06/20/2023
In about one month I have the opportunity to spend 2.5 days with about 50 hygienists who are eager to grow themselves and their career. I will share the stage with two of my dearest hygiene friends and we will be open, honest and vulnerable about our stories, our career, our lives and the ups and downs that come with it.
I’ll teach this group how to face their fears, the economics of a dental business, how to build a business plan for themselves, how to own the stage even when you are scared to death. They will learn how to excel clinically, how to get published and how to work with corporate sponsors from the other speakers.
I’ll share with you what I plan to share with them. My top 2 pieces of advice:
1. You are your brand. If you don’t take yourself seriously, nobody else will. Your reputation is the most valuable currency you have whether you work for yourself or someone else. Do common things in an uncommon way and you command the attention of the world. Treat everyone you meet with kindness, presence and respect. You never know when they will play an important role in your future. Be on time, do what you say and always be grateful. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t surrounded by people willing to give me a chance.
2. Most people never act on their dream because they are afraid of failure. Be afraid and do it anyway. You will fail, you will suck at things when you start doing something new. That’s normal. That’s expected. You will be so much more fulfilled and further ahead by sucking at something but taking action. If you are growing, you should be embarrassed about what you did a year ago. If I looked back on my early presentations I would be super embarrassed- so what! Nobody remembers it. I gave a presentation 4 days ago and I absolutely wish I would’ve done it differently- that’s part of growing.
Are you willing to pay the price of sucking at something for your dream or are you content to reach the end of your life with a heart full of unfulfilled dreams? Choice is yours.