April Alphabetical Wisdom

[Anonymous]

  *Below is the forum version. To view the newsletter complete with images, please download the attached PDF file.

H = HABIT There are good habits and there are bad habits. One habit that is often overlooked on the road to success is the HABIT OF THOUGHT. If you read any of the literature on how our brain works, you will find that we often are not in conscious control of our thoughts, they come from old habits. As children we are fed the thoughts, values and beliefs of our parents, key care givers or teachers. Those thoughts go into our little brains much like you copy a paper. The copier does not judge if you copy a beautiful poem or a inappropriate vulgar joke. As we grow, our behavior can too often be a result of some old thought habits.           Take a moment to scan your present life, where do you find you are not enjoying the wealth, health or love that you want. Focus on the habits of your thoughts about that topic. Are you telling yourself: “I am too old to find another happy relationship.” “I can’t find any good people to help me build my practice.” “I am prone to get sick.” If the thought habit is powerful and lifting you up, then keep it. If the thought is dragging you around and taking you down into negative feeling, get rid of it. Banish the thought and replace it with the opposite. You’ll have to work to change your programmed thought habits. Like a computer, you need to delete the old software to install the new. Just be aware that A.N.T.s – Automatic Negative Thoughts will keep you from living your best life.

I = INVEST IN YOUR IMAGE You are what people immediately think of you which includes your attire and your appearance. Polished professional wins every time. Your personal image needs to be at the level you want to be not necessarily where you are. If you are a young new dentist, then you have to dress even more like a true professional than the seasoned dentist with grey at the temples. This means abandon the scrubs and tennis shoes put on a starched white coat that says, “I am a doctor – no doubt about it.” If you are an office manager, dress the part of a manger – not a staff member. Again, abandon the scrubs and wear tailored business attire. Long, no shape hair may have been fine while you were in college, but as a professional it is time for a “grown-up” style and make-up. If you need help, check out this website with ideas from my colleague, Janice http://www.janicehurleytrailor.com.

J = JUST DO IT! WITH JOY. Procrastination is an insidious disease of the professional. Leaders who advance the team and the practice learn to conquer this ill. If, as a dentist or office manager, you make a promise to complete something, do a performance review, talk about a raise, give a bonus, your leadership quotient is on the line. Timely delivery of decisions, bonuses, performance reviews, coaching conversations give you a boost in leadership. Procrastinating about dealing with a poor performing team member, takes your leadership down, down, down.      As one of my clients recently said about something he needed to do but did not want to: “Put on your big girl/guy pants, and JUST DO IT!” The dread and stress of not doing it is always worse than doing it. It may be a MAALOX moment, but, as the manager or owner, it is up to you to end procrastination and JUST DO IT!           Plan to attend the AADOM, (American Association of Dental Office Managers), conference in Orlando, FL September 19 & 20. I am excited to be a speaker this year at the meeting. Check out the speakers page here. You may register by clicking this link- AADOM Conference Registration. For $100 off the registration, use this code: Drevenstedt2013 See you there!

        

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