Here’s something you need to know: the greatest threat you’ll ever face is also the one you have the most control over. And it’s not coming from outside your practice or from industry changes.
No, the greatest threat is internal – it’s the one that lives inside you.
It comes in the form of self-sabotage, self-doubt, and a lack of self-confidence. The feelings that creep in and make you question your worth, your decisions, and your ability to succeed.
But here’s the best news of the day: you have complete control over it. These threats aren’t external forces – they’re within your power to overcome, transform, and turn into triumphs.
The Power of Guilt-Free Success
Most doctors fall into the trap of feeling guilty about their success, as if somehow achieving more takes something away from others. But success and service go hand in hand. The greater your achievements, the more value you’re delivering to the lives of others. The more you help your patients achieve their goals, the more you’ll achieve yours.
And there’s no guilt in that – only pride in knowing you’re giving your best.
As the great Zig Ziglar said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”
I would add to that: help others get what they deserve, and you’ll get what you deserve. When you give yourself permission to succeed, you open the door to limitless opportunities, not just for yourself, but for your patients, your team, and your family.
The external threats (whether it’s industry competition, insurance pressures, or economic conditions) are harmless as long as you keep control of the threats inside. Those internal battles of doubt and uncertainty are what truly dictate whether you’re winning or losing.
It’s all about mastering the inner game.
Success is a Daily Workout
Think about success the same way you think about physical fitness. Just because you worked out yesterday doesn’t mean you’re done. Success is like fitness… the more you achieve, the more you need to keep striving for the next level.
You can’t coast on yesterday’s victories. You’re either moving forward or you’re falling behind.
The mindset of constant improvement is a crucial one.
The most successful doctors never stop aiming higher. They don’t settle for “good enough.” They understand that complacency is just another form of self-sabotage. As an entrepreneur, a business owner, and a private practice dentist, your responsibility is to keep improving – not just your practice, but yourself. This responsibility should be the place where you find the most fun, the most freedom, and the most fulfillment.
Your practice and your life are direct reflections of your vision, your perception, and what you tolerate. What you tolerate, you give permission to.
So, set a higher standard for yourself and don’t accept anything less. This isn’t just about practice growth – it’s about personal growth. The more you invest in yourself, the more you can give to others and the more success you’ll create.
Here’s the secret to overcoming every threat: master the art of the EVERY DAY.
Stop thinking in terms of good days and bad days, good months and bad months. Success doesn’t come in waves – it comes from consistency. If you can create consistency in your day-to-day actions, all the threats, all the challenges will dissipate.
The reality is that success isn’t built on big wins that happen once in a while. It’s built on the small, everyday victories that add up over time.
What does this look like in your practice?
It’s making sure that every day is an opportunity to improve, not just to coast.
It’s setting the standard for your team, your systems, and your own mindset.
Consistency means delivering high-quality care, day in and day out. It means showing up with energy, focus, and a clear sense of purpose – not just on the good days, but on every day.
When you master the art of the everyday, you’re building a success system that will never fail you. And the key to that system? Never fail yourself. When you commit to showing up every day and performing at your best, you eliminate the threats that hold you back and create a foundation for long-term success.
The Key To Daily Victories: Time
To win day in and day out, you must understand the value of time. Not all time is created equal. There’s a hierarchy when it comes to the value of your time:
– Clinical days are worth the least. These are the days where you’re in the trenches, doing the work of dentistry. You’re trading hours for dollars.
– Business days are worth more. These are the days when you’re working on your practice, not just in it – you are building systems, developing strategies, and driving growth.
– But the most valuable time of all? Personal days.
Why? Because the time you invest in yourself, in improving your mindset, your skills, and your vision. This is the X factor that multiplies everything else.
Build a better owner and you’ll build a better practice.
And when you build a better practice, you’ll build a better life.
If you’re not investing in yourself, you’re leaving the greatest source of leverage untapped. When you take the time to improve your mindset, set your vision, and work on your personal growth, you’ll find that the challenges and threats you face in your practice become smaller and more manageable. Personal growth amplifies everything else.
Start by turning your greatest threats into triumphs.
It’s about mastering your inner game by removing the self-doubt, self-sabotage, and low self-worth that hold you back. When you master these internal threats, the external ones don’t stand a chance.
Your practice, your profit, your freedom – they all start with you. And when you commit to mastering the every day, building consistency, and valuing your time the right way, you’ll not only transform your practice, but you’ll transform your life.
This is your time to take control and turn every threat into a stepping stone for greater success.
Respectfully,
Scott J. Manning, MBA