Running With Your Shoelaces Untied…

I'm writing you from beautiful Figure 8 Island,
just outside of Wilmington, NC. My family and
I are on vacation, which explains why you haven't
heard much from me in the past few days. But I
had to share something with you from the other day,
so I saddled up my old laptop at the beach house.

Many of you may be aware that we've had ALL-TIME
record heat here in the Southeastern US during the
month of August. Never in recorded history have we
seen as many 100+ degree days as we have here this
month. Nevertheless, I'm still working hard to stay
in shape, so I trudged out for another morning run
yesterday.

Despite the fact that I was out during the sunrise,
the heat and humidity were already oppressive. I say
this only because if there were a day that I wouldn't
feel bad about holding back, it would've been yesterday.

At the halfway point I was already winded, and every
breath I took in felt like it came straight from a
steam room. I kept pushing though, thinking less about
my "time" and more about just finishing!

Then, about 1/2 mile from my finish, wouldn't ya know
it...my shoelace began to unravel, as I felt the normal
snugness of my running shoe go away. Soon enough it was
untied completely. Then, as if on cue, the other one went
too. With a little less than 5 tenths to go, I was running
with untied shoes.

Make that: tired, overheated, winded, breathing steam, feet
on fire...with untied shoes!

What were we all taught to do when our shoes are untied?
Stop and tie them so you don't trip up, right? After all,
it makes good sense. And on a day like yesterday, it would
certainly give me a good excuse to "take a knee" and catch my
breath while I tied my laces. I had every reason to stop
for a moment...but I didn't.

I ran FASTER.

Yes, I was beat. But I knew that if I had stopped, I would
have lost any momentum I had. Plus, it would be that much
harder to restart. But my laces were long, and if I kept
running my current pace, I risked catching a lace and doing
a SPLAT right on the hot asphalt.

The only other solution was to OUTRUN my untied laces, and
stretch out my stride so I wouldn't trip on them. That's
exactly what I did. I ignored the fact that I felt like
(variation of the word "CARP"). Like Nike in past tense,
I "Just Did It".

Can you guess the result? My best time for that distance in
TWO YEARS! I never would've run that hard if my shoes had
stayed tied...or if I had stopped to tie them. My "roadblock",
or challenge, actually became the IMPETUS for my success!

There's the lesson I learned as I was huffing and puffing my
way back into the house, at max heart rate and just short of
"hallucinating".

More often than not, the obstacles we encounter in our businesses
and our lives can stop us dead in our tracks if we let them.
In adverse conditions it's especially dangerous. HOWEVER, if
you turn the tables on your challenges, many times you'll
find the OPPORTUNITIES hidden in them. When you ACT, you'll
find yourself achieving at levels you never dreamed of hitting.

Often this requires simply being more persistent. Other
times, a new or different approach is needed. And occasionally
the hurdle itself transforms into the REASON why you succeeded
so wildly. All it takes is "proper" perspective.

What you must do when faced with such circumstances is STAY
FOCUSED on your intended outcomes and goals. Do not be deterred
by distractions or perceived roadblocks. When you keep your
"eyes on the prize", not only can you not be stopped...you
can also achieve so much more!

All my best,
Chris

PS: I'm considering opening up a few more slots in my
Power Hours Formula / Instant Team Meetings program. We've
completed 3 "Fast Start" Tele-Coaching Calls already, and
the feedback has been nothing short of incredible!

My customer service team has informaed me that things are
running VERY smoothly with the doctors and practices that
are currently enrolled. At this point I feel confident that
we can accommodate a limited number of additional doctors and
their practices.

I'm going to look at the numbers a little more, then make a
decision this week. Keep your eyes peeled for further info.
Of course, any "new" enrollees will get immediate and total
access to all previously complete calls!

How’s Your Energy Today?

How's your energy today? How was it yesterday? What about tomorrow?

I'm not talking about your physical energy, like whether you feel tired or not. I'm talking here about your MENTAL energy. There's a BIG difference. In fact, the former is often a product of the condition of the latter!

Here's a simple, down 'n' dirty way to take inventory of your mental energy. Just ask yourself: "Do I feel POSITIVE or NEGATIVE today?" Yes, it's that easy.

Please don't dismiss this exercise as unimportant. It's a CRITICAL step you must take DAILY if you want to get the MOST out of your practice...and your life.

Your TEAM'S mental energy will often mirror YOUR mental energy. Similarly, your PATIENTS will instinctively pick up on your energy levels, and react accordingly. As the dentist, you set the tone for your entire practice every day, like it or not.

Negative energy emanating from you will pervade your practice. Like a virus, it'll spread among your team AND your patients. Even worse, negative energy will SABOTAGE your outcomes and thrust you into a "negative feedback cycle".

However, when you radiate POSITIVE energy it's equally contageous! Your team will be motivated and inspired, and your patients will find themselves magnetically ATTRACTED to you and your practice. Positive energy PROPELS you toward IMMINENT SUCCESS!

Here's the best part...it's YOUR CHOICE. That's right, you decide whether you want to be filled with positive or negative energy. Please, please, always remember that.

So...given the decision...and the outcomes that stem from it...

How's your energy today?

All my best,
Chris

If you haven't done so already, join the growing number of savvy dentists who are embarking on their "Shortcut To Success"! Take your 2-Month "Test Drive" of Dental Insiders Alliance Preferred Membership. Details can be found at:

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WHY MY SON DOESN’T LIKE MY OFFICE (and what we can all learn from it)

Yesterday my oldest son Reid, who's almost 4, had his teeth cleaned in my office for the first time by one of my hygienists. Even he was nervous (son of a dentist...sheesh), but everything went well...until he told me later that night:

"Daddy, I don't like your office."

I was stunned. Here's my own son, my pride and joy, who told me that he wants to be dentist when he grows up. And he says he doesn't like my office. I had to get to the bottom of this.

"Why not, Reid?" I asked.

His answer surprised me, and it speaks to 2 BIG LESSONS that I want to reveal here. He said:

"Because you don't have Superman and Spiderman and Batman toothbrushes. I don't like Winnie the Pooh toothbrushes."

Hmmmm, I thought. We just bought 12 DOZEN Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, etc. brushes! No one asked for them specifically...we just ordered 'em. I know other kids will love them, but one of my kids doesn't, and that's important.

What are the BIG PICTURE lessons?

Lesson #1- Reid made a GENERAL judgement about my whole practice based on just one little SEEMINGLY insignificant detail!

Guess what? Many of your patients are doing the same thing, every day. They will decide whether to do more or less business with you based on "little" things that mean a lot TO THEM. How much you pay attention to that will go a long way toward determining how successful you are at:

- KEEPING them for the long term
- getting REFERRALS from them

2- Lesson #2- Reid didn't GET what he wanted...because we never ASKED him what he wanted! Thus his "opinion" of us was unfavorable.

How often do you PREVENT your patients from getting what they want? Do you even know what they REALLY want? And WHY they want it? Aye, there's the rub!

You see, it's MOST important to not only find out what our patients want...but to also learn WHY they want it. Usually there's an EMOTIONAL reason behind them wanting a certain service. Cater to their prferences (the more the better), and you'll have patients FOR LIFE! Better yet, they'll REFER their friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to you over and over again!

So, ASK your patients what's most important to them with regard to your practice. Why did they choose you? What do they like about your office? What would they rather see more of, less of, or just different?

Find the answers to those questions, make the appropriate adjustments, and watch your practice SOAR ever higher!

All my best,
Chris

PS: If you haven't already, embark on your "Shortcut To Success" today. Get your FREE 2 Month "Test-Drive" of Preferred Membership in Dental Insiders Alliance. All the details are here:
www.DentalInsiders.com/testdrive