractors thrive.

3. Insufficient Education

Getting your degree doesn’t guarantee success in practice. Being a doctor and running a business require two completely different skill sets.

Too many great chiropractors struggle—not because they lack passion or skill, but because they never learned business systems. The solution? Find a mentor or coach who can shorten your learning curve.

4. Lack of Self-Discipline

Discipline is the bridge between goals and results. Without it, inconsistency kills progress.

At first, discipline feels hard. But when you repeat the right habits, they become natural—and eventually something you crave.

Here’s a real example:
When I was new in practice, my goal was to grow from 100 visits per week to 200, and eventually 500. My coach asked, “Are you adjusting your tables 100 times a day?”

I thought, What? No! But then I got it—he meant act as if. Build the habits and systems now for where you want to be, not where you are.

5. Procrastination

Procrastination is often a symptom of lack of organization.

Have you ever sat down to work, felt overwhelmed by everything you needed to do, and said, “I’ll do it tomorrow”? Me too.

The solution: block scheduling (or cluster booking). Plan your day in time blocks and stick to them. Boundaries create clarity and eliminate decision fatigue. Tools like the Clever Fox planner or Brendan Burchard’s High Performance Planner are game-changers.

6. Wanting Something for Nothing

Success is built on exchange, not entitlement. There is no shortcut.

Even in practice, avoid giving away free care. The law of exchange says both sides must give value. When patients invest in care, they value it—and get better results.

7. Indecision

Successful people make quick, informed decisions and rarely second-guess themselves. Stop “Monday morning quarterbacking.” Decide, act, adjust if needed, and keep moving forward.

8. Being Overly Cautious

Opening a practice feels scary—like Indiana Jones stepping onto that invisible bridge in The Last Crusade. It takes faith and action.

Risk is unavoidable, but you can minimize it by learning from others and hiring mentors. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from sharing your gifts with the world.

9. Choosing the Wrong Vocation

Napoleon Hill lists this as a cause of failure. But here’s what I believe: if you’re a chiropractor, you were called to this profession.

The problem isn’t chiropractic. It’s the lack of systems, clarity, and confidence in running your practice. Don’t quit—learn how to thrive.

10. Quitting Too Soon

Too many chiropractors throw in the towel when things get tough. Please hear me:

If you’re struggling, don’t quit chiropractic. Get the help you need.

Hire a coach. Learn the systems. You were born to make an impact. Your community needs you.

Your Dreams Matter. Don’t let these 10 things stand in your way.

If you’re ready to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be—without the stress, confusion, and overwhelm—I created Thrive Chiropractic Coaching for YOU.

👉 Click here to book your FREE strategy call and start thriving.