Be a Rookie

I’m just back from presenting at the ADA Conference on the New Dentist. It was a great day filled with the enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge that the young dentists from all over the country brought to the meeting.

As I looked out over the audience, I was reminded of the attributes of a ROOKIE: Eager, enthusiastic, hard working, positive-minded, optimistic, and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. About a year ago, I spent a day with Jerry Rice, most recently of “Dancing with the Stars” fame and the NFL before that. Jerry shared that if there was any one attribute that helped him in professional football, it was that he took on the attitude of a rookie each season no matter how successful he had been the season before. In other words, he tried out for his position every year, just as if he were a rookie again.

No matter your tenure in the profession, it might be time to go back and be a rookie again. Adopt those attributes. “Try out” for your position again. If you were hiring for your position, would you hire you based on your current performance? One of my favorite quotes from author Brian Tracy says, “What kind of company would my company be if everyone in it were just like me?” Do you exemplify the positive attributes of a rookie? Do those attributes positively influence your entire team?

So go ahead. Be a rookie again. It will be good for your practice and good for your team. After all, if you don’t, someone will eventually come along in your market that will want your position more that you do, will be willing to work for it, and will probably get it!

Happy Holidays?

December is upon us and “The Holidays” are here. I love this time of the year. But beware these “Holiday Hang ups” that can creep into the team mentality:

• “Everyone’s too busy during the holidays to keep their dental appointment.”
• “They can’t afford dental work right now with all the shopping they have to do.”
• “Their insurance benefits are probably maxed out for the year.”
• December is a short production month because of the holidays. We’ll never reach our goal.”
• “We can’t find any patients to fill in these available appointments. It’s the holidays!” (Don’t you know.”)

If you are looking for an excuse this holiday season for poor practice performance, the “reasons” are easy to find. But consider for a moment the “reasons” why December should be the best practice month of the year:

• “People are in a buying mood.”
• “People are more happy and cheerful this time of year.”
• “And so people are more willing to cooperate.”
• “Many still have benefits remaining for the year.”
• “Those who have flex spending and medical savings accounts sill have money for the year.”
• “The more people have to do, the more they tend to get done.”

So check your attitude this holiday season. Do you have the attitude of a ToP performer or the mentality of excuse maker. The attitude you choose may very well determine how merry your holiday season will be – inside and outside of the practice.

Happy Holidays!