How would you describe your \u201cwork life balance\u201d?<\/p>\n
Interesting question, isn\u2019t it. \u00a0Because you can\u2019t just lay it out and say, \u201cI work these hours in the office, I have these days off and these weeks vacation, which means I have balance.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the other hand, you can\u2019t really quantify balance. \u00a0That\u2019s not the balance we are talking about. \u00a0It goes beyond a math formula.<\/p>\n
The biggest fallacy of having balance in your life is that a lot of it depends how much you enjoy what you are doing and if what you are working towards is something that drives, motivates and compels you to want to keep doing it.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s very simple, if you are in pursuit of something worthy (and it is YOUR goal, ambition, or objective), then \u201cbalance\u201d has an entirely different meaning.<\/p>\n
If you are loving what you are doing, as the saying goes, you\u2019ll never work a day in your life. \u00a0But really that\u2019s a load of you know what too because to get to a point of really loving something \u2013 in and of itself \u2013 takes work, a lot of work, grueling work and at some point probably you really didn\u2019t love it at all.<\/p>\n
This, to me, is really where \u201clifestyle\u201d begins.<\/p>\n
The reason you are working plus the work you are doing. \u00a0Those two elements aligned in such a way that you wouldn\u2019t want to be doing anything else while achieving your desired goals. \u00a0If you have those to two things perfectly set-up for yourself then you can now actually consider having balance.<\/p>\n
I hear all of the time from Doctors who don\u2019t believe significant growth is possible because they are already busy, already tired, already \u201cdoing so much\u201d and yet they want to improve, they want more (as in money, profit, autonomy and time). \u00a0The problem is, they believe the only way to get there is \u201cmore of the same\u201d when in fact that\u2019s the opposite of what is required.<\/p>\n
We know what \u201cmore of the same\u201d gets you. \u00a0Now, you still must continually repeat proven principles, daily focuses, business fundamentals and clinical disciplines \u2013 but MORE of the same work on the same level you are doing it now, you will quickly run out of time and energy to make anything greater actually happen. \u00a0And that\u2019s when you get out of balance.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, the Doctor is willing to do whatever it takes but they are concerned that the team will complain and be overwhelmed with \u201cmore\u201d because once again they are already busy, every minute is used up and there is stress as it is.<\/p>\n
Again, this is very small-minded thinking focused on gradual, linear increases.<\/p>\n
Improving and achieving something greater is about replacing existing actions with better and higher-level actions. \u00a0That means swapping out inefficiencies for more effective execution \u2013 it\u2019s about elevating your game.<\/p>\n
If you look at the recent Super Bowl \u2013 on the outside looking in \u2013 it appears every team is doing the same thing. \u00a0A football team playing football. \u00a0And you would be deadly wrong. \u00a0If everyone is doing essentially the same thing, then how can one team win far more often?<\/p>\n
In fact, that exact thinking is what throws someone completely out of balance. \u00a0They chase new outcomes by doing increasingly more of the same flawed tactics.<\/p>\n
For Doctors who want to achieve a true lifestyle practice, the first thing they have to understand is that looks, sounds, feels completely different for every single doctor. \u00a0And that is the point.<\/p>\n
You must go back to what are you trying to achieve and then define the \u2018how\u2019 that puts you in perfect alignment so that it isn\u2019t drudgery and you are able to thrive at what you are doing.<\/p>\n
Most doctors never even allow themselves to question the what and why and how let alone actually giving themselves permission to do it in their own way, on their own terms, in their own style.<\/p>\n
Most doctors have nothing more than a job. \u00a0A practice that owns them. \u00a0They just hope to get some money from the leftovers at the end of the month. \u00a0They are still working to pay the bills rather than actually running a business that is going to work for them.<\/p>\n
Now, that doesn\u2019t mean these doctors aren\u2019t making two, three, four, five, six, seven even eight hundred thousand dollars a year of income. \u00a0It does means they aren\u2019t having a very good time while doing it. \u00a0They are probably working so hard to make it happen that they can hardly enjoy the lifestyle and prosperity that the practice provides.<\/p>\n
So, what do these type of doctors do? \u00a0More of the same. \u00a0Grind it out. \u00a0Or worse than that, they go looking for every possible quick fix, easy button, magic bullet, simple solution to a complex problem and try to patchwork their business together to get through another month.<\/p>\n
This is what leads to having no \u2018work life balance\u2019 because your business and practice have no balance, no autonomy, no consistency, and no reliable results that you can count on.<\/p>\n
Not a good place to be in. \u00a0Which is why so many doctors suffer the fate of taking the practice home with them every night mentally, emotionally and sometimes even physically with charts and notes or journals and books or bills. \u00a0Then eventually the worse thing happens\u2026 it becomes a part of every conversation and there begins to be no separation from work and life.<\/p>\n
Today, I ask you a couple very profound questions and they are the overriding themes of my newest book Lifestyle Dental Practice<\/strong>\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n WHERE is this vehicle called dentistry taking you?<\/p>\n WHAT is your practice as a business delivering to you?<\/p>\n Is it what you want?<\/p>\n Is it as much as you deserve?<\/p>\n Is it enjoyable along the way?<\/p>\n And, perhaps one of my very favorite questions of all time, when it comes to your Lifestyle Dental Practice: What would you change, make better, and do differently?<\/p>\n Your journey into making the answer to that question a reality in your life and practice begins inside of my new book Lifestyle Dental Practice.<\/p>\n Next week, I\u2019ll share some strategies and structure around this whole \u201cbalance\u201d thing, but first you should start exploring and really challenging yourself. \u00a0Is there \u2018more\u2019 you want? \u00a0There is certainly \u2018more\u2019 possible!<\/p>\n Your Lifestyle Dental Practice will deliver the balance you deserve, which is essential for the level of success you aspire to. \u00a0The question is will you take the leap and begin the expedition necessary to bring it to life…<\/p>\n