Halloween promotions are among the most entertaining and fun events you can sponsor. Best costume contests, a healthy "Trick or Treat" letter or meeting, or you and the staff dressing up are great ways to engage the emotions of your community and your clientele. Lighten up, get a little weird, and cement your relationships with the people you serve.

This is pre-election time, so find the pro-chiropractic candidates in your area, and encourage people to support them. This is a critical time in chiropractic politics, and we need all the friends we can get. It will also build your network in your neighborhood, and give you name and face recognition among the leaders in your area.

Start planning your year-end promotions — would you like to do a food drive for Thanksgiving, or a toy or clothing drive for Christmas? Start your advertising and public relations work now, especially if you want to co-sponsor the event with a local charity or organization.

With three quarters down, it’s crunch time to hit your goals for the year — the fourth quarter can cap a great year or rescue a shaky one, so put your nose to the grindstone and bring your best game. Also, you should have your 2005 goals written, at least in rough form — if not, get it done, it’s really important for your mind to have a target to aim at.