Exceptional Dental Practice Management

Long Weekend Ahead

    I'm headed to San Francisco!  I'm meeting my husband for a long weekend so I won't be posting for a few days.  When was the last time you did something spontaneous just to get away and do something different?  If it's been too long, do something about it.  It's important to have new experiences to keep from getting bored and stuck in a rut.  You don't have to fly all the way across the country to do it either.  Try a new type of exercise to get those endorphins going, take a class, go to a movie or try a new restaurant.  Just do something.  Ok, I'm  off.  I dread the plane flight, but I'll have fun when I get there.  I let you know how it goes.

Looking Back

    What fun!  I've been tagged  by Lin at the Telling It Like It Is blog for a meme that says I have to resurrect 5 archived posts that I've written.  Then I have to tag 5 other bloggers to do the same. Here are the rules:

 

Archive Meme Instructions: Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. … but there is a catch:

• Link 1 must be about family.

• Link 2 must be about friends.

• Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are… what you’re all about.

• Link 4 must be about something you love.

• Link 5 can be anything you choose.

Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better….and don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!

Link 1 is my Gratitude post.  Now I see why this meme was sent to me.  Re-reading this post made me smile and made me grateful all over again, which helps cut some positive neural pathways that I just talked about yesterday.

Link 2 is Who Are Your Giants?  These are the people who are always there for me, who go out of their way for me, and who take a chance on me.

Link 3 is How Did Fifty Get Here So Fast because it reminds me that it's all about how I think of what happens in my life that determines my view of it.

Link 4 is Desiderata.  It's a poem that I discovered as a teenager and which has been recently been brought back to my attention by someone special to me.  It's simply a good guide for living.

Link 5 is What's Your Practice Culture? because I think it applies to life in general.

    Wow, this meme got a lot deeper for me than I expected it to. 

    I tag:

• Gretchen Rubin from the Happiness Project blog.
• Linda and Robin from the Nice blog.
• Tim from the Carpe Factum blog.
• Kamala Lewis from Kamala's World.
• George Ambler from The Practice of Leadership.
  

 

Have a Nice Weekend

The Anti-Dentite

A Schtickle Of Fluoride?

This Won't Hurt A Bit

Injections Can Be Fun

This One's A Keeper

    I just have to tell you about something funny that happened yesterday.  At about 4:30 we saw a patient that had fractured a molar.  Our schedule is already pretty much filled for August and I wanted to try to get her back in right away for a crown prep.  I noticed a retired patient on the schedule at 2:00 today who I thought would be willing to postpone her appointment till later in the month.  She agreed and I put our patient in that time.  I walked up front to tell Janis about the change, but had to wait because she was on the phone.  Then I hear her say, "Hello, This is Janis at Dr. Price's office.  I'm calling to confirm your appointment for 2:00 tomorrow."  I walk back into the treatment room and there is our patient on her cell phone laughing her head off.  Janis saw the unconfirmed appointment on the schedule and was very annoyed with herself for not having all appointments confirmed at that point in the day and immediately called.  I usually mark an appointment like that confirmed when I make it but neglected to in my hurry.  How's that for an efficient front desk manager?  I'd say she's a keeper and so is this story.  It will definitely go in the journal I'm starting thanks to Gretchen Rubin.

Don't Forget The Cherries

    Once during the summer I bring in ice cream for the staff.  Yesterday was the day.  I almost thought it wasn't such a great idea.  Some of them grumbled about their figures and everyone just sat there when I started putting out the ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream and cherries.  I worried that I'd soon be looking at a gallon of melting ice cream. Then it started to get more exciting as they started assembling their treats.
    Once they started digging it, it seemed like a good idea after all.  They really enjoyed it and for a minute it seemed like a table full of kids in the summer.  By the time they were finished they were really happy and thanked me profusely.
    We have to remember the treats in life and we have to give the people who work hard for us a few of them.  If you don't, work can become a grind.  Having fun in the work place and being treated kindly spills over onto the patients.  So treat your staff once in a while. Surprise them with something unusual.  And don't forget the cherries.

This Got Me Thinking

    I have been accused of over-thinking, over-analyzing, over-reacting, being over the top, you name it, I seem to over-do things sometimes.  One reader even canceled his subscription to this weblog because he thinks I write too much to keep up with.  I was exhausting the poor guy.  I hope he never gets together with my husband or boss to compare notes.  The three of them would have a field day.  What got me thinking about all this?  Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project blog (which by now you know is a blog I love) tagged me as one of the five blogs that get her thinking.  It's a meme that was started by The Thinking Blog.  Well, you can imagine my delight in finding out that I make anyone think enough to mention it.  Once you are tagged, you have to tag five other blogs that make you think.  Of course, that got me thinking.  Who should I tag?

    I started thinking back to how I started this blog to begin with.  I was actually overdoing it too much at work and driving my boss nuts with my ideas and discussions.  My friend, Ed Brenegar writes the Leading Questions blog so he is the first person I'll tag as someone whose blog makes me think.  Ed is the person who suggested that I start writing this blog and I've had so many opportunities because of that suggestion.  His blog and anything he's ever told me is straightfoward and to the point. Thanks Ed, I needed that.

    One of the first blogs besides Ed's that I got interested in was the Bird's Eye View blog written by Susan Bird.  She is a warm, witty and interesting person who loves the art of conversation.  Being who I am, I thought, what's not to love about that?  Again, stay away from my husband and boss on the subject, "Does Linda like to talk?"  You wouldn't have time for the eye-rolling, guffawing and general long-suffering saga of "You have no idea of what she puts me through."  What do they know?  And besides, why would you want to listen to them rant when you could talk to me?

    If anyone can get anyone else thinking it's Ellen Weber.  She writes the Brain-based Business blog.  I now know more about my brain and the way it works than I ever thought I wanted to know.  It's fascinating and she makes you think about what you do and why you do it.  She also gives you tips on how to stop doing some of it.

    Every now and then do you find yourself thinking, "I Can't Say That!" ? Tammy Lenski writes a blog that will not only convince you that you can if you really think you should, but she'll tell you how to say it in a way that won't get you in trouble.  Ah yes, divine intervention.  Surely an angel lead me to her.  She has some really great advice and her Talking It Out in Ten guidelines are fantastic.  Check her out.

    Finally, last but not least, who among us never needs to Tune Up Your EQ? Galba Bright is a lovely man who writes a lovely blog.  His genuine niceness and fondness for all persons comes shining through every post.  It just makes me happy to read his site.  He really wants to help us help ourselves.

    Ok, so there are my five tags.  If you're one of them write a post linking to five blogs that make you think and also link back to the originator of this meme, The Thinking Blog.  Have fun.

Passion Or Obsession

    Galba Bright who writes the wonderful Tune Up Your EQ blog has tagged me to take part in the obsession or passion meme.  For readers who don't know what a meme is, as I understand it, it's like a game of tag except with words.  Anyone who knows me knows I have no problem talking and especially about what I like.  So here goes:

1.  First and foremost, I am passionate about my husband and 3 fantastic kids.  They are Mark (who just today was waved at by the Dali Lama), Kim, 25 who is a writer, lives in Chapel Hill, NC and is engaged to the wonderful Adam.  The wedding date is Oct. 20th.  I won't be blogging that day.  Next is Erik, 22, who will graduate magna cum laude from NC State University with a degree in mechanical engineering on this coming Friday the 11th (won't blog that day either).  He will continue at State in pursuit of his Master's Degree.  Finally, we have Nick, 17, our artist in residence.  Nick is a very creative guy who loves the outdoors and is the most laid-back, easy going person you'll ever meet.  He's a high school junior and the darling baby of our family.  Hope he doesn't see that last line.

1b.  I am passionately obsessed with my black lab Lucy.  I adopted her last September and I am nuts about her.  She sheds like crazy causing me to vacuum constantly, she's terrified of just about everything which makes me ferociously protective of her (the dog whisperer would have a field day with me), and she loves me to death and vice versa.  I'm currently trying to teach her to say I love you.  She's almost got it, too.

2.  I love, love, love the beach.  Summer is my favorite time of year and I love to vacation at the beach.  It is the only time I truly relax (well, sort of).  I like everything about it and it's perfect if any or all of the kids can join us.  I would consider the beach to be as close to Nirvana as I'm ever going to get.

3.  I love my friends.  My oldest friend, Diane goes back to when we were 10 yrs. old.  We met telling dirty jokes in the bathroom at a girl scout meeting.  We didn't last long in the girl scouts. Her granddaughter will be my daughter's flower girl.  My maid-of-honor, Bernadette is also Kim's Godmother and now lives near Kim and Erik and watches over them.  She brings Erik food every week to keep him from starving.  If you saw Erik, you'd send him food, too.  He didn't get my metabolism, that's for sure.  My dear friends, Jim and Nancy are fun, supportive and irreplaceable.  Well, let's just say that there's more and I appreciate every single one of them.  You all know who you are because I always tell you how thankful I am for you.

4.  That brings me to gratitude which encompasses many of the things I am passionate about.  I am so grateful to have family and friends that love me, work that I love to do, a nice home and a comfortable life and the awareness that I have it all and am grateful for it.  Gratitude enables the true enjoyment of all that you have.

5.  I am passionate about learning and self-expansion.  I'm not talking waist-line expansion, I'm not too crazy about that.  I mean learning who I am, where I can grow and how I can apply it in my life.  I love to read and learn more.  I am passionate finding better ways to communicate and work and that all comes from learning and self-growth.

6.  Did they say 5, well, 6 won't hurt will it? I love my work.  I am privileged to manage the dental practice of a dentist that I admire and to work with a great staff. My boss has let me grow in my position and as a person. I love what I do and usually have to be told to go home.  What a geek, huh?

OK, so who minds that I snuck more than 5 things in there?  I'm sorry, I'm half Italian, I'm passionate about a lot of things.  Oh, I forgot cooking, I love to do that.  Uh oh, there I go again.  I better tag my 5 before I get carried away.  If I tag you just link back to me in your post and tag 5 of your buddies.  Here we go.  I tag: The Dental Insider (I don't know his name), Teresa Duncan at the Implant Blog, Ben at DMDStudent blog, Tom Morris (not really a blogger, but maybe he'll play, he's very busy though), and George Ambler.

Thanks for including me Galba.  Two more, I love to have fun and make others laugh and I love Tuscany.  Well, I love Proseco and I love Cosmopolitans (when they're made right), and I'm obsessed with American Idol.  Do you think I'll ever be allowed to do one of these meme things again?  I'm such a cheater.

Thanks For the Laugh, Pauline!

Here's one of the ways that our patients make my day more fun. I was talking to a patient today and I mentioned my new fondness for putting videos on my weblog. She passed this one on to me. It's such fun I wanted to share it with you.

You may know that I am terrible at both singing and dancing, but it never stops me from doing either. My daughter will see this and worry that it will give me some new moves to try out at her wedding. Don't worry Kim, I'm not half as talented as this guy.

How Much Fun Is This?

I just got tagged!  Blogger  Greg Stielstra tagged my friend and fellow blogger Ed Brenegar  to play "5 Things You Don't Know About Me."  So having been tagged, of course I'll play.

1.  I love to sing and dance to "Rocky Top".  Oh, yes, I do.  Much to my          husband's disdain, since he is my dancing partner.  Nothing fills his heart with dread more than the opening strains of that timeless classic.  By the way, I know I am not good at either singing or dancing.  It matters not at all to me.

2. I once lost my top while dancing a polka at one of my husband's (then fiance's) business dinners.  Thank God I was only 20 and everything looked pretty good.  It wasn't my fault, my husband was spinning me too fast and centrifugal force had it's way.  Notice how the dancing and embarrassing my husband theme keeps cropping up?  I don't remember him complaining about the sneak peek preview, however.

3. I grew up in a two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, NY with two brothers, who I shared a room with.  I ruled that room.  I was the middle child and they tended to like to try to get me to side with them in times of trouble.  So, in exchange for extra room in the corner for my Barbie collection, I'd swear to anything.

4. I once talked my way into Tom Jones dressing room.  My poor husband was with me, don't worry.  I am not only a life-long fan, I am his biggest fan. My mother and I used to watch his show every Saturday night while eating Arthur Treacher's fish and chips on snack tables.  I would literally get goosebumps on my arms.   I don't want to hear anything bad about Tom, and if you insist on making a negative remark about him, I won't like you quite as much as I used to.  Sorry, that's just the way it is.  Bragging, but, while I was in his dressing room, he kissed me, right on the lips.  Don't worry, remember, my husband was there.  I hope that shows you that if you want something bad enough, you can get it.  That was my third attempt to meet TJ.

5. I am a tomboy.  I love to play sports.  I used to really love to play football and softball until falling down started to hurt more than it used to.  I was better than my younger brother at football and secretly relished the fact. One time, my friends and I were playing boys against girls in a tackle football game (it doesn't turn out as good for the boys as you might think, keep reading) and I tackled my boyfriend (he was a skinny little guy) and broke his ribs.  What a baby he acted like!  Went home and told his mother.  That was the end of that romance! I like to get sweaty and dirty and stinky when I play so I feel really sporty.  Eww, right?  I made All-Star's playing first base when I was 13 and I still love that I did.(can you say Glory Days?) 

So there's 5 things you may not have known or wanted to know about me.  This was fun, thanks Ed.  So, now I get to tag 5 people.  I will tag Galba Bright , Susan Bird , Michael McKinney , Dr. Tammy Lenski , and Kathy Sierra .

Thanks for indulging me, if you bothered to get this far.

Laugh It Up!

    A lot of funny things happen in dental offices.  People are just basically funny even when they don't think they are.  Sometimes the curmudgeon is the funniest of all.  They take their angst so seriously. Most people just like to laugh though.  A staff that has fun together and finds a lot to laugh at and be happy about builds camaraderie. That increases staff retention and patient confidence.  When patients come into a happy office they go back to the operatory in a better mood.  We start out our mornings with a joke of the day at the end of the morning huddle.  I supply the joke and I must say there is as much groaning and eye-rolling as there is laughing but, hey, I try.  We try to find humor wherever we can and create it as much as possible.  What funny things happened to you today?  Click on comment and share the fun with the rest of us.