Some people may think I'm a workaholic who never takes time for a vacation. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. I love vacations. I religiously schedule several of them a year. Why? They renew my energy. They don't take away from my ability to run my company or give 100 seminars a year. They make them possible.

I really put myself into my work. It's exciting and consumes a lot of energy. I've found many techniques for recharging, but regularly taking time off is one of the best.

I feel badly for workaholics and others who don't take vacations, because they're missing an opportunity to reach a higher level of their potential. My advice is to get away from your practice and your home to seek out new experiences and a change of scenery. You'll find yourself energized, rejuvenated and inspired.

Feeling tired, frustrated and burned out? Don't dream of retirement. Take a dream vacation and recharge.

It all begins with the telephone. It's where your relationship with every new patient really begins—or fails to begin. When the phone rings and it turns out to be someone considering coming to your practice, what should happen?

You want the staff member who answers to be pleasant and helpful... answer any questions... schedule the caller for an appointment. But there's more that should happen. The patient should get something else out of the call: a sense of trust and value for your practice.

The way to accomplish this is with our training technique known as Value Creation Scripting™. It enables front desk staff to build value for the dentist, team and practice, which leads to strong patient relationships and increased production.

Unlike many other types of businesses, dentistry is not practiced on the Internet. Yet. But every dental practice can benefit from having and actively using a professionally designed website.

First of all, it lets the world know you’re there … like a modern version of the proverbial shingle our predecessors would hang on Main Street.

Your site also puts a “face” on your practice.

It can help bring in new patients, too. If a friend suggests I come to you for dental care, I may check out your website before deciding. If I like what I see, the relationship has begun—even before I make my first call to your office.  

Use a professional web designer to create your website, rather than taking the do-it-yourself or nephew-with-a-computer approach. You’ll not only get a better-looking site but also one that functions well and shows up on the first page of search engine results.                     

I recently had the honor of being interviewed by Dr.BiCuspid.com for its Leaders in Dentistry series. In a wide-ranging discussion, Editor-In-Chief Kathy Kincade asked me a variety of questions about the current state of dentistry in the post-recession economy.

Here are a few highlights:

On The Impact Of The Recession

We are a permanently changed profession in my opinion. Consumers have developed new habits and behaviors in terms of decision-making. The consumer purchasing psychology has changed, with longer decision-making times.

What Can Dentists Do To Spur Growth

The first step is to do a practice analysis. Too many dentists make knee-jerk changes without really understanding their situation. Before making any significant change, you need to analyze the practice itself. Analysis is all about comparison and identifying opportunities.

The Future Of Dentistry

I believe that any practice that implements proven business systems will have 30% to 50% growth potential in one to three years. We see it here all the time, with every type of practice, so we know it can be done. So I am very optimistic about the future of dentistry. The only difference is you are going to have to run an excellent business. Dentistry has always been focused on excellent care, but now we also have to run an excellent business.

To read the full interview, go here.