Are You Making a Life or Just Making a Living?

Remember what it felt like to be a child discovering new things each day? Remember the feeling of wonder and accomplishment as you developed new skills and found things to be passionate about?

For that matter, do you remember your first years of college, and how you changed through those years, growing, learning and redefining yourself? Chances are, regardless of how you felt about any particular classes, you look back and recall how life seemed more exhilarating and full of interesting choices.

So what happened? A lot of people will tell you that “real life” intervened. People will say that making a living became an ongoing priority that meant sacrificing personal and professional exploration as they settled into the necessary routine of maintaining a busy practice.

But take a look at the most successful people around you, from all walks of life, and you'll find that they do not resist change in their routine, in fact, they demand it. These people know that staying on top of their game means continual exploration and re-invention – it means staying in that zone. Successful people are not just interested in making a living; they are committed to making a life.

Change is a fundamental part of life, and the dental practice is no exception. There will always be changes – team, patients, practice growth, technology, your clinical skills – and you have two ways to deal with it. You can either react to the changes as circumstances dictate, or embrace change and actively pursue new directions. If you choose to embrace change it's because you want to. Bringing new ideas into the practice inspires a sense of purpose, keeping you passionate and excited about what you do.

Staying in the zone is really about growth. While economic growth is certainly a welcomed side effect, personal growth is vital in keeping our lives purposeful and fulfilling. Achieving personal growth is about surrounding yourself with a community of like-minded people who share your passion, facilitate your progress and see your higher value and challenge you to reach the next level.

Most importantly, personal growth is about you seeing your higher value. In the end what really drives us to stay on our top of our game is that voice within that says, “That was great. But I can do better.”