“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” Brené Brown This is not a ‘humble-brag’, although no matter what I do it still reads a bit like one: When you give a lecture and people send you personal messages of thanks…well, it really means a lot. It feels…
“The common denominator of success — the secret of success of every man who has ever been successful — lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.” The Common Denominator of Success is as timely and inspirational as it was when it was first delivered in 1940. Though it was written…
An ambitious dentist may feel like they never have quite enough time, for their vision is vast and time is brief. It’s week 8 of the Covid-19 lockdown and if you’re anything like me you will probably have found yourself, at times, with more time on your hands. I gave a webinar last week on ‘happiness’. One of the pernicious ingredients…
I had a conversation last week with a young gentleman. He is working in a mostly private practice and I vaguely know his principal from previous educational events. He wanted to talk about his state of mind as he is – without any warning, and for apparently no reason he could think of – becoming anxious. Worryingly and increasingly so. Perhaps,…
It has been written before, but the problems you are facing are the same as those faced by every other dentist. You worked hard to get where you are, you passed the exams and you got through the interview. So why, for some, does this feel hard? Why does it feel like the plan hasn’t come together? Why do you feel…
The Power of Stories You may or may not have seen the latest Star Wars movie. Raheel hasn’t seen the first or any of the others. So, excluding him, this was for many the ninth instalment in a saga. Started in 1977 and ending in 2019 – some 42 years later. A saga close to many viewers’ hearts. Now opinion about…
Our work isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s downright hard. But mostly, with experience and skill development and communicative puissance, it can be a wonderful career; and nearly every dentist I know is someone kindhearted, good and diligent. They are honest, clever and trying to make their way in the world like everyone else. Nevertheless, a collective reality check – a parody…
Before working with Raheel, I spent most of my professional career in the company of scared, insecure, aggressive, opinionated men who felt threatened by the challenge of others’ intellectual prowess. They would happily belittle, ignore or even fight back against people who questioned their opinion. I am sure some of you came across tutors like this during your undergraduate career. A…
The alarm clock wakes you up. Its insistence is almost violent. It’s certainly not welcome or nice. Your first thought, your first moment of recognition of your re-emergence into this world from a still incomplete sleep cycle, is a deep internal “Oh no”. You reluctantly remember this noise is a command…and you are compelled to obey. The command is not something…
It has been an incredibly interesting Christmas break for me this year. I managed to have two whole weeks off and spent virtually every moment of it with my family, which, frankly, was wonderful. Aside from that, I have never, NEVER, had so many contacts from dentists offering positive feedback on their professional and personal development, reporting where their career…
