Where you choose to “throw your rock” in this vertical could be the difference between a “roar” or a “whisper.” Basically, it’s the distinction between saying you’re a success or proving your success.
Proof is credibility. Longevity and measurable progress would rank high as credible proofs.
Here’s some related and impressive perspective to keep in mind. In 2012, two world renowned companies achieved milestones. Procter & Gamble marked their 175th anniversary and CitiGroup achieved 200 year-old status.
With that inspiration in mind, your proof as a renowned dentrepreneur will not rely on your uncanny ability to avoid ups and downs. Survival has it’s perks but having a solid, proven, high-performance track-record is far superior as proof of success.
The leadership and management challenges of dentrepreneurship
Dental production is only one measure of your success as a dentrepreneur. TWEET THIS LINK You probably proved long ago that you can make ends meet.
And it’s no surprise that doesn’t energize you. Your dentrepreneurial heart marches to a much different beat than the crowd of dental providers.
The bigger challenge you face has more to do with viability and sustainability. Jim Collins, in his book Good to Great, illustrates proof of progress (in a sense) with what he calls the “flywheel principle.”
“Picture a huge, heavy flywheel - a massive metal disk mounted horizontally on an axle, about 30 feet in diameter, 2 feet thick, and weighting about 5,000 pounds. Now imagine your task is to get the flywheel rotating on the axle as fast and long as possible.
Pushing with great effort, you get the flywheel to inch forward, moving almost imperceptibly at first. You keep pushing and, after two or three hours of persistent effort, you get the flywheel to complete one entire turn.
You keep pushing, and the flywheel begins to move a bit faster, and with continued great effort, you move it around a second rotation. You keep pushing in a consistent direction. Three turns…four…five…six…the flywheel builds up speed…
…Then, at some point - breakthrough! The momentum of the thing kicks in in your favor, hurling the flywheel forward, turn after turn…whoosh!…its own heavy weight working for you.” (p.164)
Your initial effort (the first “flywheel” push) is your new beginning when you commit to being a dentrepreneur. Your challenge at the same time is how to keep growth and momentum moving forward.
How do you build a mid-market ($2-$30 million) Large Group Platform as a dentrepreneur?
The best and most purposeful experience I can share follows my years of learning from Dr. Nido Qubein. I recall these memorable words from him:
“Knowing how to create a distinction in the vertical where you have thrown your ‘rock’ to serve others has to include innovation and creativity with a sustainable outcome not only to attract your customer, but the ability to stay relevant to retaining your customers.”
I reconnected over a cup of coffee at the ADMC National Meeting with my mentor. Dr. Qubein reminded me that the greater the mountain before you, the more equipped you are with the greater wisdom to succeed and create significance that serves others.
Discover How Nido Qubein turned a little-known liberal arts college into one of the nation’s top-ranked private schools.
Your Proof-of-Success Solution as a Dentrepreneur
We’ve hopefully made one thing clear through previous posts and our resources. You’re not alone in your entrepreneurial growth journey.
Our experience and business collaboration is a cultural commitment. We’re here to help you succeed and be significant in your sphere of influence within dentistry.
1-Create the design-map that leads to distinction with relevant growth.
Success follows the fundamentals of business:
- A clear vision
- Practical systems
- Solid strategies
- Consistent execution around an attainable and compelling blueprint
It’s been said that “Success leaves clues.”
That truth is proof that you’re not alone in this quest to move from being a solo-practioner to leader of other solo-practioners. It’s your commitment in becoming a dentrepreneur of success and significance.
For example, In your Dentrepreneur Master Class we introduce you to other thought–leaders who have parlayed their thriving organizations into distinct cultures that thrive!
(Remember, to be memorable and remarkable, your Group Practice must be relevant in the Mid-Market Practice Platform – two to thirty locations and/or up to $30 million in revenue.)
Your journey will include seeming mountainous trails with often treacherous possibilities. (Risk Management Clue: always measure the risk as decisions are considered and ultimately made.) Knowing where to tread (and where not to) is invaluable.
That’s the core value of having a design-map that transforms your blueprint into a “footprint.” Learning and leveraging the experiences of others as you make your own way will help you gain ground toward successful outcomes.
2-Transform your ideas into “action-to-be-taken”
There’s no shortage of ideas or innovation as a dentrepreneur. Truth is, you’ll enjoy the freedom to initiate them more than ever. TWEET THIS LINK
Caution is the watchword of the solo-practioner. Having to guard and hedge your diminishing resources can stifle ideas or postpone them indefinitely.
Dentrepreneurship gives you virtually limitless permission to try…and on occasion…fail without fear. You have opportunity to learn from your failures and at the same time adjust your systems to reflect your learning.
3-Thrive in a culture of management innovation and leadership.
There will be an emerging sense as a dentrepreneur that you were “born to do this.” The “right-place-right-time” mindset is crucial to building your dental future.
Keep in mind you are part of a small but increasingly noteworthy culture of dental professionals who are creating mid-level Large Group Practice platforms.
Your culture of relevance and distinction is built on Seven Pillars:
- Care-driven® broadband
- Extraordinary leadership/mentoring
- Wow-making excellence
- Solution-finder thinking,
- Ever-increasing relevance
- Holistic Education Continuum
- Contagious fun
Becoming crowd-sourced driven by your employees creates a foundation-that-roars in your organization verses one that whispers. Leverage has momentum.
Your success is best understood as progressive. This is not a quick-fix, overnight endeavor.
The proof is your willingness to be true to yourself, to your ever-evolving tribe and partners, and to your vision of building a legacy of significance that serves others.
We’re here to pace you.