Impact
Is Everyone Smiling But You? Here Are 3 Ways to Fix That David Rice, DDS
H
ours upon hours in sim-lab. Quick, rushed, less-than-tasty dinners so you can hit the books. Patients who don’t show up. Faculty who smirk as they change their minds ten times at your expense. Short weekends. No summers. I could go on… Can you picture a moment where everyone was smiling but you? Let’s talk about how to overcome that!
Here’s one pro tip - grab your smartphone. Open up your screen time. Take a look at how much time you spend a week checking emails and hopping on your go-to social media platforms. You’ll find a minimum of 9 hours a week as most people check their emails 36 times per hour and are on social at least 151 minutes per day.
STEP ONE
So - want more time? Turn off your notifications for emails and social, and schedule times every day you’re going to check-in. It’s unrealistic to not have those activities daily. You can control them.
Live with character. The most successful, joyful people I’ve ever met live, lead, and build teams of character. Here’s how:
STEP TWO
They develop a vision for one perfect day. I don’t need you to figure it all out. I just need you to dream up one perfect day. The future’s the future, but tell me - given your current circumstance, what’s your perfect dental school day? Next - stop worrying about how to make that happen. You heard me. How to’s get immeasurably simpler when you tap the breaks on how to and focus on who. Who do you need to make that perfect day happen right now? Here’s one example. P.S. - reach out if you want a one-on-one sesh to game your exact scenario. Let’s say your perfect day revolves around finding more free time. I know that was one of my biggies as a student. If that’s you, one of your “who” is someone who’s successfully navigated this specific challenge.
30 Fall 2023 Dental Entrepreneur
Take the above example as a demonstration of how process can help you. Now - make a list of the top 5 things you do every single day. Once you have your list - break it down. How much time are you devoting to each of your top 5? Is that the appropriate time? If yes - keep doing it as you are. If not - adjust the time as needed. Then look at how you’re doing - what you’re doing, and remember, the whole who thing from above. I bet there are several people in your class who are doing similar things and can help. And if not - hit me up. I’m happy to help! Processes take you and me from winging it to best practices. If you want to smile more, once you’re living your best character and finding people of character to help you, add process to everything you do. DentalEntrepreneur.com
