Oh boy, I love answering this question. In today’s profit report I’m going to hit you between the eyes with what you need to hear. Trust me. Besides it’s up to you whether or not you do something about it. You can click away now or keep reading and actually embrace what I’m saying, apply it to your life and modus operandi.
Something I love and admire about Dentists and the Industry in general is their hunger and ambition for continuing education, their constant and never-ending improvement mentality.
In my martial arts days we use to teach our students young and old alike that the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. I say this in every Team Transformation Day and Training I lead. Because it’s true.
The challenge though is finding a balance.
I see so many Dentists of great skill who make no money, and remember, we have already agreed – that means and translates into – helping very few patients.
If you are not running, owning, working in a prosperous, profitable practice then there are a whole lot of patients walking in and back out of your office without truly getting healthy.
The same goes for your Continuing Education, you can be the most educated Dentist in the world Clinically and yet it doesn’t mean anything in regards to how many patients you are helping get healthy. Nope. You actually have to run a Business in order for that to happen.
This is why I believe, in some cases, the industry does you a disservice because it’s how they make money…by the way…selling you education. Yes, my friends I just said that out loud, typed it right here in this Profit Report.
The dental industry makes money from insurance, large groups, and getting funded by Dentists going to CEU courses and that’s wonderful because that is the responsibility of the Association and the Industry – always.
Dentistry does it better than any other healthcare sector in the world.
What it doesn’t do well is help ensure that you are successful and well rounded. That’s because it’s not their job, it’s your job. Your responsibility is to make sure you are learning and implementing things in addition to Clinical Education so that you can actually apply what you are learning in classrooms, webinars, lectures, and other places and putting it to use to serve your patients and grow your practice.
This is why I often recommend your next CE should be…
Going to the bookstore or going to Amazon (though I prefer you go to the bookstore because it’s the environment that’s magical, there’s no place I like better than wandering around a bookstore it’s one of those funny little quirks any time I visit a new city I always try to find the bookstore…you can’t help but be motivated, inspired and in awe of the eclectic nature of our world when you amidst all those books.)
… and expand your knowledge on leadership, motivation, psychology, management, marketing, sales, life in general. Read about how Women buy and make decisions about how life cycles and changes affect their health not just their mouth…understand what the real competition is out there, new cars, and technologies, and vacations, and plastic surgery or kids education, etc…these are the things you are competing against for dollars for dentistry not other dentists.
Perhaps one of the things my clients compliment me most on is that I bring them (actually force) outside of their comfort zone and help them to see the big picture. To understand their patients. To speak “patient” not “dentist” and to learn about their team members and their daily lives.
You know something, it’s so simple, to your team members a bonus or extra $500, $1000, or more per month is LIFE CHANGING it’s the difference between a bigger home, a better car, savings, vacations, it’s going to a restaurant not looking at the prices on the menu.
To you and me, we throw that away on a daily basis with our decisions. We live a different life. Don’t deny it. It’s reality. And that’s why I ask you whens the last time you really thought about and understand what your Team Members are going through, why they work, how they make decisions and then you would understand how to better manage, lead, motivate, and inspire them to grow.
You won’t find any of this – in fact – you won’t find anything that is required to really (and I mean really) take your practice to the next level inside a seminar room showing another case example – you can take yourself Clinically to the next level – but not your practice, your patient experience, your culture, the dynamic of your team – this is found by GOING OUTSIDE of Dentistry and developing your vision, what your practice is about and arming yourself with knowledge on things that relate to life, people, health, community, family, business.
I guess to toot my own horn a little, after all it is my newsletter…you won’t find anyone else who consults with every sector of the industry, literally, labs, equipment, supplies, education, lecturers, researchers, groups, marketing, heck I even have clients that are consultants…you would think they are my competitor, you’d be wrong I don’t believe in competition in the way you think about it.
You know why I do this – it’s not for the money – though I wouldn’t do it for free because every minute of life sacrificed that could have been spent with my family or fulfilling my own life purposes must be exchanged for value in the form of dollars…I do it because it helps me better understand ALL SIDES OF DENTISTRY – I know more about each arena and am hungry for knowledge because it allows me to better help my clients, predict future trends and adjust before everyone else does. It allows me to form partnerships to support and bring added value to each person.
My equivalent of being sought after to consult in all facets of dentistry is a very powerful thing. And it keeps me from being one dimensional within the industry itself.
Most dentists are very one dimensional when it comes to their profession, they master the clinical side of dentistry and they stop there. They do not also master human relationships, team leadership, business strategy, system implementation, sales process, and so on and so forth.
I challenge you to ensure, like a balanced diet, you balance your education.
The dumbest question I get is “well how many dentists do you work with” or “do you ONLY work with dentists” and I know right away I’m dealing with a dummy because that last thing on earth you would want is someone helping you transform your practice who only sees things the way you see it. If you only wanted a dentist perspective well that’s probably why you are stuck where you are at right now.
Breakthroughs come from being challenged from outside the industry viewpoints. I intentionally continue to work with other doctors and healthcare professionals so I can bring the greatest new ideas in chiropractic, or surgery, or aesthetics, or nutrition, or any other elective based healthcare services into the dental practice.
I study customer service, marketing, profitability, philanthropy, human empowerment, sales psychology because all of these things make your dentistry and your education more valuable to you.
Today, this weekend, check your library at your home or office, take a look around, find something to change it up a bit, to take a walk outside of your industry and your daily norms and routine and see what all you might be missing.
When I do Blueprint Days for Practice Transformation I intentionally do these away from the office, you flying to my home city and getting away from everything you know to be true, to explode you through the glass ceiling that is over everyone’s head whether they believe it or admit to it or notice it or not.
Because breakthroughs always happen by stepping out of what “is” in order to see all that’s possible…they say whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.
Yes. I agree. And you can only think about what you expose yourself to…the only limits you have are those you put on yourself.
Your deserve levels, desire, and even your destiny is always left up to one thing – your imagination.
I can promise you this…Walt Disney didn’t build, create, design, or come up with Disney World and what is the “happiest place on earth” inside a box.
Relax your weekend away pondering this final statement…
Most Dentists are living in their practice as it is today because that’s all they know not because it’s all they want. That’s really great news because…the only person in charge of and has control over what you know – is you.
That should be a breath of fresh air and a nice kick in the rear end all at the same time.
Now – what are you going to do about, that’s the ultimate question that points the compass to the direction of your future.
Scott
PS – if you’d like my reading recommendations and a fast start to getting outside of your box…go here…and I’ll even send you your own compass, no joke.
