Cubman…..?

I was recently asked by a colleague to fill in the blank, “If you were to describe yourself as a cross between two different people or things, who or what would they be?” It is such a straight forward question that one would assume would have a quick and easy answer. However for me, I had a tough time narrowing it down. It made me first look within to find out what exactly I believe my most distinguished qualities are, as opposed to how outsiders may view me. Then try and find those same qualities in others, which is not such an easy task. After contemplating for a long while, I’ve decided that I would describe myself as a cross between Batman and Mark Cuban.

First is Batman. Now I am well aware that Batman is a fictional, crime fighting superhero, and I don’t see myself as any of that. On the other hand, when I look at Batman, I see a man that is in the business of helping people in their time of need. He is a loyal, trustworthy friend to all those in Gotham who deserve it. If someone is in trouble, he is always there to lend a hand, and modest enough to never expect any recognition in return. I believe these are all great qualities that also describe me being that in the health care field, as a chiropractor I will always be there for those in my area. However, Batman inherited his fortune from his family, and I believe he lacks the entrepreneurial spirit being from a privileged family. This where Mark Cuban comes in.

Mark Cuban is an American businessman, investor, film producer, author, television personality and philanthropist. He is the owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres, and Magnolia Pictures, and the chairman of the HDTV cable network AXS TV. He is also a “shark” investor on the television series Shark Tank. He started with nothing and was able to become the man he is today with a few good ideas and some smart business decisions. I myself am looking to start from nothing and work my way up to becoming a major success in the chiropractic field. I know becoming a billionaire like Cuban is unlikely, but his entrepreneurial spirit is something I can feel in myself, making him a great role model for me.

Chapter One- I Ain’t Fraid of No Ghosts

I don’t believe in ghosts, never have, never will, and that goes the same for most super natural things to me. When I was in high school, some of my sister’s friends wanted to go search an abandoned old house because it was believed to be “haunted”. I was the person that would tag along to events like this merely to make fun of those involved.

However, when I was a senior in high school I went on vacation to the beach with my mom and girlfriend at the time. One morning walking on the boardwalk, my girlfriend saw a sign for psychic palm readings. For some reason she really wanted to try it, so I of course tagged along because I figured I would get a good laugh out of it. In my mind, I visualized a woman coming out and looking at my palm, saying the most general statements she could think of that would make me happy. For the most part, my vision was correct, kind of.

We walked into a room and sat down beside a table. A woman came out and read my girlfriends palm first. I don’t remember all the specifics of what she said, but to summarize, she said she would live a long, healthy life and blah, blah, blah. Then it was my turn. Again, I don’t remember all that was said, but there was 2 key points that I do recall. The 1st, the palm reader told me that my girlfriend and I were not meant to be together. This is around the time my girlfriend ran out of the room crying. The 2nd key point was when the palm reader asked me what I wanted to do for a living? I told her I was going to go to school to be an accountant. She immediately responded with a “No, that is not what you are meant to do.” I was taking back by how bold and direct she was being, I figured this was the time she was suppose to agree with whatever I told her. She went on to say, “You were meant to do something amazing using your hands.” At this point Chiropractic was not anywhere near my radar. In fact I had never been adjusted at the time.

I left the palm readers thinking she was crazy. She basically told me that I wasn’t meant to be with my high school girlfriend, and I need a job that uses my hands. Those seem like safe things to say as most high school relationships fail and most jobs use your hands. So I went and calm down my girlfriend, saying that the palm reader had no idea what she is talking about.

Fast Forward about 5 years…

No longer with my girlfriend, I was about to graduate with my bachelors in Exercise Science and go on to the DPT program. I knew in my heart I wanted to be in the health field and help others, so I figured Physical Therapy was the answer. That was until a rep from NYCC came to our school to talk about Chiropractic. I had never been introduced to Chiropractic up to that point, but I was immediately hooked. The ability to change people’s lives with using just my hands rang true to me. It wasn’t until after I started at Sherman Chiropractic College, that I realized that what that palm reader said was actually coming to light.