Stop. Don\u2019t 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\u2019s 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\u2019t be receiving this from me.<\/p>\n
Still, you can be better, you should be, and you want to be. Good for you.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not going to happen by constantly trying to search for something else. It\u2019s going to come from figuring out what you want and taking decisive action towards achieving more of what you want \u2013 instead of what other people tell you to want.<\/p>\n
Let me ask you something\u2026<\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
When is the last time you spent time remembering your original vision and inspiration for your Dental Practice?<\/p>\n
How have those things changed over time? What\u2019s new and different in your mind?<\/p>\n
If you could describe and identify anything you\u2019d like to do better, or have more of, or to change or make different \u2013 what would it be?
\nI 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\u2019ve acquired and team you\u2019ve built.<\/p>\n
You might want to read that paragraph again; if you\u2019re willing to be honest with yourself.<\/p>\n
There are only tow possible outcomes: either you\u2019ve settled or you\u2019re still striving.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s very simple: if you aren\u2019t excited to wake up, walk in, and get to work everyday doing what you do, then you can be certain of three things\u2026<\/p>\n
1. There\u2019s a problem because it\u2019s not suppose to be that way; not in any business but definitely not in a professional dental practice<\/p>\n
2. Your team will always under perform your level of focus, ambition, effort, and initiative; naturally it\u2019s not their business\u2026let\u2019s be real, not unreasonable, it\u2019s your responsibility to set the tone and lead by example<\/p>\n
3. Your patients already aren\u2019t excited about dentistry, so if you aren\u2019t 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\u2019t going to follow through with anything of worthwhile value or impact when it comes to their treatment plans<\/p>\n
If you want to do something to help yourself (before you look for another course or piece of equipment or other bright shiny object \u2013 and especially before you read another email \u2013 including mine), just STOP everything you are doing and take today to reflect on what you really want.<\/p>\n
Completely.
\nComprehensively.
\nClearly and concisely.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The good news is \u2013 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\u2019t accept from your patients.<\/p>\n
It will also tell you the value of your days and the type of procedures you want to pursue going forward with your career.<\/p>\n
Now that you\u2019ve done that about your Practice, you should challenge yourself and repeat the same activity for the rest of your life\u2026and 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.<\/p>\n
Self-reflection is not overrated.<\/p>\n
Living by coincidence, happenstance and reactive afterthoughts is a sure predictor that you\u2019ll be on the losing end throughout your life and to live in a constant state of disappointment.<\/p>\n
Only thinking through things and mapping out the vision you have for what\u2019s next, what you want to happen, what you will be inspired by in order to willingly and enthusiastically give it your all.<\/p>\n
Some Dentists just aren\u2019t cut out to be in charge or even worthy of owning their own practice \u2013 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!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"