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3 Dentrepreneurial Realities that Sustain Your Relevance in the Brave New World of Dentistry

3 Dentrepreneurial Realities that Sustain Your Relevance in the Brave New World of Dentistry

4/14/2016 12:25:56 PM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 76
One thing can define your journey as a Solopreneur and Dentrepreneur®?. It has to do with staying relevant, according to Nido Qubein.

Your relevance in dentistry must include a new mindset. And the essence of it might surprise you. TWEET THIS

Being a Solopreneur and Dentrepreneur®? comes with a certain attitude. You have a “boot-strapping,” pioneering quality about you.

There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s that brand of tenacious energy that propelled you through dental school, into your first few years of practice, or rethinking your approach to the business of dentistry.

The quality you might be missing

There’s a measure of humility that’s needed to succeed as a Solopreneur and Dentrepreneur®?. This mindset can actually launch you forward in this new era of building your dental enterprise.

Consider this perspective.

“When a cyclist rides alone, they are forced to face the wind resistance head-on. However, a team of cyclists can go faster and longer by utilizing ‘slipstream’ - the pocket of forward moving air being pulled directly behind the front rider. While ‘drafting’ in the slipstream, cyclists can conserve up to 40 percent of their energy.

In the back position, you don’t face the full resistance because the front rider is pushing the air directly in from of them off to the side. Not only is the back rider shielded from the bulk of wind resistance, but they are actually being pulled forward - like walking on a moving walkway in the airport.

In life, there are ‘slipstreams’ (moving walkways) everywhere. You can use these to radically accelerate your progress toward your goals.” 1

It requires humility to admit your need for another’s “draft.” Realize that this “slipstream” idea can save you substantial energy as you shift your mindset to the new realities of dental group practice leadership.

The 3 Realities That Sustain Your Relevance in the Brave New World of Dentistry

1-Create substantial partnerships

Seth Godin made the term “tribes” relevant again. He encourages you to think about yourself and your enterprise as a “movement.

“A movement is thrilling. It’s the work of many people, all connected, all seeking something better.” 2

Movements matter. Why? They create something. Back to our earlier cyclist analogy, a movement creates “draft” (the “slipstream).

This energizes your partnerships.

Being a Dentrepreneur®? is about having partners. You no longer see yourself as the Lone Ranger. You’re part of something bigger. TWEET THIS

And for your dental future to be sustainable, you MUST form partnerships.

A partnership eliminates destructive internal competition. You’re in this together.

Partnership encourages necessary trade-offs. Instead of trading hours for dollars you create self-sustaining streams of revenue that flows from a partnership of producers.

2-Focus on “We” instead of “Me”

This is a declaration against the autocratic form of top-down management. It’s a vote for the idea that what we accomplish together is tons better than what we toil for alone (at the expense of early burnout and enjoyable profitability).

Use your independence to clarify your dental enterprise vision. Be the pioneer that scouts the new “territory.”

Refrain from being THE sole location where the buck-must-stop. An enterprise is by it’s very nature an organic culture.

That means it lives and breaths on its own. This isn’t to imply that your leadership should take a vacation but it does mean you reduce your restrictive control.

Remember you’re in a partnership. That sets the tone for your dependence on others within your “tribe” to help you achieve what you cannot achieve alone - not in this new world of dentistry.

3-Default to collaboration

Taking the focus off your sole energy will shift your mindset.

This is an era of dentistry where collaboration maximizes your potential. TWEET THIS

See the future as a joint-venture endeavor. Blend your professional expertise with other like-minded individuals.

Set your default to embrace the insights and energy of others. This goes beyond a colleague relationship.

It’s more than a “study-club.” In this new era you’re collaborating around the maximization of your skill and leadership.

There’s new emphasis on creating a self-sustaining enterprise. This fuels your decisions and your need for others to get it done.

Now’s the perfect time to collaborate with those who share your mindset. Contact us about your dental enterprise vision and join our community of like-minded Dentrepreneurs®?.

Sources:
1, Medium, If You’re Going It Alone, You’re Missing Out
2, Seth Godin, Tribes - We Need You to Lead Us, p.5.
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