Stop. Don’t move. Clear your head. Stop looking for the greener grass in your email and start taking a few moments every day to reflect on what’s led you to where you are today, right now. For better or worse, for growth or stagnation, you are farther ahead than most Dentists. I know that, else you wouldn’t be receiving this from me.
Still, you can be better, you should be, and you want to be. Good for you.
But it’s not going to happen by constantly trying to search for something else. It’s going to come from figuring out what you want and taking decisive action towards achieving more of what you want – instead of what other people tell you to want.
Let me ask you something…
When is the last time you took a walk or sat down to really think about and remember what motivated you to become a dentist?
When is the last time you spent time remembering your original vision and inspiration for your Dental Practice?
How have those things changed over time? What’s new and different in your mind?
If you could describe and identify anything you’d like to do better, or have more of, or to change or make different – what would it be?
I think most Dentists get caught up in living in their practice like a job or at the very best like a self-employed business person; instead of a practice owner and entrepreneur who ultimately is 100% completely responsible for the career you have, the income you are making, the patients you’ve acquired and team you’ve built.
You might want to read that paragraph again; if you’re willing to be honest with yourself.
There are only tow possible outcomes: either you’ve settled or you’re still striving.
Settling is showing up, going home and just taking what you get out of the mouths of your patients, out of the performance of your team.
Striving is being prepared, developing people, cultivating patients, complete treatment planning, engaging people in your diagnosis, taking time to care about the person and ensuring that your team is following through to completely execute their responsibilities.
I know you get tired of hearing this, but all I have ever promised is the truth and what you need to hear – not what you want to hear.
It’s very simple: if you aren’t excited to wake up, walk in, and get to work everyday doing what you do, then you can be certain of three things…
1. There’s a problem because it’s not suppose to be that way; not in any business but definitely not in a professional dental practice
2. Your team will always under perform your level of focus, ambition, effort, and initiative; naturally it’s not their business…let’s be real, not unreasonable, it’s your responsibility to set the tone and lead by example
3. Your patients already aren’t excited about dentistry, so if you aren’t excited either then you are going to have a real up hill battle; when you become complacent or compromise because a lack of passion for what you are doing, your patients aren’t going to follow through with anything of worthwhile value or impact when it comes to their treatment plans
If you want to do something to help yourself (before you look for another course or piece of equipment or other bright shiny object – and especially before you read another email – including mine), just STOP everything you are doing and take today to reflect on what you really want.
Completely.
Comprehensively.
Clearly and concisely.
And then convey that to yourself in the form of some written statement, like a vision statement into the future of what you want your practice to look like, feel like, be like, earn like, run like, practice dentistry like.
How do you want Patients to experience you, your team, your dentistry, your practice? How do you want your team to operate and perform day in and day out? How do you expect yourself to perform, practice dentistry, manage and lead the team? How do you want your patients to perform and follow-through and be responsible for their own health?
All of these questions matter. And you should, no you must, be able to articulate your vision before it will ever be possible or actually become reality.
The good news is – this should be fun, in fact more fun and exciting than anything else you could be doing. This statement will be your guide to make a smart, strategic, and productive decision about courses to take, team members to recruit and/or develop and/or let go of, the type of dentistry you want to do, your standard for care and what you will or won’t accept from your patients.
It will also tell you the value of your days and the type of procedures you want to pursue going forward with your career.
Now that you’ve done that about your Practice, you should challenge yourself and repeat the same activity for the rest of your life…and maybe that should have come first, it really depends on how much balance and structure you have in place right now and how far along you are on your goals, objectives, health, financial, other pursuits, hobbies, endeavors, interests, etc.
Self-reflection is not overrated.
Living by coincidence, happenstance and reactive afterthoughts is a sure predictor that you’ll be on the losing end throughout your life and to live in a constant state of disappointment.
Only thinking through things and mapping out the vision you have for what’s next, what you want to happen, what you will be inspired by in order to willingly and enthusiastically give it your all.
Some Dentists just aren’t cut out to be in charge or even worthy of owning their own practice – you are here, so I have no doubt that you deserve and are capable of great things. Just know it does come with responsibility. The degree that you take ownership of your vision for yourself, your patients, and your team seriously is going to be in direct correlation of how likely you are to achieve your stated goals and how great your success and potential can ultimately (and actually) be!
