"I don't have enough time," is a common refrain in today's world. In fact it's probably among the most universal conditions. Who among us would not like to have more time?

The thing is, there is a big difference between the person who says this because they are constantly time-broke and the person who is saying, "I am loving life so much, there is not enough time to do all the things I love." One is feeling pressured and limited; the other is feeling rich with choices.

In other words, it's not worthwhile to say you don't have enough time. Nobody does. But it is instructive to observe how the most successful people spend theirs. And what you find very often with people who seem to get the most from their time is that they are very strategic about the time they put in. Just as we all recognize that you have to spend the money in the right way in order to make money, they know that you have to spend time wisely in order to generate the best return.

In some parts of life we recognize this instinctively. The couple that often complained of not having enough time when they were childless suddenly find themselves devoting endless hours to the precious new addition to the family. A patient who comes in asking for a complete restorative makeover in time for an upcoming wedding somehow is worked into a tight schedule. When the value is right – for you and for them – you find the time.

The question then becomes: Are you finding that time and making the right investments when it comes to your own professional development? Because when you think about what will make you a more successful dentist (and therefore a choices-rich person), it comes down to two things: Doing better at what you know and finding out about what you don't know. It's a commitment to ongoing discovery, and it takes time. But it is the time you spend in those 12 to 20 days a year that goes a long way to determining how you will feel about the rest of the time in your life.

So try not to think in terms of "not enough time" and start thinking about "how can I spend the right time on the right things?" After all, you can't buy more time, but you can invest in better choices.


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