Yes, we are now past the end of the first quarter of 2017 and starting into the second quarter. You have had an opportunity to take action after action, set goals, and reap multiple benefits by re-engaging in your practice to ensure a brighter future. Opportunity is unlikely to hang around unless you act quickly and take advantage of it. Just like New Year’s goals, we find that we begin with the best intentions, but a couple of months later we are back to our old habits. Hopefully you realize that when you thought you were in the groove, you discovered you were actually in a rut: A grave with the ends kicked out.
So what’s it going to be? Just another missed opportunity leading to another year of unintended results with the consequences of inattention defining your future, or are you willing to break away to change your practice?
Accountability means answering for your actions (or lack thereof) and results. Accountability demands that you own your performance every day regardless of the noise that might surround your performance. Bottom line: Accountability means letting your actions rise above your excuses.
“Men (and women) acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way. By doing so, you’ll wake up with determination, and go to bed with immense satisfaction.” Aristotle
I just wonder: Do you have commitment issues as you find yourself in a failure to launch status? Keep in mind that all great accomplishments are preceded by great commitment. You must decide that giving up is not an option. A loss of commitment is caused by deficiencies in discipline, focus, character, and follow through. This is a tough pill to swallow in a world of “you can’t handle the truth” standards. Behavior never lies. All of us need to understand that decisions always precede action.
It’s time to separate from our comfort zones. If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. You really can do what you set out to do. There will never be a day when you do not need these four actions:
- Dedication
- Perseverance
- Discipline
- Personal integrity
So here is the plan. Our clients that really do well in coaching have several things in common.
- They take 2-3 times the continuing education as their peers. Competence enhances confidence. It serves as a way to stay engaged and striving in your practice. Don’t forget to take your staff. We just started a new site on theoptimizeddentalpractice.com to serve as one more conduit for learning and practice exploration. The episodes of each podcast can be downloaded and listened to on iTunes or Google play.
- They set goals and hold themselves accountable. You can go back and read the article on “ACTS” about goal setting. In fact go back and read all of the articles of ACTS. This could be the first email from me that you have opened in the last couple of months, but it is not too late to recommit and read each and every one of them.
- They set benchmarks and search out coaches and mentors to accelerate their commitment and minimize their setbacks. We would be honored to work with each and every one of you at Summit. Just go to our website (summitpracticesolutions.com) to learn more.
- They increase their clinical speed by 25%-35% with the same or better results in order to outrun the effects of write-offs in today’s insurance dominated environment. Our website has a searchable quick link to all of our articles including clinical ones also.
- Finally, they never settle. They constantly strive and develop the habit of eliminating limiting beliefs with a commitment to being positive about their future.
Michael Abernathy, DDS
972-523-4660 cell
[email protected]
PS — Here is your own Integrity Code:
- If you make a commitment, honor it.
- If you make a promise, keep it.
- If you set a goal, achieve it.