5 Harsh Truths

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Alun Rees

I read many blogs, articles and books. Often I come across an idea, principle or thought that I know I have read somewhere else but the writer claims is original. I’m not talking about stealing secrets or blatant plagiarism – if you steal from one person it’s plagiarism, steal from many it’s research. I do try to acknowledge my sources, often when I post here I’ll provide a link to the original if I am able to remember it.

Today is no exception, this comes from Daniel Priestly’s blog. written in 2016. It applies to many people I meet who seem to think that success is an overnight phenomenon. 

Daniel Priestley’s Harsh Truths: 

  1. It’s hard and it get’s harder. You’re taking on peoples problems. You are taking on problems for your customers, for your staff, for your family and ultimately yourself.
  2. No one is coming to save you. Removing the hope that someone is coming to save you leaves you with the realisation that this business is in your hands.
  3. There’s no big wins only incremental progress. The good news is that soon as you accept that progress is all that’s needed you can keep moving forward and stop getting distracted.
  4. In order to do the work you love, you have to win the work. As soon as you accept this idea, winning business becomes fun.
  5. No one thing will work. There’s no fool proof system, there’s no magic bullet and there’s no people who just work hard without leadership. Every system will need to be refined, every cutting edge strategy will become common place, every hot product will cool off, every ace team member will need training.

“The main thing that makes business miserable is false expectations. If you want it to be easy, it gets damn hard. Paradoxically, If you embrace the struggle, it’s loads of fun.”

 

 

 

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The Monday Morning Quote #590

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Alun Rees

“The Past is in Your Head”

The Future is in Your Hands”

Padraig O’Driscoll, Seanchaí

 

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Stop Hiding. Wisdom from Carl Richards.

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Alun Rees

Regular readers of this blog will know that I hold Carl Richards in high esteem. His simple messages supported by drawings are always worth a look and a thought. This one is especially good. I seem to attract procrastinators (or perhaps they attract me), Carl’s words on the subject are most appropriate and I am happy to share.

You can find out more about Carl and sign up to his newsletter HERE

“There’s something you want to do. Maybe even something you need to do. And you’re not doing it.

The reason you’re not doing it is because you’re hiding.

The reason you’re hiding is because there is work to be done, and that work is either scary, or hard, or boring, or all of the above.

So instead, you’re reading your eighteenth book of the year on time management, tweeting about the economy, and Instagramming motivational pictures.

(Actually, you’re reading your emails. Don’t ask me how I know.)

Might I make a suggestion?

Just stop.

All of those are places to hide.

I repeat: There’s something you want to do. Maybe even something you need to do. And you’re not doing it.

Stop procrastinating. Stop looking for a new trick, a new #hack.

Take all that time and put it into just getting the work done.

It’s that simple.”

-Carl

 

Filed under: 7 Pillars of Successful Dental Business, Blog, Business, Personal Development, Success, Systems, Time management | Leave a comment »

First. Know your potential customers/clients

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Alun Rees

If I was to employ someone to assist me with my marketing I would like them to know and understand what I do. Not in depth, of course, that would come after an initial call but I would like to think that they would bother to find out a little bit more about me.

The person who does help me did and continues to reflect what I do, the services I provide and so on – they are a professional and apply their knowledge, experience and skills for the benefit of their clients.

It seems that many Linkedin users who sell marketing services put the words, “dentist or dentistry” into a search and then send an invitation to connect so that they can sell me their services.

A recent typical message was, “Hey Alun, we’d like to send you 15-30 new clients in and around your area who are looking for a dental practice, do you have capacity for more clients right now?” My answer was, “Those individuals would be patients were I looking and I’m not. I wish you well.”

And somebody please save me from the host of individuals who want to help me find more Invisalign leads, especially in the “Greater New York” area…

As a client said to me recently, “SOME marketing people are the 21st century equivalent of Yellow Pages salespeople” – and I suppose in some ways they are.

 

Filed under: 7 Pillars of Successful Dental Business, Blog, Marketing, Sales | Leave a comment »

…and I thought self control was always a good thing.

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Alun Rees

Sometimes you have to admit that everything you thought was wrong was (possibly) right. Could it be that all those good habits, all that resisting temptation and weeks of denial were for nothing?

Is it possible that beating myself up after the third chocolate digestive and saying “no” to things that would have been fun but would have distracted me from my goals may well have done me more good than harm?

I now find out that there is a “Dark Side” to self control. Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Kokoris and Stavrova point out the downsides of resisting temptation.

It is true that people with strong self control have better health, relationships, finances and careers and fewer problems with overeating, overspending, procrastination and unethical behaviour.

However there is a downside:

Self control:

  • Can restrict emotional experiences.

  • May lead to long term regret.

  • Can lead to increased workload.

  • Can be used for ill.

  • Isn’t for everyone.

  • Can lead to long term bias.

Before being full on about “self control” perhaps we should practice some “self compassion”, learn to know and like ourselves, perhaps cut ourselves a little slack and be more realistic.

Read the full paper HERE

I’ll have another marshmallow now please.

Filed under: 101 Things they didn't teach you at Dental School, 7 Pillars of Successful Dental Business, Blog, Business, Coaching, Mental Health, Personal Development, Philosophy | Leave a comment »

The Monday Morning Quote #589

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Alun Rees

“Any idiot can face a crisis — it’s day to day living that wears you out”

Anton Chekov

via John Naughton

 

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In Praise of….Toastmasters

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Alun Rees

“It takes one hour of preparation for each minute of presentation time.”

I joined the fledgling West Cork Toastmasters in September 2014. I was determined to take my speaking more seriously. I was fed up of being an enthusiastic but ultimately unproductive presenter.

“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.”

Toastmasters is an organisation that was founded in 1924 by Ralph Smedley, the first club being formed in Santa Ana, California. The concept has proved successful, there are currently 16,400 clubs with more than 352,000 members in 141 countries. Clubs meet regularly, my own club meets every Saturday morning, with structured meetings where members present prepared speeches, have an opportunity to speak off the cuff with impromptu “Table Topics”and finally evaluate fellow members’ speeches.

“Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent.

There is an organised structure of progress through both speeches and leadership roles. Competitions between clubs present the opportunity to compete at national and international level and also give an opportunity to observe some excellent speakers.

“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.”

The fact that I have had to think more about what I am saying, about the structure of my speeches and all aspects of speechcraft and presenting means that I have become a better, more organised and focussed presenter. It also means that I have joined a worldwide community of people dedicated to self improvement through speaking.

“A wise man speaks because he has something to say, a fool speaks because he has to say something.”

People come to Toastmasters for different reasons and as a newcomer to West Cork I have had the opportunity to meet new people and have made some great friends.

If you want to become a better speaker, look out your local Toastmasters club and give it a go.

https://www.toastmasters.org

 

Filed under: Blog, Business, Personal, Speaking | Leave a comment »

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