As 2012 wound down, I encouraged my readers to set goals for the New Year. Well, believe it or not, we’re already nearly 25% through 2013! So today we’re going to take some time to examine the progress we’ve made so far this year.
If possible, now would be a great time to quickly review the goals and objectives you have for yourself and for your practice this year. Then, take a look at the questions below as we evaluate your progress.
1) How are you doing on the specific goals you set for yourself? Have you made significant progress? Are you on track to reach the goal by the end of the year? Are there any unforeseen challenges or obstacles that have made this process more difficult? If so, what can you do to overcome them?
2) Have you been able to grow your practice so far this year? At the end of the day, just about everything you do as a dentist comes down to growing your practice. Has your practice grown – or has it been a struggle to acquire new patients?
3) Are you using your time effectively so far in 2013? We spend a great deal of time in this space discussing the importance of systemization. Systemizing your practice basically means that “lower level” functions (such as ordering supplies or managing every single aspect of your staff’s workday) come off your plate and are handled by your team. This frees you up to spend more time with patients and more time strategizing and planning for the future. How have you done in this area so far this year? Do you spend most of your day performing essential functions –or is much of your time consumed with less important tasks?
If the answer to most of these questions isn’t very good, don’t worry. The good news is that you still have plenty of time to turn things around and make 2013 a great year. What’s important, however, is that you identify the problems or challenges that are keeping you from meeting your goals. And once you’ve identified them, create a plan to mitigate or overcome them.
Over the years, I have found that understanding the purpose behind your work is a key factor in your ultimate success or failure. In other words, if you want to succeed, you need to have a clear vision in mind that you’re working towards. In our context, the goals and objectives that you set for the year are a big part of your purpose. The reason you’re getting up early each day and coming in to work is because you’re working towards something significant. Think back to the first week of the New Year. If you’re like most people, you were excited, upbeat, and optimistic. This is partially due to the fact that most of us begin the New Year with our resolutions in mind. We’re motivated and we work hard because we want to accomplish big things in the New Year. (That’s why gyms and health clubs always fill up in January).
But after a few weeks, the enthusiasm dies down. Don’t let this happen to you—take a few moments right now to review your goals and sharpen your focus as you continue building your practice throughout the year. If you’d like to learn more, or if you’d like some help getting back on track, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!