Are you ready?<\/p>\n
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\u2026<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Okay, hold on to your egos, but great practices are made by humble though extremely confident doctors.<\/p>\n
It has always been said that all you need is\u2026<\/p>\n
More education.<\/p>\n
More courses.<\/p>\n
More certificates.<\/p>\n
More procedures.<\/p>\n
More letters behind your name.<\/p>\n
More credits than the next guy or girl.<\/p>\n
It has always been drilled into your mind that the \u2018smartest\u2019 clinician wins.<\/p>\n
The most experienced clinical doctor prevails.<\/p>\n
Of course, the BEST dentist gets all the patients, money and glory.<\/p>\n
And then, reality happen.<\/p>\n
The fact is education does matter.\u00a0 You must keep learning.\u00a0 As we say, the largest room in the world is the room for improvement.<\/p>\n
Those who are constant and never ending students are the ones how put themselves in a position to win \u2013 but that\u2019s not enough \u2013 not now not ever. \u00a0It\u2019s not half the battle, it\u2019s barely a fraction of the battle.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 In fact, they are usually too busy doing dentistry to be continuing education junkie\u2019s.<\/p>\n
These most successful have\u2026<\/p>\n
The best teams<\/p>\n
The best systems<\/p>\n
The best follow-through<\/p>\n
The best profit<\/p>\n
The best focus<\/p>\n
The best messaging and patient education<\/p>\n
\u2026 and of course they have without question\u2026<\/p>\n
The best businesses<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Educate all you want but understand balance is key and being well rounded is essential.<\/p>\n
Our industry feeds your crazy obsession with learning because that is how it makes money.\u00a0 Always remember: you won\u2019t be judged by the certificates on your wall and you can\u2019t go to the bank to withdraw the cash value of the CE credits you\u2019ve earned.\u00a0 You will only be rewarded to the degree in which you and your practice actually helped patients.<\/p>\n
In other words, how you applied, implemented and brought to life your skills and education.<\/p>\n
Be hungry to learn but be hungrier to apply and get results.\u00a0 Be open to new ideas and procedures but be focused on what you are best at and what you love.\u00a0 Be curious but be confident.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s your simple homework for this week:<\/p>\n
Make sure you are investing as much time on your patients\u2019 education, your team\u2019s education and your business education as you are on your own personal clinical education.<\/p>\n
And remember, it\u2019s not hard to get on an airplane and sit in a room for a few days and hang up another certificate.\u00a0 No one is counting your credits except the industry cash register.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
There are after all a lot of \u2018poor\u2019 dentists who are \u2018good\u2019 dentists (more of these than the other), who have all the knowledge that could have led to a successful career\u2026 you don\u2019t want to be one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"