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Howard Speaks: Who Can You Lean On? by Dr. Howard Farran

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Howard Speaks: Who Can You Lean On? 

by Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, publisher, Dentaltown magazine

By the time you read this, I hopefully will have emerged from a self-imposed exile in southern Arizona, where I holed up in an effort to prioritize my health and fitness—especially when it comes to diet and exercise.

My father owned a chain of Sonic restaurants, so I grew up around fast food, but as I got older and gained weight, I realized things had to change. However, I’ve also got such an all-or-nothing personality that I knew it would scuttle my efforts if I tried to make these changes while still living at my place in downtown Phoenix, where dozens of sit-down restaurants and fast food joints are within a few blocks. Instead, I’ve hunkered down in a small town just north of the U.S.–Mexico border, with supportive folks around to keep me on track.

(Wish me luck and please share your own stories and tips for success in the comments under this article online! It always helps to know you’re not going through things alone.)

My sojourn inspired this month’s column in a couple of ways. First, the more obvious parallel is that when you’re having troubles—with a case, with your team, with your practice finances, even in your personal life—you can lean on the more than 265,000 members of Dentaltown’s online community who share advice, suggestions and other assistance on our online message boards. I created Dentaltown so no dentist ever has to practice alone, and it’s absolutely free to join and get access to this members-only section of our website. Make connections with your peers and get the help you need—often in real time!


Planning and people
I’m in a fortunate position because over the years, I’ve put together such a great team that even when I spontaneously go off-grid for a while, I know Farran Media will continue to hum at its usual productive pace. At Today’s Dental, my team and associate dentists (including Drs. Thomas Giacobbi and Sam Dominick, both longtime Townies) admirably held down the fort whenever I was traveling the world at lecture gigs or just taking time with my family. Finding and keeping such quality people takes a lot of work, but once you’ve got them in place, it can make your life much easier and secure.

The next time you walk into your practice, ask yourself: “If I suddenly was out of the picture for two or three weeks, would these people be able to keep things moving without me?” If so, congratulations! That means you’ve made some wise hires, and I bet your day-to-day life in the practice feels relatively smooth and productive. (Which is also a plus when you are in the office!)

If not … it might be time to make some changes and decisions. Would you rather take control now, when you’re more comfortably able to steer the course of the ship, or wait until you’ve found yourself adrift? Who could be a locum during your absence? Would your staff automatically take control of patient communication and rescheduling appointments, or would they founder without your guidance?

It’s reassuring to know you’re connected with the right people if you should need assistance. If you need help, start by asking for assistance and advice on Dentaltown’s online message boards!
Dentaltown Magazine
October 2025
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