Are you ready?
Probably the most debilitating lie ever told in the great industry of dentistry and one that creates a cycle of disbelief in the minds of even the greatest clinicians…
This is the premise for which not only dentistry is founded but every subculture, niche specialty, segmented genre of focus and all other things in our lives that our industry revolves around.
Okay, hold on to your egos, but great practices are made by humble though extremely confident doctors.
It has always been said that all you need is…
More education.
More courses.
More certificates.
More procedures.
More letters behind your name.
More credits than the next guy or girl.
It has always been drilled into your mind that the ‘smartest’ clinician wins.
The most experienced clinical doctor prevails.
Of course, the BEST dentist gets all the patients, money and glory.
And then, reality happen.
The fact is education does matter. You must keep learning. As we say, the largest room in the world is the room for improvement.
Those who are constant and never ending students are the ones how put themselves in a position to win – but that’s not enough – not now not ever. It’s not half the battle, it’s barely a fraction of the battle.
The most successful dentists in terms of lifestyle, fulfillment, financial independence, clinical invigoration and all other definitions of success do not always have the most education. In fact, they are usually too busy doing dentistry to be continuing education junkie’s.
These most successful have…
The best teams
The best systems
The best follow-through
The best profit
The best focus
The best messaging and patient education
… and of course they have without question…
The best businesses
I often tell rooms full of dentists that there is no doubt that dentists are more over educated clinically and under educated in how to actually apply (in a profitable way), their clinical skills to build a successful practice.
Educate all you want but understand balance is key and being well rounded is essential.
Our industry feeds your crazy obsession with learning because that is how it makes money. Always remember: you won’t be judged by the certificates on your wall and you can’t go to the bank to withdraw the cash value of the CE credits you’ve earned. You will only be rewarded to the degree in which you and your practice actually helped patients.
In other words, how you applied, implemented and brought to life your skills and education.
Be hungry to learn but be hungrier to apply and get results. Be open to new ideas and procedures but be focused on what you are best at and what you love. Be curious but be confident.
The best dentists are always those with the most well defined practice identity and clinical philosophy so that every part of everything they do is designed to fulfill those two missions.
Here’s your simple homework for this week:
Make sure you are investing as much time on your patients’ education, your team’s education and your business education as you are on your own personal clinical education.
And remember, it’s not hard to get on an airplane and sit in a room for a few days and hang up another certificate. No one is counting your credits except the industry cash register. You have to trust me (as you are reading this from a person who is more voracious at learning than probably anyone you know), the glory goes to the doctors who does not just want to learn but wants to do.
There are after all a lot of ‘poor’ dentists who are ‘good’ dentists (more of these than the other), who have all the knowledge that could have led to a successful career… you don’t want to be one.
