QUESTION:
I want to elevate my practice, but just can’t seem to get there. I think I am my own worst enemy. Can you help me get where I want to go?
ANSWER:
Napoleon Hill said, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” So, start with what your mind is conceiving. Do you have so many great ideas that it is difficult to keep them all going at once? Narrow your focus down to one pursuit - yes, only one. Be clear about what you desire. Make a list of the eight ideas that are stirring in your idea box, and then start prioritizing. Which “want” is most important to you?
The bracket at right allows you to determine your No. 1 want. Desire then turns the want into fruition. What’s more, it feeds commitment to your goals and gives you the drive necessary to overcome any obstacles.
Be clear about this No. 1 yearning. Write down your exact intention. Fill in all the gaps. Be specific, and write as if you already have achieved this goal. Answer who, what, when, and where, and designate a completion date. Let your pen flow.There is something almost magical about having your goals written where you can see, recite, and carry them with you throughout the day. This step is so basic, yet so many people gloss over it. Be one of the 3 percent of people who have written goals.
Now that you have written down the No. 1 want your mind is conceiving, you must believe it is possible. You could be sabotaging your triumphs by thinking of all the reasons you cannot be successful. Write these limiting beliefs and explore how they put the brakes on your success. Transform these beliefs into positive ones that will enable you to act as though success is a given.
Complete the following table:
Your success has been sabotaged by these limiting beliefs for many years, so be forewarned that your new empowered beliefs will not happen overnight. You must condition your subconscious mind to accept them by repeating them daily and acting as though they are true, for no fewer than 30 days. You will then believe.
By now, your mind has conceived and believes, so next, it must achieve. How will that happen? Set your goals. What actions must be taken to get you where you want to go? When do you want to achieve it? What must you do in the next 30, 60, and 90 days to keep you on the path? Use the following guide. Take it out as many months as you need to. Some goals may take a few years to achieve. Check off each action step in the chart to the right as it is completed.
Take advantage of the many tools available to help you attain success. Do you know someone who already has what you are striving to achieve? Ask him or her to be your mentor and teach you what you need to know. If he or she refuses, ask someone else. Many people are willing to share their expertise, so shadow them. Take a continuing-education class, read books (biographies included), and listen to audio tapes to increase your knowledge. Hire a coach to keep you accountable and on task as you continue to success.
If the next level for you and your practice is to become comfortable with smile-makeover cases and increase the number of patients seeking those services, let’s detail the steps outlined above.
First, you must have a clear picture of what “smile makeover” means to you, the number of cases you want to do each month, the roles of you and your team members, the fees you will charge, etc. Designate a goal date and visualize your makeover patients on the schedule.
Second, remove all traces of limiting beliefs and replace them with the empowering belief that you are capable of creating beautiful smile makeovers and that patients are seeking your services.
Third, commit to your goals to make them happen. What classes do you need to take and when will you take them? What, if any, new equipment do you need to perform these makeovers? What kind of marketing materials will you need and who is responsible for those? Who performs these services so you can learn from and shadow him or her? What articles do you need to read? Remember to have end dates for each of the aforementioned action steps, and consider hiring a coach to assist you in reaching your want.
You won’t be your own worst enemy if you follow these steps. What your mind can conceive and believe, it will achieve, and you will achieve more sooner rather than never.
P.S. The steps outlined in this article may also be used to achieve success in your personal life.
© 2006 Stephanie Houseman, DMD
Stephanie Houseman, DMD
Dr. Houseman practiced dentistry in St. Louis for 25 years. She is married to a dentist, has two grown children, and understands all too well the demands we place on ourselves. She now works with dentists who want to simplify their lives so that they can enjoy themselves again. She is a graduate of the Coaches Training Institute, creator of the 7 Steps 2 a Balanced Life Program™, and author of “The Balance Beam,” a weekly e-newsletter about balance and life. Reach Dr. Houseman at www.7steps2abalancedlife.com or (618) 639-5433.
