Have you ever seen an elite athlete in the hours leading up to an important game or event? In many cases they won't even talk with other people as they get intensely focused and into "the zone."

Why? It's because that even though their success depends mostly on their physical abilities, they understand that the right mental preparation makes all the difference. You have to be mind-ready to compete at a high level.

Compare that with how most people approach their workdays, where they only thing they are really prepared for is how much time they are going to spend there. They may have prepared for certain tasks, the way dentists prepare treatment plans and the operatory for a specific case, but they don't think about preparing their minds and get themselves into the right "zone" to face the day.

Personally, on a day when I have to go on stage to deliver a presentation, I take at least an hour beforehand where I shut myself off from the people around me and go over my material one more time, alone. That way, when I walk out to greet the audience I'm free of distractions and my mind is totally immersed in the moment. I'm ready to give it my all. It's also a technique I use throughout every workday, taking a few minutes every hour or so to center my thoughts, remind myself of my purpose, and focus my energies.

Try it yourself. Take a few moments every morning before you enter the office to think about the day ahead and get yourself into the right headspace. Do a brief mind-check between patients to make sure you are totally focused and don't let other events of the day intrude. I'm not saying you have to approach it with the intensity of a pro athlete and shut yourself off from the world. But if you are serious about giving yourself to the moment and getting more from life, you need to consciously free yourself of the distractions you carry in your head and get yourself mind-ready to be great.


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Commenter's Profile Image Barry Polansky
January 11th, 2013
FOCUS--a wonderful thing -- the key to time management---and good yoga.
Commenter's Profile Image Muna Strasser
January 11th, 2013
I love this commentary. Just this morning I was charging myself up and thinking about how one's attitude and focus really sets the tone for the day, and often the outcome. While it is impossible to always be upbeat and overly cheerful to everyone (which is unfortunately what many people look for in a leader), focus and determination to make that day great, and accomplish the tasks set forth, are what is satisfying to most of us. I also like to let staff know in morning meeting if there is a particular patient that I find a distraction to staying focused, that I need extra help with, for whatever reason (especially if it's a difficult patient). Often times just that very act of passing the baton and having someone else step up to the plate helps me stay clear about what needs to get accomplished in that visit. Thanks for posting!