As tragic and unfortunate as the entire virus and ensuing shutdown has been, it has yielded an unprecedented opportunity to reposition your practice by dialing in systems, organizing processes, and rethinking protocols in order to better help your patients and make your practice more successful.
It has been refreshing for me to be able to write and share powerful strategies and specific systematic opportunities that are both tried and true principles as well as new innovative ways to enhance every part of your patient experience and reverse engineer the financial aspect of your practice.
This has gone from the ‘reset’ to the ‘re-imagining,’ from the ‘period of pause’ to the ‘potential profit,’ and from ‘challenge and obstacle’ to ‘change and opportunity.’
Since you are here, the “change” we are talking about has nothing to do with the changes others are talking about. The doctors we don’t let in (or who quickly leave), are those that lack the ambition to be anything but ordinary. Why be just another practice or just another doctor? All the things that they complained about before, they’ll be complaining about again in just a couple more weeks.
Instead, you are different. Your passion is alive, your fire is back, your mind is racing, and you just can’t wait to level up.
That doesn’t mean that you don’t also want to achieve more balance in your life, more autonomy in your schedule, and more protection over your time by ensuring your practice is delivering you everything that you want and deserve.
I have been saying all along, most of us didn’t need the virus as a wakeup call. I haven’t changed my core principles or philosophy and neither have you. If anything, our beliefs have been strengthened and our commitments have been renewed.
I know why doctors – you – read these reports and nothing ever alters that. Fundamentally, you are here because you believe your life and your goals shouldn’t have to wait for someday in the distant future.
Some Doctors make excuses and others make progress. That’s why you are extraordinary, rare, and different. You believe in self-reliance, you believe in your own independence as a Doctor Owned Business, both financially and clinically. You believe in being in control of how you practice, how you live, how you do dentistry, how you earn, and how you spend your time and money.
My philosophy is very simple: I want you to be at your peak and optimal state of ideal as fast as possible for as long as possible so your practice is truly a catalyst for everything you want in your life in and outside of it; not you at the mercy of it.
What that means is the Doctors here – You – don’t settle, aren’t complacent, and don’t accept “it can’t be done.” You know there is a way to make it better, to keep moving forward, to push the bar, raise the limit, find your next breakthrough, and enjoy the ride along the way.
This whole thing has been a great time to check yourself, to assess all of the above, and really compare your desired state to your existing reality. Now, you can do whatever every prosperity-minded, ambitious, entrepreneurial doctor does – find ways to accelerate your achievement of ideal.
That’s invigorating, isn’t it? That’s the fun stuff. Besides, life is short, why not make the most of every opportunity you get.
So, in keeping with our theme, as we prepare for a new month – I’d like to share some more “double down” principles and challenge you to do the same. You can do these personally as well as inside of your practice for each of the key components.
If you haven’t already, it’s vitally important to get the team to do another divide and conquer. I already mentioned this briefly, but let’s go even deeper to ensure every person has not only reviewed ideal protocols but also taken time to reset the bar for expectations with every patient engagement and visit. Really look to refine any new or old ideas that need to be incorporated in order to fulfill your state of ideal objectives with every patient from every team member.
Another great “state of ideal” question is: what can be or should be eliminated (insurances, bad habits, clutter, etc.)
Much of that should have already been done but you never know until you really sit down altogether to organize and think through it. By the way, the answer to that question will look entirely different after you’ve been back a few weeks or a month. Again, never stop refining, improving, and striving to get to state of ideal.
Elimination is a powerful and cleansing thing to do. More of what you want, less of what you don’t.
Which brings me to the flip side… what is required to reach state of ideal that we need to focus on more or increase?
The obvious answer that comes to mind is always more photography… photo documentation, patient engagement with pictures, and illustrative treatment planning.
How about more clinical team engagement and set-up of patients because it’s effective but also because you have to save your doctor time. This is especially true now but it’s a great habit to get into for the long term.
A great question to ask yourself is: replace bad habits with what? What new productive habits do we need to install and commit to?
Finally, commit to more team driven initiatives, not less. The goal should be to become less doctor dependent, not more, in all areas.
To summarize this week’s Report and finish Month 1 of Your Great Dental Practice Comeback (or to kick it off for those who’ve been forced to remain on the sidelines)…
It’s time to outline what you want to change, improve, and implement in next 30 Days. What makes your practice closer to perfect by July and then really challenge yourself with the question ‘by January?’
Your time is now. You can literally accelerate years worth of progress and achievement towards your state of idea in a matter of months. If one decision can change your life, your commitment here can put you in a realm of fulfillment most can’t even dream about let alone achieve.
Believe this and then live it. There is more leverage available than ever before in Dentistry and you have the opportunity to take complete control. You can do it, I know you can.
Your greatest challenge is not AROUND you – it is INSIDE you. You have to have some greater expectations for yourself and a more ambitious vision for your life overall, not just your practice. I ask you…
What have you denied yourself, your team, your patients, your family that you are not going to deny any longer?
What are you waiting for that you really desire to speed up?
What will bring you to your state of ideal – TODAY?
Then it’s just a matter of keeping you right there, in your sweet spot of purpose, passion, and profits. We’ll pick up here next week.
Now, go out and make the most of this opportunity. The saying is so very true: where there is a will, there is always a way. You bring your will and I’ll show you the way.
