If you haven’t heard already, today was Apple’s first major media event of 2010. It was held at 10 a.m. Pacific Time at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater. And, yes, I was tuned in like a kid on Christmas morning!

To be honest, you’d have to be living under a rock to have not heard about Apple’s iPad. It’s been all the rage amongst analysts, speculators and rumormongers. And, rightly so considering Apple’s successful history of launching products into the stratosphere through dramatic suspense caused by their code of silence!

Nevertheless, this go around I even got in on the mix. Matter of fact, I updated my Facebook status with the following:

Whoops! Wrong update. Just a second …

You see, Apple has a way of changing the game. Just look at all of the industries Apple has flipped on their heads and leveled the playing field. Not only did Apple level it, they annihilated it and continue to dominate.

No matter what your opinion about Apple and its esoteric leader, Steve Jobs, much can be gleaned from its successes and leadership genius.

So much so that I could probably fill several blog posts about lessons learned through the examples set forth by Apple. But, instead, I’ve narrowed it down to five specific lessons chiropractors can learn from Apple and its products like the iPad.

1. Apple provides superior products.

You can argue with me all day long but it won’t change the fact that when you purchase an Apple product like the iPad, not only is the unpacking experience surreal but you also realize that the extra money you spent compared to its Windows counterpart was well worth it.

In other words, when speaking to a potential convert, I sometimes relate the difference between using an Apple product and a Windows machine to driving a Rolls Royce instead of a Mercury Sable.

It just works when you need it to work. The saying, “You get what you pay for!” really rings true when investing in Apple products.

2. Apple provides superior customer service.

This track record has been going on for quite sometime. The most current survey shows Apple coming out on top again with a staggering 81% consumer customer satisfaction rating among the top computer manufacturers.

My question to you is if you surveyed your patients, prospects and community, what type of rating do you think you’d receive compared to the competition?

Are you aggressively working toward building trust, loyalty AND strong customer service associated with your brand both online and off?

If not, how come?

3. Apple provides one-stop solutions.

There are many examples that demonstrate this. But, the main one that comes to my mind is one’s ability to walk into their store, pick out a product, turn right around and walk out knowing full well that both hardware and software work seamlessly from the first push of the power button.

Take this to your level.

Do you provide this type of experience for your patients?

If not, how come?

4. Apple produces raving fans.

Like Ken Blanchard promotes, you need to produce raving fans for your business through being customer-centric. But, it takes effort, discipline and perseverance — plus, an incessant desire to please the customer whatever the cost.

In other words, you have to give over-the-top service from day one through eternity. If you focus like a laser on that objective, you’ll stand head and shoulders above the competition.

What are you doing in your practice to produce raving fans?

How different is the experience in your practice compared to others?

When’s the last time you thought about this and implemented strategies to produce raving fans?

If never, how come?

5. Apple provides innovative leadership.

Without a doubt, the leadership at Apple is phenomenal. I don’t know of any other era or CEO within America’s corporate world that has accomplished what Steve Jobs has with Apple. This, I believe, is just one reason he was named CEO of the Decade by Fortune magazine.

Chiropractic needs leaders like Steve Jobs. We need doctors that are innovative, creative and think differently toward the future progression of our profession.

Instead of relying on what’s worked in the past, why not venture out like mavericks and blaze a new path?

The innovative leaders are the crazy ones. They catalyze change. They propel societies forward.

Taken from one of Apple’s successful ad campaigns, Think Different should be our mantra:

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

How are you developing yourself to become one of chiropractic’s innovative leaders?

How are you thinking differently on ways to educate, inform and influence prospects to the wonderful benefits of chiropractic?

I realize I’m asking many questions. However, I truly want to see continual advancement of chiropractic to all the masses and be able to one day take the number one spot among our healthcare delivery system.

What about you?

Let me hear your thoughts in the {comments} section below.

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