Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Christopher On.
Dr. Christopher, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University, where I studied Kinesiology and Health. From a young age, I always had a passion for sports, rehabilitation, and helping others. Initially, I thought my path would lead me toward becoming a physical therapist or athletic trainer, so I spent time shadowing professionals in those fields to better understand what their careers looked like. While I gained a tremendous amount of respect for those professions, I realized they weren’t the right fit for me.
During my time at Iowa State, I played rugby and suffered a significant low back injury that resulted in severe sciatica. I went through physical therapy and worked with athletic trainers, but I wasn’t getting the results I was looking for. That’s when I decided to see a chiropractor, and I experienced results that changed the direction of my life. I became fascinated by the impact chiropractic care had on my own health and wanted to learn more.
I began shadowing that chiropractor and quickly realized this was exactly what I had been searching for. I loved that he was helping people every day, that patients genuinely wanted to be there, and that they were leaving the office feeling better than when they walked in. I saw firsthand the positive impact chiropractic care could have on people’s lives, and I knew this was my calling.
I attended Cleveland University-Kansas City, where I earned my Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. Throughout my time in chiropractic school, I gained a much deeper understanding of the human body and the powerful connection between the nervous system, movement, and overall health. I learned that chiropractic care is about so much more than just helping people with pain; it’s about helping people function better, improve their health, and live their lives to their fullest potential.
During school, I was intentional about growing both as a clinician and as a future business owner. I participated in clubs, attended outside seminars, and spent time shadowing successful chiropractors to learn not only the clinical side of chiropractic but also what it takes to build a successful practice.
During my final year of school, I began thinking about what I wanted my career to look like after graduation. I attended an evening meeting hosted by a local chiropractor where doctors gathered to share their wins, challenges, and experiences in practice. The group focused on helping chiropractors build successful practices while creating a lifestyle that allowed them to better serve their communities and families. After that first meeting, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. That group was Pinnacle Chiropractic Systems, and it became an important part of my journey as a chiropractor and business owner.
After graduation, my journey didn’t unfold exactly the way I originally expected, but it opened the door to an incredible opportunity. I started On With Life Chiropractic inside another chiropractor’s office, allowing me to grow my practice while keeping overhead low and focusing on providing excellent care to my patients. Over the next year and a half, we grew beyond that space, and I had the opportunity to open my own office in Lenexa, Kansas.
Today, I’m incredibly grateful for every step of this journey, the challenges, the lessons, and the opportunities that shaped me along the way. Most importantly, I’m thankful for the patients who have trusted me with their health and supported On With Life Chiropractic from the beginning. Being able to serve this community and help people live healthier, more vibrant lives is exactly why I chose this profession.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
“If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.”
Starting a small business is one of the most rewarding yet challenging things I have ever done. As a business owner, you quickly realize you have to wear many different hats. In my field, I had to be a: doctor, leader, marketer, financial manager, and so much more. There is no single source that can teach you everything it takes to build a successful practice, which is why I’m incredibly grateful for the support and mentorship I’ve received through Pinnacle Chiropractic Systems.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that becoming a successful business owner and chiropractor takes time, experience, and a willingness to continually learn. There are so many areas of business that you don’t fully understand until you’re experiencing them firsthand, and having the right mentors and community around you makes all the difference.
One of the earliest challenges I faced was finding the financial resources needed to turn my vision into reality. I understood there were steps involved in securing funding, but my financial history and the educational path required to become a chiropractor created additional financial challenges. It wasn’t always an easy process, but those obstacles taught me persistence, creativity, and the importance of believing in the vision even when the path isn’t straightforward.
Another challenge I didn’t anticipate was the mental and emotional side of entrepreneurship. Throughout chiropractic school, I was used to a very structured environment. We took an incredible number of credit hours each trimester, averaged multiple exams each week, and received immediate feedback on how we were performing. In school, you always knew where you stood.
Business is very different. You can put in countless hours, make the right decisions, and still wait months before seeing the results of your efforts. There were times when I felt overwhelmed and questioned whether I was doing enough or moving in the right direction. However, having the right mentors and support system helped me navigate those moments and reminded me that growth takes time.
Looking back, those challenges have been some of my greatest opportunities for growth. They have shaped me not only as a business owner but also as a chiropractor and leader. Building something meaningful doesn’t happen overnight, but the lessons learned along the way are what make the journey worthwhile.
As you know, we’re big fans of On With Life Chiropractic LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
On With Life Chiropractic provides gentle, modern chiropractic care for people of all ages. Many people associate chiropractic care solely with pain relief or believe chiropractors only focus on the spine. While we do help people overcome pain and dysfunction, our approach goes beyond that. We focus on the person as a whole and believe chiropractic care plays an important role in helping people maintain their health, improve their function, and live a higher quality of life.
The foundation of chiropractic care is centered around the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. The spine protects the spinal cord, which serves as the communication pathway between the brain and the rest of the body. By improving spinal motion and function, we aim to support the body’s ability to adapt, heal, and perform at its best. Just like a dentist helps you maintain healthy teeth and prevent problems before they become serious, chiropractors focus on helping people take care of their spine and nervous system before major issues develop.
Our mission at On With Life Chiropractic is to spread love and happiness through world-class service, efficiency, and results. We strive to create an experience that is different from what many people expect from a healthcare office. We value our patients’ time and their health, which is why we offer flexible scheduling options and multiple ways to book appointments. When you walk through our doors, our goal is for you to feel welcomed, prepared, and cared for while minimizing unnecessary wait times. We believe healthcare should be efficient without sacrificing a personal connection.
One of our biggest goals is to never turn someone away from receiving care. We have the ability to serve a wide variety of patients, from infants and children to athletes, pregnant women, and seniors. Dr. On specializes in Specific Prone Technique, a gentle and modern chiropractic technique designed to provide care that is safe, comfortable, and effective for patients of all ages. He is also trained in the Webster Technique, a specific chiropractic technique and assessment commonly used during pregnancy to support women throughout their pregnancy journey and help promote optimal conditions for both mom and baby. In addition, Dr. On is certified in Zone Technique, which focuses on evaluating and supporting the body’s overall balance and function beyond traditional musculoskeletal concerns.
What truly sets On With Life Chiropractic apart is the experience we provide. We believe healthcare should be personal, accessible, and centered around the individual. Our patients are not just a number; they are people with families, goals, responsibilities, and dreams. We take the time to understand each person’s lifestyle and create a care plan that aligns with their health goals.
At the end of the day, our purpose is simple: we want to help people live life to the fullest. Whether someone is looking to improve their health, stay active, support their family, or simply function better every day, we are honored to be a part of their journey.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
One of the biggest risks I have taken was choosing to start my own chiropractic practice shortly after graduation. Many people choose a more traditional route by joining an established practice, but I felt strongly that I wanted to build something of my own and create an environment that reflected my vision for patient care.
Starting a business comes with a lot of uncertainty. I had student loans, limited business experience, and no guarantee that patients would walk through the door. There were many unknowns, but I believed in the mission behind On With Life Chiropractic and was willing to take the necessary steps to make it a reality.
One of the biggest calculated risks I took was starting my practice inside another chiropractor’s office instead of immediately opening a standalone location. While it wasn’t the final vision, it allowed me to build a strong foundation, learn the business side of chiropractic, serve patients, and grow responsibly without taking on unnecessary overhead. After a year and a half of growth, we were able to take the next step and open our own location in Lenexa, Kansas. Even with the move took a bigger leap of faith. My overhead was going to triple, and I opened the practice using a credit card. However, we had faith that everything would work out.
Another risk has been investing in myself and the growth of the practice. As a small business owner, every decision comes with a level of uncertainty, whether it’s investing in marketing, equipment, education, or creating new opportunities for the practice. However, I’ve learned that staying comfortable rarely leads to growth.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that successful risks are not about being reckless; they are about being willing to step outside of your comfort zone, surround yourself with the right people, and trust the process. Every challenge and risk I’ve taken has helped me become a better chiropractor, leader, and business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onwithlifechiro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onwithlifechiro/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onwithlifechiro
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-on-8a4bb3267/
