You might wonder why joining a network marketing company was such a push out of my comfort zone. I was never any good at marketing. In fact, I have always shied away from it simply because it never interested me. But it’s more than just a lack of interest. It really comes down to the fact that I’ve always worried that if I asked others for business, or favors, or help that I would inconvenience them; and the last thing I ever wanted to be was a nuisance. Add to that the very common personality trait we dentists have: we...
If you are seriously thinking about making the move out of dentistry, don’t miss this next post. In the past I’ve shared some tips about how to break free emotionally, and today Rick from Rick’s Rome is back to share some great practical tips about how to get the process started. I know many of you loved reading his inspirational journey to find happiness, so here’s part 2 of his guest post on life after dentistry! ****** What about some practical advice for people looking to change? Well, every situation is different but there are a few things that you...
When you envision yourself years from now looking back on your life, what do you see? Do you see a life well-lived, or are you filled with regrets? In the book The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing, author, Bronnie Ware, explores this very subject. As a palliative nurse caring for patients during the last months of their lives, she had the chance to learn the most common things people regretted in their own lives. I haven’t read the book, but an article on The Guardian recently caught my attention. I guess I’m...
I’ve often used the analogy that my career in dentistry was like being in a relationship. At times you could say it was slightly abusive, and at times it was very supportive and loving. Whether those descriptions are a bit dramatic or not, one thing is true: we had a very strong bond. Dentistry was a huge part of me and it was hard to let go, even if I really wanted out. As I journey through this career change, that relationship analogy journeys on with me. I was married to dentistry. You could say it was my first long-term...
What is the Slight Edge anyway? You don’t have to be cool like The Fonz to have it. It’s not some magical ability to bump a jukebox with your fist and get the right song to play. And you don’t have to have the “it factor” that Angelina Jolie has. It’s not having thousands of people in awe of every move you make. And you certainly don’t even have to possess that special charm Ryan Gosling has with the ladies. Really, it’s not about the 6-pack abs (though they are quite nice.) While these guys all might have the slight...
Guess what time it is? Time for another guest post! My friend over at Brush or Die (don’t you think that’s a little dramatic, buddy?) invited me to share a few thoughts on his site. He is starting dental school this fall, so we decided that in honor of that, I would share some of my tips about life in dental school. You’ll notice that his blog description says, “All Things Dental Except the Boring Stuff.” Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s why he asked me to write a post for him. So if you have more questions about dental school,...
In the past year, I’ve heard from many readers that share my sentiments about practicing dentistry and wanting to change. There was one element that I hadn’t really thought about sharing until someone brought it to my attention. A while back, I received an email from a man whose wife followed my blog because she, too, was unhappy in dentistry. He mentioned that as the spouse, he occasionally stopped in to read it looking for some insight and advice. There’s a fine balance of how you can lend support but maintain certain boundaries, and be firm yet gentle about what you...
Changing my career was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. You might be surprised to hear that leaving Dentistry was much harder than getting into it. The process of entering the field took work and determination, but it went with the flow. It was what I was supposed to do. I felt proud and hopeful. However, leaving it was rebellious, and I was going against the flow. I felt ashamed and afraid. Because of the fear and the challenges involved, I made many excuses that I thought were valid. And dammit, they were important! But those...
Has it started already? Are you dreading going to work tomorrow? Do you feel stuck, and you can’t seem to figure out a way out of your job? I have the answer for you. Okay, so maybe it’s not the answer, but it could be an answer. And if it’s not even that, it could lead to an answer. Enter this travel contest. It’s Mydestination.com‘s Biggest Baddest Bucket List Competition. The prize is an all-expense paid trip around the world for 6 months plus a $50,000 cash prize when you get home. Sure, it’s not for everyone. If you own...
For years I ignored the fact that I was unhappy practicing dentistry. A few times in my decade of practice, I seriously considered getting out. But each time, I convinced myself to stay. My biggest excuse was the economy. As luck would have it, right when I concluded I wanted to change, things started to tank. People were out of jobs, and I told myself I should have felt lucky to at least have one. While that excuse was very real, it was just that– an excuse. I don’t regret it because it forced me to stay in the career...
