What do you believe?

May 16, 2010

If you watch the news or read the newspaper, you will hear that President Barack Obama is both the best thing that happened to the U.S. and the anti-Christ. Or you'll hear the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the Tea Party are both going to bring the U.S. to its knees.

Whatever we hear on a consistent basis becomes our belief system. What do you expose yourself to on a consistent basis?

As a dentist, do you believe dentistry is in another Golden Age, or that we will all be out of work after the healthcare reform bill? Do you believe there is no way to build your practice with fee-for-service patients only, or that you must accept all third-party plans to remain in business? Do you believe that the economy is so bad that people are putting all dental care on hold, or that plenty of people in your community are desperately looking for a dentist to give them the best care possible?

In our world of dentistry, we are influenced by a plethora of written materials, aren't we? We are exposed to the best way to do this or that, to the worst way; from an abundance of writers hawking their services with half-written articles, to promises of writers for results if you do it "their way." No matter how you serve it up, we're inundated with an abundance of information that we have to consistently sort and filter. And, that information is coming faster as our "information age" comes in full swing.

What do you consistently expose yourself to in dental journals, blogs (such as mine), and newsletters? Take a moment to think it through. No, really! It's important because it shapes your belief system, which ultimately affects the choices you make, your happiness, your success (or failure), and attitude. And because you're a dentist AND a business owner, your choices and attitude affect a whole bunch of people!

In coaching, a basic tenet I hold is that YOU have the answers. In our world of consultants willing to tell you THE answer, I believe that no one knows your practice better than you. Period. Yes, we all need additional information at times, but ultimately we have to trust our instincts and experience.

When will you start doing that?

Don Deems, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., known as the Dentist's Coach, is a co-founder of the Dental Coaches Association, an organization of dentists who are professional coaches committed to bringing professional coaching to the dental profession. Learn more about professional coaching by visiting www.dentalcoachesassociation.org or www.drdondeems.com.

The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.