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A Thesis on the Relativety of Time by Dr. Joe Steven

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The older I get, needless to say, the more valuable time is to me. I’m not referring to the obvious concept of longevity, which is a subject of much concern for all of us. What I want to address here is the importance of taking advantage of the time we experience on a daily basis. Too often many of us do not utilize the time we have to accomplish what needs to be done both at home and at work.

Before I purge into this pseudo thesis, I want to first point out how valuable and satisfying it is when we accomplish projects. Most of us all have our lists of projects that we need to do, some long, some short. I live by them. I have several on my computer that I update every few weeks and print out. I have a short-term list of items that need to be done within a week or two, and a long-term list for those projects that I hope to accomplish in the near future. I’m embarrassed to tell you how long some of those projects have been on that list! But, there is so much satisfaction in crossing them off once completed. I’m sure I’m not alone on this one, but there has been more than one occasion when I finished a project and couldn’t wait to cross it off my list, only to find out it wasn’t even on my list. So, I immediately enter it, and then cross it off! It just feels good! A way-too-common excuse that so many people use when feeling guilty about not getting things done is that they just don’t have enough time in the day. This can pertain to work or home. But is that really a valid excuse? I’m sure it is for some, but not for most of us.

Here’s where my so-called “Relativity of Time” concept comes in to play. We do have enough time to accomplish many of our projects because many of them do not take that long to do. Haven’t we been faced with a project that we’ve been meaning to do for a long time, but we kept putting it off because we didn’t want to take the time to do it? And then once we did it, we realized it didn’t take that long at all. Most of us spend more time thinking and worrying about doing something than it actually takes to do it.

I have gone so far as to actually put a stopwatch to some projects just to see how long it would take me to get certain chores done. Oftentimes, I'll put off some little project around the house for several weeks (if not months), and then one day while relaxing in my recliner, I decide to get up and go do it. This could be anything from changing some light bulbs in the basement to fixing the broken sprinkler head in the backyard or cleaning out the garage. I would start my timer on my wristwatch and go to work. These projects might take me anywhere from two minutes to 20 minutes. And almost every time, I would think, “Stupid me! This took me three minutes, and I’ve put this off for how long?” And then of course I’m satisfied with my accomplishment.

This past holiday season while hanging up Christmas lights outside, I thought once again about restringing some new lights on a long decorating garland because every now and then the lights wouldn't work properly. I’ve thought about fixing that for the last several years but didn’t want to take the time to do it. So I timed it, and it took me only 14 minutes to restring it. Not bad, now I don’t have to think about that any more – satisfaction again!

Most homeowners can easily identify with the above, but now let’s apply it to work. A perfect example would be putting off organizing your personal office. I’ve been in many doctors’ offices, and it’s amazing to see how cluttered many of their private offices are with stacked up dental magazines, used small equipment items sitting in the corners of the room and a desk with piles of mail and dental gadgets, etc. Out of embarrassment some of these doctors will say something like, “One of these days I’m going to organize all of this.” I’ve been there, done that, and it really doesn’t take that long to do. Stay after work on one of your half days, and get it done! Why would you want that daily reminder that you are not organized and efficient? And once done, enjoy the satisfaction of another project accomplished.

Successful people get things done! They work off a project list and take great pride in the results they attain when thinning down that list. Do you have a project list for your office? If not, get one started. On that list could be a range of things from reviewing your Delta contract to hanging up the new photos in your office that you’ve been meaning to. Once again, I have timed some of those projects and questioned myself again why I waited so long to do them because it only took a few minutes.

I remember years ago, Mark Troilo told me that he was getting a 10 percent discount on his lab bills from Kaylor Dental Lab because he pre-pays with a credit card. So, I made a note to call Dennis Kaylor and do the same. About four months later I made that call while I had a break between patients. The phone conversation took two minutes and I started saving around $500 per month because of that discount. Needless to say, I had another “Stupid me!” déjà vu moment for waiting so long to make that call.

Of course, there are many projects that will not be accomplished in a short time, and you really need to tackle those projects at a later date. But, throughout the week, you can get many smaller projects done that will help improve your office. Do I need to say “satisfaction!” again? This has such a positive effect on your daily attitude, and you know how important that is. We don’t need to keep getting worn down with the burden of endless projects that we know need to get done.

Now let’s look at bigger ticket projects, such as the clinical production in your office. I challenge you to put a watch to some of your procedures. Let’s say you plan on doing two restorations on a particular patient. If the patient is willing to do one more filling that day, time it and see how much more time it takes you. More than likely you will be pleasantly surprised how little time it took. When doing a root canal, do the build up the same day and even the crown if the patient can afford it. Once again, time it and you will be amazed how much more profitable that appointment is for the little extra time it took.

We all know how valuable the little time we have is, and we need to take advantage of every minute. As one of our great orators of our time, Larry the Cable Guy, has said so many times, when it comes to your projects, “Just git ’er done!”
Author's Bio
Dr. Joe Steven graduated from Creighton Dental School in 1978 and has been in solo practice in Wichita, Kansas, up until June, 2007 at which time his daughter, Dr. Jasmin Rupp joined him. He is president of KISCO, a dental products marketing company, providing “new ideas for dentistry,” and is the editor of the KISCO Perspective Newsletter. Dr. Steven, along with Dr. Mark Troilo, presents the “Team Dynamics” seminar. Dr. Steven also presents four other seminars: “Efficient-dentistry,” “Efficient-prosthetics,” “Efficient-endo” and “Doctors Only.” Dr. Steven also provides the KISCO Select Consulting Program to dentists in the form of a monthly audio CD recording. He also offers a coaching consulting program called the KISCO’s 21 Club. Contact info: jsteven@kiscodental.com; 800-325-8649; www.kiscodental.com.
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