Since the beginning of this year, I find myself in the mood to study. Last year, because of the baby’s erratic schedules, my focus was to just get enough sleep at night. Once the baby started to sleep longer at night, we gained some predictability in our schedules. And I’ve finally found time to think about my career. 

Thinking of my day in the form of blocks is what helps. The predictable times for me to get any studying done is the morning between 5-7 AM and at night between 9-11 PM. If I am able to study at least 2 hours a day, assuming the remaining 2 hours get devoted to errands, of which there are always a ton, I go to bed feeling grateful. Doing a little each day helps more than pushing everything off to the weekend. In fact, the weekend is probably when I get the least done because our focus is to play with and enjoy the baby. When the baby is down for her naps, I am either resting, preparing her next meal, or cleaning the mess she left behind- haha. As a parent, there’s never a dull moment to just sit and stare into the sky!

Why was this post labelled practice? 

I have been drawing lots of inspiration recently, from a podcast called Founders and the subsequent reading/listening material its host, David Senra, recommends. I guess it’s been a while since I heard any typical dental podcasts. I listened to so many a few years ago, and at such a feverish pace, that I grew tired of them. I also think that sometimes, we tend to have groupthink. When you listen to other dentists, and hang out with other dentists constantly, we remain in a bubble of our own, unable to see what else is out there. 

I recently came across an old youtube video released by the University of Austin featuring Bill Gurley’s lecture to MBA students. In it, the famed investor behind Benchmark Capital (Uber, Zillow, Stitch Fix), talks about what patterns he sees in the most successful entrepreneurs of all time. He mentions 5 aspects, 3 of which I will delve into today. 

Practice daily

What this really means is to hone your craft. Just because we went to a top dental school, does not mean we are set for life. On the contrary, education, like a knife, can get rusty. It’s important to keep sharpening our skill sets and learn more everyday. And in this day of the internet, there is no excuse. Vivalearning has free webinars that can be accessed from anywhere. Youtube is a world in and of itself. And ofcourse, there’s good old fashioned CE produced by the ADA and AGD. There’s also a variety of study clubs for in person classes where we live. 

But, the simplest thing to do is to read a journal, watch a video, listen to a lecture or podcast daily. A little everyday goes a long way.

Learn everything you can about your chosen field. Study its greats. Study its history. You should know everything about it and be much, much higher than your peers by doing so. 

Network 

Networking seemed like a social thing, and at times, it still does. Networking can also seem like a chore. Especially for a working parent, when what you really want to do outside work is be with the kids as much as possible. The working parent guilt is so real. You feel terrible the moment they cry when you walk out the door. And when you come in and are greeted by their happy, wanting faces, it pulls at your heart strings. 

Still, networking in its truest form is meeting people who share common interests as you. Maybe it is other entrepreneurs. Maybe it is other working parents!!  Meeting new people can help us find our mentors. And being mentored is very critical to one’s success. Almost nobody does it all alone. 

What do we do if we dont have any mentors? Well that is where biographies, books, and podcasts come in. You have mentors at your fingertips.

Do what you love 

This is so hard. Maybe your career is not what you wanted it to be. Maybe your parents selected it for you. If you didn’t choose it, maybe now is your time to finally do something of your own choice. 

If you decide to build a business in something you do not fully love, ‘somebody else who is doing it out of their love will come to crush you’. This is what Bill Gurley says. This is why it’s important to do what you love. So it never feels like work and you never burnout. 

If it’s dentistry, what do you love the most about dentistry? Is it the clinical stuff? Is it mentoring others? Is it serving certain kinds of patients? Is it lecturing? Traveling for CE? Find what makes you happy and go chasing after it full steam ahead. 

Limitations 

We all have some limitations in our mind. Money, time, family obligations and others. And there are some periods in our life wherein we cannot do it all. And that’s okay. Remember life is long and we need to also give ourselves time to breathe and savor each moment. But, when you’re ready, put your armor on and be ready to go into battle. Going all in is exciting and fun. 

Can’t wait for another day of dentistry!