Change: Do You Have the Passion to Pursue It?

There is one character trait that I have found to be a very reliable indicator for success in life: a passion to pursue change.

Most people don't like change very much. Even the ones who say they do are often talking more about novelty and a break from routine than about real, meaningful, lasting change. Any significant change, by definition, is a disturbance of the status quo, and most people prefer to minimize the disturbances in their lives.

A Change Can Make a BIG Difference

But since change is inevitable—just look at how the profession of dentistry has evolved in the last 20 or 30 years—a large part of your success will be marked by your approach to those inevitable disturbances. Good dentists learn to respond effectively to change by adapting to new circumstances and new expectations. Great dentists drive change with vision and energy. It's a big difference.

It's the difference between repairing and replacing things in the facility as they age or break down versus following a structured reinvestment plan for always staying current with the right technology and equipment.

It's the difference between dealing with team conflicts, issues, and turnover as they occur versus having a clear approach for developing team alignment and creating a culture of success.

It's the difference between cherry-picking clinical continuing education courses in a bid to keep up with what other dentists in the area are doing versus having a layered, progressive clinical development plan.

It's about having what every true leader instinctively creates—a continually evolving "Change Agenda" that keeps you challenged and growing and moving toward the next great thing. You'll still have to respond to those curve balls that come your way, of course, but the important things is that you take control of the direction of your life and career, and that the big changes that occur in your life are part of an overarching vision that unfolds on your timeline and on your terms.


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