Sometimes I think we take for granted our friends, family, co-workers and even the mailman, the bagger at the grocery and the UPS guy.  How do you feel when someone says thank you?  It really takes on meaning when that person looks you in the eye and says it with feeling.  Maybe they even pat you on the shoulder.  Or give you a hug.

When was the last time you wrote a thank you note – not an email or a post it note – but a real thank you written on stationery or a fine note card?  It takes on a lot more meaning when it’s hand written. 

Can you operate your business without your team?  It’s impossible for a dentist to do it all without the support and work of his or her team.  Same goes for team members.  Would you be employed if you didn’t have your doctor there to do the dentistry?  When was the last time you complimented the doctor or thanked him/her?  The best statement a patient can hear is a compliment on the procedure just performed by the dentist.  It’s a two way street.  If you like to be complimented on your work or appreciated, do the same for your co-workers. 

Keep these things in mind as we approach Thanksgiving.  I’ll be saying a special thank you in my heart on Thanksgiving Day for all the people in my life but I’ll also be telling them face to face.  And to all my clients and their team members, I value you and your friendship.  Thank you for listening and implementing my suggestions.  And thank you for teaching me when there’s something I don’t get or know.  I’ll be the first to admit that I learn from you every day.  You can never know too much.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jo

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked: ”How heavy is this glass of water?’

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm.  If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”
               
He continued,
“And that’s the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.”
                
“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.  When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.”

“So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don’t carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.  Whatever burdens you’re carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.”

So, my friend, put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don’t pick it up again until after you’ve rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
               
* Accept that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.
               
* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
               
* Always wear stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
               
* Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be “Recalled” by their maker.
               
* If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
               
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
               
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
               
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.
               
* Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.
               
* When everything’s coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
               
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
               
* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
               
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
               
* We could learn a lot from crayons… Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Hoping you have a relaxing Labor Day weekend …

Jo

I am especially thankful for having such wonderful people to call my clients and team members.  They enrich my life in more ways than they can ever imagine!

I hope that if you have a thriving business, you also have a Give Back Program in place.  If not, and you would like to start one, just send me an email at josutherland@keydentalsystems.com.  I’ll be happy to show you how you can structure such a program that benefits everyone involved.

You might also want to visit a very special website for a program that benefits our troops overseas.  It’s called the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program.  You can learn more about it by visiting http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/

Hoping you have a spectacular day …

Jo

The part that isn’t so simple is where to begin.  What do we all do when we get ready to go on a trip?  We print a map from our computer, we buy a GPS or we visit the nearest AAA and get a trip tik.  But regardless of how we get it, we end up with a map/directions on how to get where we are going.  So the key is to start with a map or an action plan. 

How can we increase production?  How can we collect what we produce?  How can we lower expenses?  I guess you notice I used the word “we”?  It is a joint project; you can’t do it alone. You can’t do procedures on a patient, construct action plans, manage the team and the practice and implement systems and protocols all at the same time.  Even if you are a multi-tasker, it is just impossible to do.  A good coach can be helpful in formatting the action plans and implementing systems and protocols.  If you want help, just send me an email.  I’ll be happy to help you travel in the right direction …

Jo Sutherland

Now that we have begun a new year, I hope that you have spent some quiet time reflecting on the past year and just exactly what your wishes are for the upcoming year. Do you want less stress or is that part okay and you really don’t mind a little more stress if only you could be more productive? Do you want an increase in new patients? Make a wish list and then identify what it would take to get there. If you don’t think you can identify those things or don’t have the time to get them implemented, email me at josutherland@keydentalsystems.com.

To quote from one of my favorite books: “If you want to build vast Equity in your practice, then go to work on your practice, building it into a business that works every single time. … Go to work on your practice to build a totally integrated turnkey system that delivers exactly what you promised every single time. … Go to work on your practice to package it and make it stand out from the Doctors’ practices you see everywhere else.”  (From the book E-Myth Physician by Michael Gerber)

Good luck in setting your goals and mapping out how to achieve them. Let me know how it goes.

Jo Sutherland

This is a great time of year for a WHITENING SPECIAL.  Some offices are offering a certain dollar amount off and others are doing half price specials.  Whatever you choose to do, make sure you market it well.  Tent cards placed around the office, flyers, print ads, email newsletters, statement stuffers – these are all really good ways to market any promotion. 

Maybe you would like to share what is working in your office.  Feel free to comment.

We are having our first really good cold spell with a hard frost and 20 degree temps at night.  I think this year we just might have a White Christmas!

Have a splendid day…

Jo

Here at Key Dental Systems, we have many clients who are doing as well or better than this same time last year and a few who are behind in their numbers.  One reason for beginning this new blog was to give our clients and others a way to stay in touch and ask whatever comes to mind, whether it be at lunch time or the middle of the night.  (Yes, I know some of you wake in the middle of the night and think of something you want to explore or a question that has been nagging at you because I receive emails in the wee hours of the morning!)  Now you have a venue by which to get answers not only from Key Dental but others in our dental world as well.  My goal is to make information more readily available and make you more productive.  After all, knowledge is power.

I, Jo Sutherland, will be writing to you periodically (I don’t promise daily!) and hopefully you will find the tidbits helpful.  If you have any suggestions for content, please suggest away!  Ideas are greatly appreciated.

It’s now nearing the end of November.  Many offices have sent out letters to their patients who have insurance benefits remaining.  Some were very economically saavy and emailed this letter to their patients.  Caution:  Don’t insert a dollar amount quoting how much the patient has in remaining benefits.  Your computer could have calculated incorrectly or you might have the wrong renewal month in the computer.  The patient may have had treatment in a specialist’s office and you might not know that amount of benefit that was used.  Also, be aware of your wording in this letter and the overtone.  You want it to exude a feeling of “we care about you and your treatment needs” and you want it to be informative.  You also want patients to understand that you don’t base treatment needs on insurance benefits but that you will help them to get the most from their insurance.  If you want an example of a really good letter to use for this purpose (it might be a little late in coming for this year but there’s always time if you email it), please email josutherland@keydentalsystems.com.

We had beautiful fall color (yellow, red, umber and even purple!) this year due to all the rain in October.  We’re still having warm days and lots of sunshine.  I hope your weather is just as gorgeous …

Have a glorious day!

Jo