Episode 476: Innovate, Create, and Think Differently

The Dental A-Team has some big moves on the horizon — keep an eye out at Authority Magazine and USA Today ;) In light of these opportunities, on Kiera’s mind are moves to keep the passion alive in the dental industry. She touches on tips to not only be inspired each day by dentistry, but also ways to keep your success going:

• Take CE, expand yourself

• Seek to become an elite business owner

• Encourage a rock-solid culture

• Get yourself a coach

You don’t have to do all of these at once. Rather, pick one and watch yourself grow. 

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Transcript: 

0:00:05.6 Kiera Dent: Hey everyone, welcome to the Dental A Team Podcast. I'm your host, Kiera Dent. And I had this crazy idea that maybe I could combine a doctor and a team member's perspective. Because let's face it, dentistry can be a challenging profession with those two perspectives. I've been in dental assistant, treatment coordinator, schedule filler, office manager, regional manager, practice owner, and I have a team of traveling consultant, where we have traveled to over 165 different offices, coaching teams. Yep, we don't just understand you, we are you. Our mission is to positively impact the world of dental, and I believe that this podcast is the greatest way I can help elevate teams, grow VIP experiences, reduce stress and create A teams. Welcome to the Dental A Team Podcast.

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0:00:53.6 KD: Hello, Dental A Team listens, this is Kiera. You guys, I hope today is just an incredible day for you, I hope that wherever you are, you're just loving life. You guys, I went to an event in December that was literally life-changing for me. Honestly, most events I go to, I play full out, and they are life-changing. So I went to an event, it was absolutely incredible and I changed what my values in life are. That's right, guys. Did you know you can re-write your values? I always thought they were stuck with me, and this is who I had to be for my whole life, and then I realized, hey, there's actually a lot of freedom and being able to change and edit who I am. So I changed it. My number one value that I used to value the absolute most was success. But then I started thinking about what the rules were around what I defined success to be. Guys, it was crazy town. When I thought about in order for me to feel success, what do I have to do? Well, then I realize, hey, having success is my number one focus actually is creating a lot of stress in my life, it's not flowing. Could I shift up these values so that way I could maybe have more flow, more success, sometimes focusing on it actually doesn't lead to it. So I actually changed, and my number one value now is gratitude, and I'll tell you guys, my whole life has changed.

0:02:06.0 KD: It's changed for the better. I feel like I wake up happier, I feel like throughout the day, I have really easy rules to feel gratitude. I'm literally looking at my board and it says, "Gratitude." Any time I take a breath, I can feel gratitude. Anytime I smile, anytime I opened my eyes. Every time I enjoy life, every time I live in a beautiful state. Those are my rules of how can I feel gratitude. And so I hope, guys, wherever you are today, you're just feeling a sense of gratitude, I hope you're giving yourself that space in that grace. Speaking of events. I had a life-changing event, and I'd love to invite you guys to come to our Dental A Team summit, April 22nd through 23rd. It's all about optimization and execution. We wanted to have a way for you guys to take your practice to the next level in an easy way. We know 2021 was kind of tricky for some people, and so we wanted to give you guys some tips in some ways that you could implement today. That's right, so join us guys. I would love to have you guys there, April 22nd through 23rd.

0:03:00.3 KD: Absolutely, you guys know Friday is all team day. Yep, that's right. Have your entire team there, it's going to be CE for you guys, and then Saturday is going to be, I would suggest probably doctors and the office managers, it's all about leadership. Of course, the whole team can join on Saturday, but our feedback last year was, teams didn't wanna necessarily come in on Saturday, and so we set it up to where Saturday is solely all about leadership and it's going to be jam-packed, epic, I cannot even wait guys. So if you want something life-changing, be sure to join us. Head on over to thedentalateam.com, join us over the summit. The ticket is for your entire team, I don't care if you've got five team members or if you've got 35 team members or 45 or 55. Join us, we'd love to have you guys there.

0:03:43.1 KD: So today, I wanted to just talk about something that's been on my mind. I feel really, really lucky and fortunate, we actually were selected to speak in a magazine called Authority Magazine. We also were just... We're getting published in USA Today. Guys, I feel really, really blessed and fortunate and so grateful for these companies reaching out. In Authority Magazine, we're writing about the five things to have a successful career as a dentist. And something that has been on my mind, and then I was able to create a video, and one of the topics that the video was about, was like, "Five things I wish I would have known before becoming a CEO." And both of the five things to create a successful career as a dentist, and the five things I wish I would have known before becoming a CEO was that of, I wish I would have learned how to keep my passion alive.

0:04:38.4 KD: I think in both dentistry and as a CEO, keeping my passion alive in both of those. Let's remember what even got us into the career to begin with. And this goes for team members, this goes for dentists, this goes for anybody. But what was your passion behind getting into this? And how do you keep that passion alive? I think about my marriage, you guys, I have had a rocky marriage, people don't know, we just celebrated 10 years, and there was a point in our marriage where I was traveling a ton, we were going in very different directions. And my husband and I were actually separated and there were divorce papers on the line. And I think about this a lot and I'm like, how did it get there? I love to... You guys, I come into practice, I pick practices apart. In a very loving way, I look to see like, what are the patterns? What are the rituals? What are the things that got us there? And I realize one of the pieces with my marriage is I was not keeping the passion alive and not necessarily romantic passion, that's obviously a part of a relationship, but more just the passion for life. The passion and excitement of being with my husband, of being great friends of having life together. We had kind of gone in our own separate directions, and I think about that, like, what got me interested in my husband when we were dating.

0:05:56.7 KD: I think back to my relationship when we were dating, and it was like, as soon as I got done with work, I couldn't wait to go see him, I couldn't wait to send him a text message. I remember going and doing these cheesy little notes on his car when he was in school, and just always thinking about him and always wanting to be with him. And I invested all that effort and energy and that's what attracted us together, that's what got us married. And then we had been married for so many years and that passion, that excitement, like putting him as number one and being so excited, and going on dates and going on crazy fun adventures, that was the passion that got us together. And yet, then over time, that passion faded and it was more we became almost like roommates. And like, "Hey, how was your day?" "Great." We really don't have anything to talk about. We weren't going on fun adventures. This last year for our 10 years, we really put a massive focus on our relationship and what can we do to bring that excitement back into it.

0:06:52.0 KD: And so yes, I share part of my personal life, hopefully to paint a story of you in your career. Maybe you're just starting out and it's so fun. Like I know when I first started the company, guys, it was psycho, banana town, but it was so much fun. And same thing when I first started out as a dental assistant, it was so much fun. But I think as we go throughout our careers, we start to plateau, and I think it's okay. Like I've mentioned before, it's okay to have those plateaus, it's okay to have the dips in the valleys, it's also okay to be on the upward climb. But I think one of the biggest pieces of advice is, how can you keep this passion alive? And I would give some tips for you guys within the dental field, like, are you taking CE to grow you and expand you? I'm a huge believer that progress equals happiness. So what are you doing to expand yourself day in and day out? Are you pushing the envelope? I know for me, sometimes I don't like pushing the envelope.

0:07:45.1 KD: I was talking to one of my friends who's a multi-bagillionaire. How we're friends, guys, I still don't know. He's super awesome. But I was talking to him, he's starting a whole new business and he was like, "Kiera, it's really, really, really hard for me." And I thought, it's hard because it's a whole new area, something that you've never done before. But yet, that hard, that growth that's striving, that driving, that's what keeps the passion alive within our careers. Those trying of new times, those doing different things, those building of different systems, that's what keeps the passion alive, guys. So what are you doing to keep the passion alive within your practice within your career? Team members, what are you doing to keep that passion alive? As a dental assistant, how are you pushing yourself to that next level?

0:08:27.6 KD: How are you as treatment coordinators pushing yourself to the next level? Are you finding your treatment plans? Are you following up with patients? Are you looking to see how you could do different financing options? Are you looking to see how you could do more same-day closes? Schedulers, are you mastering, and I'm saying, mastering that schedule? Kudos to Shelby. Shelby does my schedule. And guys, she is by far the best of the best of the best that I have ever had. She has my schedule down to a T, but she's constantly looking for a way she can make my life easier on my schedule. I'm gonna give that woman massive, massive praise. She literally thought about my coaching calls, so my coaching calls, I always have my clients send a agenda over, we've tried different things. But Shelby thought, "If I attach their agenda to your calendar, invite Kiera. Your life becomes so much easier and you're able to be a better consultant." Holy cow, I could hug her, high-five her, brilliant. But she thought of how she could master my schedule, take it to the next level, make it even better.

0:09:25.6 KD: So schedulers, are you mastering this? Have you mastered it? Guess what, guys, we will never master anything in our life, we just keep growing to the next level, so push yourself, talk to people. There's some scheduler, some billers, some treatment coordinators, who have literally reached out and done personal coaching with me and our team to be able to go to the next level. You don't have to wait for your dentist to sign you up. You can reach out, you can invest in yourself. We have private coaching for team members to go to the next level.

0:09:55.7 KD: Have you guys heard, but really, have you heard? And are you the type of person that loves to take massive action? Well, if you are, I would love to invite you to Dental A Team's virtual summit, April 22nd through the 23rd. And yes, right now, guys, it's early bird, that means it's $200 off the normal ticket price. You guys are going to learn how to optimize your practice this year. We know it's been a rough year, people have quit. We've had COVID, we've had changes, so we wanna teach you guys how to optimize within your practice now and execute. Friday is full team, Saturday is all things leadership. So bring your team, get some CE, take massive action. Head on over to the thedentalateam.com, coupon code is "Summitearlybird" and it's valid until March 31st. That's "Summitearlybird", all one word, and it's valid until March 31st. So guys, head on over, I can't we to have you take massive action, optimize your practice and execute. Let's make 2022 your best year.

0:10:54.6 KD: So dentists, are you looking at a CE that you could be taking? 3D printing, sleep apnea, implant, sinus list, bone grafting. Have you done these things? Are you doing PRF? If you're not, look into that. But these are the things that keep the passion alive. Are you an elite business owner, have you mastered overhead and learning how to put systems into play that run when you're not there? Have you mastered having culture in place? Do you have a solid culture and a morale? These are all the things, and I don't wanna give you a huge checklist of like, "Oh, I'm not doing those things." That's okay, just pick one of these items and grow yourself. To me, this is how you keep that passion alive, this is where we innovate, we create, we think differently. We find the problems in our business and we fix them. I also think that that's where guys, if you need help, this is one of the benefits of having a coach.

0:11:43.4 KD: On that article that I did, it was five things I wish I would have known when I was... Before I became a CEO. And I said, "The value of having a coach that's been there, done that and done it successfully." There are shortcuts to success, guys. I know people say there aren't, and it's a School of Hard Knocks. Guess what? There are shortcuts, and the shortcut is having a coach that's been there, done that and done it super, super well for you. I am so thankful for my coach in my life, her name is Liz, and I've talked about her before. Guys, Liz has run a very successful consulting company before, the reason Liz works with me is because that company is sold and she didn't wanna move. And I think sometimes timing just works out right in our life if we're looking for it. And I feel so lucky, I called Liz and guys in true Kiera fashion, I definitely smooched her and said, I know that's a really great consulting company that would love to have your expertise in it.

0:12:35.7 KD: And I remember the day that I hired Liz, I wanted to throw up. I looked at how much she cost and I was like, I don't know how I can afford this, and I thought, "Kiera, I don't know how you can not afford her. She is somebody who's going to save you thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars. And show you the shortcut of how to do things so you're not having to sit here and spin around in circles." She's literally been there, done that, and done it successfully. I vetted her really well. I checked with some people, asked like, her strengths, her weaknesses. And I will tell you that I... I will say that Liz has helped me keep the passion alive in my career. You guys, I haul across the US. We'll see how many states I get this year. Last year, I only got 33 of 50 states in one year. I have select clients that I now travel to, so I tend to travel a lot, I just go back to the same places.

0:13:29.5 KD: But the bottom line is, because I have Liz as my coach, one, she pushes me into CE and things that I should be doing, she stays on top of it and she says, "Kiera, are you doing this?" And if I'm not, she pushes me and gives me great CE to go to. But she also has helped me realize some shortcuts, she's helped me realize ways to not make as many mistakes. And I would say a lot of passion killer within a career is making those mistakes and having the drudge, if you will, of running a business. Liz being my coach and my mentor, she has literally saved me thousands of dollars, thousands of hours, and she's helped me in the areas that I was weak. Guys, she said some hard things to me and I love and respect her so much for having those hard conversations with me. She has helped to know what I need to build in my company.

0:14:14.0 KD: No, it hasn't been an A to Z. She hasn't had all that. But she's taught me how to be a better business owner, she's taught me how to forecast my company and know what I need to produce each year to afford it. She'll send me numbers and I'm like, "Wow, that's how much we're gonna pay in payroll?" And she's like, "Yeah, Kiera, you got this." She's been there when I've had my darkest days as a CEO, she knows what it's like. I remember I had a very dear friend, and I remember when I had some hard times with that friend and Liz was able to talk me through it because she's been there. She knew what I was feeling. I remember literally calling her at 10 o'clock at night crying in my office and I was like, "Liz, I don't know what to do." And it makes me very teary-eyed, because Liz is somebody that I just respect so much. She's helped me see where I'm weak. She told me, "Kiera, you need to own your culture of your company. You haven't set the right culture, and that's why you're having a turnover." Wow, that was a gut punch.

0:15:10.8 KD: I'm like, "But Liz, I'm so tired. And I just got so much going on." But I could be Kiera. I know how to be professional Kiera, I know how to be put together Kiera. Liz helped me so much, and I would say because of that, she's helped keep my passion alive. She's helped me realize like, I do not enjoy hiring at all. [chuckle] Liz has always brought people in for that. She helped me realized who do I actually need to hire. She's allowed me to make mistakes. She's also helped me avoid a lot of mistakes, and so I really think there's a value in having a mentor and a coach, there for you. That's a way that I've been able to keep the passion alive in my company and in my life. She's helped me see what I like to do and what I do not like to do. And she's given me resources in those areas of things I don't like to do, of who do I need to hire, what is it actually gonna be to hire that person? She's given me a lot of resources of tools, of things that she's done in the past, that's been able to help me save so much time. So when I look back and I think about Kiera... Liz and I have been together, gosh, almost three years now.

0:16:08.7 KD: I look back to myself, 2019, and I was like, "Oh, snap. How am I going to do this?" I can't imagine what it would have been like not having her. I think of how many mistakes I would have made, how many money I would have lost. I mean, I've still lost money, I've still made really dumb decisions, I've still made a lot of mistakes. It's not like she's the end all be all. But having her to keep my passion alive. So I'd say guys, a few things to keep your passion alive within your career, within your thing, is number one, look to see where could you grow to the next level, how could you master these zones and what do you need to do. Do you need to take CE? Do you need to try different things? Do you need to listen to the podcast? Do you need to get a coach or a mentor? What do you need to do to master the next level? For me, I look at where I'm weak and then I go find an expert in that field. I was super weak on marketing. We flew in somebody and did a marketing blitz. Sissy attended some marketing events and brought that back.

0:17:05.0 KD: I hired a marketer who actually knows what the heck they're doing. I didn't know, I couldn't do it. We invested in a CRM because we didn't know what we were doing, and it's streamlined our sales and our marketing process together. All those things were things that I did. I didn't know what I was doing. But I knew I was a weak in marketing and I needed to move forward. So being okay to admit where you're weak, and then let's find the resources around that. So I think that's number one. Number two is guys, maybe it is time to hire a mentor or a coach. If it's us, awesome, I'd love to help you out if we're a great fit for you. But someone else, awesome, I'd love to have them help you out. Bottom line is, when you're choosing that coach or the mentor, here is my advice. Number one, make sure that they've been there, done that and done it successfully, vet them, ask them, have them give specifics.

0:17:50.1 KD: A office was interviewing us to see if we were a good consulting company for them this week. And they asked me about my experience, and it was funny, they said, "Kiera, your experience is so vast and you have so much on either side, the successes and the failures, you almost feel too good to be true." And I said, "It's kind of crazy when you run into that unicorn. Because they aren't too good to be true. They've just been there, done that, and they've got a passion for helping people learn it. Find that person.

0:18:16.4 KD: And then my second piece of advice is, the best way to find a coach, is you've gotta make sure that they are number one, they know what they're doing, and they've actually got a track record to prove it. And then number two, can you gel and vibe with them? If you don't like them as a coach, you don't like their style, do not even think about hiring them. I don't care if they're the best of the best of the best, if you don't like their style, it will not work. You can make it work, but it's just like a relationship, I don't want something to have to work, I wanted to gel, and vibe and be easy. I love Liz. She's complementary to me, she sees things very differently than I do, she is not my same style. Her and I, [chuckle] we have a good time. Liz is chatty Kathy. She will spend an hour building a relationship, and I'm like, "Hey, I'm Kiera, nice to meet you. What do we need to talk about?" We're very different, but those differences have actually made me a much better business owner. So find somebody that you gel with, that you vibe, that you like their style.

0:19:06.6 KD: Again, if it can be us and we can help you guys, I would love to. I would love to help you take it to the next level. You can email me, check in, see if we're a good fit for each other. I actually chat with all the emails that come through. So email is [email protected]. Even if you just wanna geek out about dentistry and ask me about what it's like to be engaged three times, by all means, I'm happy to talk shop with you. If you wanna talk about dentistry, we can talk about that too. But email is, chat with us, [email protected]. If it's not us, find somebody. But I would say keep that freaking passionate alive and then do things that make you happy, also invest in yourself. I think that's one of the best ways that you can keep that passion alive. Where are you at outside of the office? How's your health? How are your relationships? How are your kids? How's your reading just for fun? How is it like going to a concert, going out to eat?

0:19:54.9 KD: Do you do those things and make you a human versus just a awesome team member? What are you doing to invest in yourself? And I would encourage each of you to pick up one or two things that's not work-related, that just lights your fire. This year guys, I'm trying to get into the best shape of my life. That's eating healthy. That's working out. Yep, bought the Apple watch guys, got on that, because the Apple Watch has those rings, and it actually motivates me to work out. I'm a highly competitive person. Thank you, I'm gonna give this doctor shout out, Jen Satar. She listens to the podcast, she is a rockstar. That woman, is the reason I have an Apple watch. Because she said, "Kiera, I have a goal to close my rings 365 days a year." And I was like, "That is what I need." Thank you for the competition. Thank you for the motivation.

0:20:37.0 KD: Thank you for helping me hit my goals. Keeping that passion, guys, it's so fun and it's so hard and my leg's like, I can do a wall sit for about two minutes, guys, and I feel like I'm dead to the world. It's cool, I'm starting out small. And that's fine. That's lighting my passion. It's doing something for me that I'm excited about. So guys, I would just encourage you, what do you need to do to keep your passion? And what I say is, don't make this a to-do list, make this something that you will execute on today. We can only execute on so many things, this would be one I would definitely do. It's one of the top things that I wish I would have known how to do before I became a CEO.

0:21:10.0 KD: So guys, I'm sharing with you that tip, take it on. Again, if we can help you, awesome, I would love to. If there's other people I can recommend you to, if you need help with marketing or you need help with... Gosh, hiring a doctor, if you need help with legal, I've got lots of resources, so reach out. If there's any way I can help you with any possible way, I would love to. Email is [email protected]. And guys, keep that passion alive. You have one life to live, one. What kind of life are you living? Is the one where you're passionate, and wake up everyday excited? Even on those rough days, 'cause you're living your dream life? Or is it a day of drudgery? Got one life. Make it count. Live with passion, guys. And thanks for chatting with me today. It was fun to hang out with you. So thanks for listening, guys, and as always, thanks for listening. And I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.

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0:21:58.6 KD: And that wraps it up for another episode of The Dental A Team Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and we'll talk to you next time.

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