“Teeth are always in style”.

This quote by Dr Seuss was recently published in the US News Top 100 Jobs, where dentistry was voted as the #1 job for 2013.

Now, more than anytime in history, dentists have an opportunity to build on relationships, by using social media.

Social media has revolutionized the way small businesses interact with customers, and dental practices are no exception.

The biggest benefits of using social media as part of your strategy to boost your online presence are:

• Boost in your website traffic (your online “home base”)
• Ability to stand out and showcase your personality (making you more likeable)
• Ability to be more visible–and found–locally, where your patients are

To take advantage of these (and more) proven benefits, let me bust some myths that still hang in a murky haze over dentistry:

Relationships are critical to happiness in our personal life, and business–our business–is no different, working in health care and with people. And successful businesses are built on relationships.

This is where social media comes in–as part of customer service, branding, reputation building and marketing–none of which work long term without relationships.

Anything that builds relationships enables a return on your investment of time and energy. In terms of money, social media is cheap!

If you believe in the power of relationship, and realize a good one takes time to build, then think of your Yellow Page ad as a one night stand and social media as a marriage.

But, you already know how to build relationships. You do it (i.e. make time for it) every single day in your practice with your patients. Social media just takes it online, and allows you to stay in each others’ thoughts. For me, social media is a creative avenue to connect with patients, it adds variety to my day and it’s fun.

If you need more help with social media, join the Bizzy Tooth Mommy community to help you work on it.

As dentists and practice owners, there are essentially three hats we wear:

• clinician –> works IN the business (does the dentistry)

• manager –> keeps things running smoothly (supervises the team, makes sure business tasks are getting done)

• entrepreneur –> works ON the business (“CEO”, vision, purpose)

The only thing is, most of us went to school for only one of those hats.

Even with the best of teams, trying to do it all by yourself will not only overwhelm you, it can lead to burn out.  Typically, clinical duties get accomplished daily, and managerial duties for the most part. It’s the last hat that we often neglect, but its critical because it is the foundation for any businesses’ long term success.

Which is why having systems is important.

Looking Into Systems

What is a system? “A set of detailed methods, procedures and routines created to carry out a specific activity perform a duty or solve a problem.”

Some you already have, like your practice management software, the new patient protocol, booking hygiene recall, etc.

But beyond the directly patient-related, the long list of all your other responsibilities can get pretty ugly.

So what do you do?

Stepping Into Systems

You may not be ready (need/want to) hire another employee, but putting in systems can be your next best option.

Here are four steps to tackle the overwhelm of the other “stuff” that lands in your plate:

1. Realize there is a problem

Not doing so will only hurt your practice over the long run. Fortunately for me, I can see problems a little too easily.

2. Focus on priorities

Let’s face it. Some things are priorities, some are just urgent. Don’t say ‘yes’ to everything (yes, I did this for a looooong time).

Not every call/email from a product rep/new lab/new whatever needs your immediate attention. You can say no, or defer till later.

3. Delegate

I’ll bet you good money there are at least a few tasks you could be delegating to another team member who can get them done, and in a shorter time frame. Women (including me) can have a hard time with this (“I can do it myself”), but the trade off is longer hours and more stress. I’ve had to work on this, but I’m making headway.

Another option is to automate when appropriate: patient notes, bill payment, etc.

4. Schedule

If it doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t get done. If you follow Steps 1 to 3, they should open up time, and more importantly, energy, for wearing your business hats.

You can block off or schedule time weekly, monthly or quarterly to get things done, whatever works for you. I’m not a fan of too much scheduling, so monthly or quarterly–and a bigger time chunk–works for me. It took time to get used to, but the alternative was all my paperwork going willy nilly.

Changing The System

Change can and will happen. The good news is that you can adapt as you go along. You may lose a team member. Hire an associate. Cut back on your patient hours. Get pregnant. In any situation, good communication with your team is essential.

Systems, when used properly, can reduces stress and save time. Best of all, they can be modified over time as your needs and wants change.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or just looking to be more OCD, try them out. Be careful though….your team may end up with a boss that’s less grumpy, and you may find yourself leaving the office earlier.

However good your systems are, keep in mind that people come first, systems second.

But good systems can help keep those people first, and you and all your three hats happy-er.

Do you use systems or live in the moment? What has worked for you?

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Hard work.

Follow the plan.

Due diligence.

As business owners, this is the mantra we often live by.

But business (or life) success is not predictable. Or linear. There are a lot of squiggles in between. Two plus two equals four every time but a crossed to-do list, though gratifying, does not lead to the gold at the end of the rainbow.

Going Big Time

Let’s get macro for a second, since we spend much of our career doing the opposite.

You work in the business. And periodically, make time to work ON it. Great.

However, there needs to be room for the consideration of something more.

Between the to-do and the to-done lists, are you making time for an ‘I wish’ list? A ‘wouldn’t it be great if….’ list?

I don’t know about you, but success from numbers alone just doesn’t cut it for me. It needs to get me jazzed up, punch my fists in the air, smile goofily inside and out. I’ll take a wild guess you might want some of that too?

Which is why your intention matters. Where your heart is. When your dreams grow.

Becoming Power-Full

There are powers that be–the universe, luck, the stars aligning, (your) God or sheer force of intensely good juju–that play a part in the whole of doing the hard work, following the plan, doing your due diligence.

Happy coincidence. Serendipitous opportunity. Miraculous win.

All non linear, non-predictable.

But totally possible.

We can never predict from where and when the next (unexpected) opportunity will come knocking at our door. But we can always be ready to welcome it.

When times are tough or when stress is tight, breathe in deeply into the possibility of tiny miracles before you exhale to set to work. You never know what corner of the universe will be of significance, and hold your hand while you figure it out and take your life to the next level.

Have you had success after making a wish list? Let us know in the comments.

Wow. That’s my word for my experience at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2013.

You may be wondering…what is a dentist doing at a tech/media/music/film event?

No, it was not because SXSW is held in Austin, Texas with its multitude of bars and party events (I did, however, make time to “scan” the scene).

This dentist went to experience something totally new, and I’m glad to say that stepping into the unknown paid off.

My focus was on business and social media , although I would’ve checked out films and heard some bands play if I’d had more time. All the same, I saw some big names, heard their business advice as well as personal experiences, and the chops they used to get through tough times on their way to defying tradition and following their dreams.

Aside from the talking sessions, there was also a trade show (like dental conferences) with companies displaying their latest app, technology or gadget. I have to say they were a lot more generous than any dental conference I’ve been to! I scored some really cool swag and they were not stingy with samples or attention (unlike some dental conferences).

The most impressive part of the experience was how incredibly inspirational it was. The creative energy, both from the idea exchange and the eclectic mix of people….it truly was something I had never experienced before.

And that was exactly the point, to have a different experience, and see entrepreneurship and business from a different perspective.

Some of the speakers I saw:

• Guy Kawasaki (author of Enchanted) who interviewed a senior VP at Google,
• graphic design artist Tina Roth Eisenberg (aka swissmiss) who shared lessons from her journey to success,
• Tim Ferris (author of The 4 Hour Workweek) talked about how to learn anything, and
• Scott Stratten (author of Unmarketing)…well, he talked about social media but was mostly just hilarious.

I missed seeing Elon Musk and Al Gore (but hope to catch the recordings of their speeches) and any of the celebrities. Next time!

Here is a recap of some of the most memorable take-aways:

1. Whether it be technology, yoga, marketing or dentistry–business, or rather life, is all about relationships.

2. Building trust takes time, but trust is how you do good business.

3. Focus on your customers. Start everything with “what do you want people to say?”.

4. If you’re stuck, ask different questions, like, what if I did the opposite?

5. Simplify.

6. Comprehension comes from connecting the dots.

7. Remember: we are all here to improve each others lives.

8. If an opportunity scares you, take it.

9. People want businesses to have transparent and honest practices (put yourself in a buyer’s shoes)

10. Your network is your net worth (again, it’s all about relationships!)

11. Don’t complain. Make it better.

12. Do what you love, and do it with enthusiasm.

13. Follow your heart.

These words, distilling the wisdom gained by conquering real-life challenges, cannot help but inspire you to go forth and act on them, and create a life–and business–you love.

I cannot believe I was so late in discovering this wonderful event. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend checking out SXSW!

Thoughts? Have you had an experience that was so incredibly inspiring? Share in the comments.

Have you ever delayed letting go of an employee who wasn’t being part of the team?

Debated on whether you should go work out or not? 

Avoided sorting through all the stuff piled up on your desk?

I have.

The reason?

No motivation, fear of failure, thinking it’s too hard…you name it, I’ve used it.

In the midst of struggles, I always find myself interested to see how others accomplish goals, or handle challenges in general.

Some do it with ease and take it in stride. Some summon their grit and attack.

Many, however, get super cautious, think and think on the ifs, ands or buts…think some more, till it all feels like too much work, then choose the path of least effort, and do nothing.

The Path of Least Effort

Ironically, avoidance–the path of least effort–is hard work too.

The time we spend not taking action to avoid something because it’s too hard is wasted time. And it drains energy. Think of all the time you spend fretting, overly weighing pros/cons, worrying (esp women, we are queens of worrying) and fussing. It sounds exhausting just typing this.

With all that fuss, you build up an inner resistance and over time, you feel stuck. The longer you stay stuck, the worse it feels when you watch people pass you by, achieving their goals.

You end up using greater effort fighting resistance….greater than if you had just done the work of whatever it is you were avoiding in the first place.

And the worst part is, at the end of the day, you (or I) have nothing meaningful to show for it.

That is not a good situation to be in. It becomes a negative loop.

Nevertheless, it’s a loop that can be broken.

The Path of Hard Work

You start with the mindset. Yes, it may be a lot of work. Yes, it may be difficult. But consider the alternative. To me, that seems worse.

That employee that’s not fitting in…they’re bringing down morale, creating negative energy within the rest of the team, and costing you money and in many cases, patients. Time to set them, and you, free.

If your stress level goes up a notch every time you see your cluttered desk, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Two words: Re. Organize.

Every time you skip your work out, regret is sure to follow, and it’s a lost opportunity for getting in shape or staying healthy. Is the answer ever yes? Mostly, no.

If you focus only on how difficult something is, you can stay in ‘I’m thinking about it’ mode (aka analysis paralysis) for a long time. And although it seems easier to avoid it by doing nothing, the fact is it becomes harder as you build up more and more resistance.

By meeting challenges, i.e., by making a decision and actually taking action, you feel a sense of accomplishment. Your confidence rises. You convert negative energy into positive, get in your flow, which gives you momentum to keep going. The resistance drops, and you feel lighter, happier.

Thus, the path of hard work–taking action– becomes the path of least effort in the long run, helping you get much closer to accomplishing your goals.

Most of us can do easy things and not give it a second thought.

But when we put in hard work and come out on the other side of conquering a challenge that we were afraid of or intimidated by, the reward is so much greater. We can see what we are truly capable of, which is a lot more than we thought.

It’s not the challenge, but how we respond to it, that’s what helps shape us into who we are, makes us more resilient, and gives us courage to tackle the next challenge.

And for sure, there will be another.

How about you? Which path have you found to be better–least effort or that of hard work?

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This is #13 in the series 17 Ways to Grow As A Dentist. Missed the beginning? No problem……start here.

Shake Things Up :: Remarkably Simple Ways to Have Meaningful Work Days 

It’s tempting to think a complete career overhaul is the way to feel happier at work. A grand, sweeping, wiping-the-slate-clean, about-face new start. Sounds………freeing, doesn’t it? Aahhhhh!

True, you have to reflect on what direction your career is going (a regular check-in is necessary, I think). And the temptation for that overhaul is highest when you feel stuck or unhappy.

But here’s the thing. There’s no guarantee that a different career, or even a different job will magic away all your troubles (ask me how I know).

I mean, you’re still you. Whatever your circumstances, there’s always the part that’s under your control. If that’s the part you need to work on, well, you’re gonna take that to the next place. The last thing you want is to throw in the towel, and end up right back where you were. Just more frustrated.

So where do you start?

The best place to start is right here, right now. The day to day.

What usually happens: go to work, see patients, deal with stuff, go home.

What you can do: Start each day with intention, make it more meaningful, interesting.

If things gets better, you win. If they don’t, you haven’t lost anything. There’s almost zero risk.

The truth is, changing a just few things, even small ones, can help make better days. You can do this at any time, but you have to step out of the imaginary box you’ve built around yourself.

Some things need to be let go, others let in. A shift here, a tweak there. Start with simple, and an open mind.

Finding a way

If you’re not digging the fact that each day feels  just like the one before, begin by adding a regular dose of variety:

• It can be as simple as taking a new way to work, or wearing an outfit that you feel good in rather than just throwing something on.

• Early risers, meditate (if only for 5 min) in the morning, or write down, with intention, how you want your day to go. Getting into a good mood before you get to the office can set the tone for your practice for that day. And the next. If you’re a night owl, try this right before you go to bed.

• Do you eat lunch out every day? Brown bag it, and put your feet up. Brown bag it every day? Step out for a change.

• Catch a team member by surprise, and take a moment to sincerely thank them for something they did well recently. ‘Great job’ is great, but really telling them why and giving kudos is, well, awesome.

• Surprise your whole team with Starbucks, or offer to buy lunch out of the blue. It doesn’t have to be every day, but every now and then, it can be a nice treat. Alternatively, pick up a treat or snacks when you hit the grocery store, ready for them to graze on.

This is a short list.

There are a million ways to do this. But you can start with just ONE.

It’s so easy to wait on big changes to miraculously change your life. I’ve spent quite some time waiting, till I realized I had to take charge. Not to say they don’t sometimes. 

But in between, doing your part, doing the little things can brighten up your day, make it meaningful, and it doesn’t seem like such a big effort. That’s where many of us get hung up.

Make it easy. Try new things. Shake things up.

Have you tried, or found, ways to have more meaningful days at work?

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When you’re a bizzy practice owner, integrating social media can be stressful and time consuming…two things you don’t want on your list.

And if you’re a smart bizzy practice owner, you realize that despite those things, you need social media.

I happen to enjoy using and learning about it, but even so the list is long and getting longer. How does one keep up on a regular basis, when time is limited, and it changes every few days (or so it seems)?

What I’ve done is I’ve tried to make it simple. I’ve stuck to what I’m familiar with–blogging, Facebook, Twitter– and explore other platforms when I have time. The fun part for me is experimenting….not just for personal stuff, but for my practice as well.

What’s In It For You

Many dentists, if considering any kind of social media investment, prefer to know what kind of well-defined ROI (new patients) to expect. Initially, I focused on that too, with an eagle eye on getting fans, likes, blog subscribers, etc. But not recently.

Don’t get me wrong, I still look, but not as much. Instead, I’ve been focusing  on what I can do better to get the fans, likes, subscribers, etc. Which is, what should I be putting out there that people will like, find useful and engaging.

You may be giving me the “so what” look, but what this is is a long term deal. The catch phrase is building relationships, and it’s true, just like it is in your practice.

Having an online presence these days is not an option, it’s a necessity. Not having one is like getting caught with your pants down. And a website, even a great one, is only part of the gig. 

If you want Google love–i. e. letting people know you exist–you have to weave your own “web” on the web (sounds weird, I know). An increasingly big part of that web is using social media.

Although a new-er tool, the principles are still kinda old school. No getting to first or second base on the first date (well, not unless you get lucky ). There is actual courtship here, a building of trust, and a solid presence that shows you’re sticking around for a while.

Too much too fast has never sat well with me. As much as I would like to be “liked” by a large fan base, there is a certain comfort in growing slowly and surely. This gives me the opportunity to learn and adjust as I go.

What’s Working, Now

I did want to share what’s been happening recently for my practice. It may change tomorrow, but today is what we have to work with.

—Frequency: I’ve cut back to 1-2x/week on Facebook, and it’s working. No more stressing to find content to share every day. And posting 5-6 times a day (in my opinion) is a bit much.

—Engagement: It’s up! I’ve gone from zero likes to 7-10 (avg), plus comments, by getting clearer on understanding what engages my audience. Meaning they’ll see it in their feed, like and/or comment. Blog links still get ignored like the middle child but I like to write, so I do it anyway. It helps SEO but mostly, the blog is a resource for those who need it.

—Email: Email matters. It’s the most personal medium, and one that more people have, even if they’re not on Facebook or Twitter. It’s great for anywhere from monthly newsletters, weather closings and seasonal specials to office announcements or appointment reminders.

Of course, this is what’s been working for me. It may be different for you. Some practices rock Facebook, others tweet to get same day openings filled. I still have some patients who want a physical reminder, like a post card, for their next appointment.

And ROI?

Here’s how I look at it. If I give every person on my website or social media channel a positive experience (and heck, FUN), make my existing patients happy by sharing something that entertains and/or educates them, open the floor up to voice their thoughts…well, I’m good with that. If they’re happy, they’re likely to stay and refer family and friends, whenever that may be.

How To Make It Easier

If this social media stuff stresses you out, scale it back. Tackle one or two things, and take baby steps. If you hire an outside source to manage it, be sure to be involved instead of handing it to them entirely. This is your online reputation, it must be ferociously guarded. Always know what’s going on. (Need to just get started? Let me know)

The goal is simple: provide good content, make it positive, make it engaging. Nurture the relationship, and chances are high that when the time comes, they will pick you.

What do you think? Have you found a way to keep social media simple for your practice?

Okay, show of hands.

Who wonders if their dental career could be a teensy bit happier?

You’re working hard. Practicing, learning, paying attention, gaining experience. You’re doing what you’re supposed to do.

But there’s that feeling.

You think, part of it may be paying dues. Or, this is as good as it gets, so might as well accept it. Like the battery bunny, you keep going, and going, and…you guessed it…going.

Except, you don’t feel like going any more.

Certain thoughts keep sneaking in your mind.

Boredom. Frustration. Stuck-ness. Why-did-I-come-to-work-today-ness.

And, if you don’t deal with them, they’ll stick around like nobody’s business, taking you from zero to misery in four seconds flat. The daily drill becomes the daily grind.

It’s a shame, really. It shouldn’t happen this way.

But it does.

So, smart dentists adapt. They refuse to let such negative feelings stick around for too long. They start looking for answers. They learn to make changes, and take charge of their career.

Let’s talk about how.

Finding Happiness In Your Dental Career

When it comes to your career (health, fitness, finances), you basically have two choices. Either wait around for something to happen, or take charge using what you have.

I’m a fan of the latter. Sure, the universe, fate or your fairy godmother will intervene, but I’d still take that over waiting around and doing nothing, yet expecting things to be different.

So, if you’re on board, want to figure out how to get your career back on (your) track, and don’t know where the heck to start, I have a plan for you.

In fact, I put it all together in a neat little package…everything but a pretty little bow.

(click on image)

This neat little package happens to be a book, written by me in true Bizzy style, with the sole intention of sharing my best ideas, and the off chance it will make a difference in your life. Even if it’s small, I’ll take it.

This book is short and sweet, instantly downloadable, and all yours for $13.

To get the book, click here: 7 Steps To Becoming A Happy-er Dentist

If you’re busy (and who isn’t?), this is important. You don’t always have time to figure it out the long way, and so you need a plan (or at least a direction) to get your career on the path you want.

This is that plan.

So give it a shot.

Get yourself happy-er.

PS: Putting this together was not only exciting, but meaningful to me. I truly hope you’ll find it useful. I’m looking forward to hearing what you think!

“Welcome to the real world”, she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life

~ “No Such Thing”, John Mayer

Yes, it IS your life…after school. So here’s to getting it off to a good start, and debunking 7 common myths you may have come across:

1. You’ll make a gazillion $$ as soon you set foot out of dental school

Um…no. The potential to make a good living is definitely there but like any newbie, it takes time to refine clinical skills and learn the business of dentistry that dental school didn’t have time to teach.

In other words, you may want to hold off on buying that private jet just a bit longer.

2. If you don’t own a practice (or if that’s not your goal), you’re not “cool”

Ahhh, stereotypes…. Anytime there is mass consensus about the way something should be done and you don’t do it, you’re doomed. Negative, Ghostrider.

Owning a practice is a worthy aspiration, but so is not owning one if it doesn’t float your boat.

3. Clinical skills are all you need

It doesn’t matter how many A’s you scored on your preps, but once you start practicing, your clinical skills–although essential–are far from the only thing you need.

How you communicate, deal with challenges, your business acumen, determination, adaptability, willingness to learn..and a host of other things will play a huge role in your success.

4. If you’re not a full mouth cosmetic guru, you’re worthless

Oh man… I can’t roll my eyes far back enough. If you think that every patient who walks through the door is dying to get a full mouth makeover, you’re dreaming.

Now, if cosmetics if your passion, by all means, follow your path (which includes a lot of advanced education). But if being a “general and/or family dentist” who does quadrant or even the oft-looked-down-upon one tooth dentistry, and you’re patients are happy and you’re happy, well, tell the naysayers to stick it.

5. Working for a dental chain is the only way to gain experience

Most dental chains, which I equate to the “McDonalds” of the dental world, are cheap, affordable and almost always not good for the patient, nor the new dentist (oops, is my bias showing? *blink blink*).

You don’t have to work at a chain to get experience. There are many other options: community dental clinics, public health/military, private practice associateships, and reputable clinics (do your research!).

6. You have to practice JUST the way you were taught in dental school

In an ideal world, maybe. Dental school is a learning environment, exposing you to a variety of materials and techniques, providing feedback and reinforcing knowledge.

Practicing after school does the same, but in a business environment. But that doesn’t mean you cannot practice excellent dentistry. You learn to be more efficient, improvise (but not compromise), and be cognizant of patient limitations (financial, time, need).

7. You’re set for life

Congrats on becoming a dentist, but you still need to work at it. After you’ve practiced for a few years and got your feet wet in the business, insurance, and leadership aspects of dentistry, you will love some things and detest others.

Some of you will question your choice of place of work, if you should even own a practice or–gasp, but true–even be a dentist. Don’t lose hope, as this can happen in any career. Life is always ready to throw challenges to test us, and the way we tackle them is how we forge our path.

The good news, no…the BEST news, is that it’s up to us to create the life we want.

What have YOU experienced that turned out to be a myth? Share in the comments below.

some days it all comes together

other days it falls apart

some days you want it all

others, you want to walk away

some days you’re sure you can make it better

others, you feel empty of hope

some days you want perfection

others, you just want to be comfortable

being you, giving of you, hitting bottom, soaring high

deep breath. embrace your power. revel in your glory.

this IS the journey, each day a new chance

to be victorious, to fall (but then get back up)

to make it better,

to make it great,

to make it yours.

some day……is today. BE AMAZING.

Happy New Year.