Being On Purpose

I’m flying home today from a lecture in Cabo San Lucas. Tough place to lecture in the middle of sub zero weather in Oklahoma, right??? I’ve spent 3 days giving a lecture, meeting with existing and potential clients of Jameson Management, Inc. and listening to lectures given by some of the dental profession’s very best.

The organization I was lecturing for is the Pacific Aesthetic Continuum or PAC. This is a group of amazing doctors who are “on purpose”, who are committed to excellence, and who support and help one another rather than compete against one another. No one missed a single lecture—in spite of the fact that we were in a beautiful place with sun, ocean, and warmth and some of the participants were coming from ice, snow, and freezing temperatures. These people were there to enjoy the location and each other. But, more emphatically, they were there to learn ways to improve their practices and their lives. They love their chosen profession—dentistry—and are on a path of continuous improvement.

The enthusiasm and commitment were refreshing. There were several doctors attending who are existing clients of Jameson Management, Inc. Three of these doctors practice on the same block in their city. They are often asked—“Isn’t it weird to practice so close to someone who is in your own study club?” Their answer was—“Absolutely not. We support each other. We help each other out. We teach each other. We want success for all of us. The better each of us does to elevate our practice, the more we raise the bar of patient expectation—and that helps all of us.”

Now that’s healthy!!! That is Wellness. That is how to create healthy relationships. Jealousy is a non-productive emotion!! Truly, when the doctors in an area raise the standard of their own practice, this raises the bar. Patients begin to expect excellence. And when you provide that—patients don’t think it’s weird. They think this is how it’s supposed to be.

When I lecture, I always speak of “being on purpose”; being clear about the values that are important to you and incorporating those values into your own statement of purpose—and into your practice. Then, I speak of getting clear about what you see as the “ideal” practice and doing what is necessary to make that happen. There is no reason why you should not have the practice of your dreams. Life is too short not to be working toward your unique “ideal” practice.

When you know who you are; when you integrate your core values into every fiber of your business; when you are clear about your ideal and work toward that; and when you realize that the service you provide is of benefit to others, you discover the joy of work. Work can be a rewarding and fulfilling facet of your total life—rather than a dreaded necessity. The choice is yours.

There is joy in being on purpose. There is joy in being able to make a difference in the lives of other people. Being “on purpose” also means that there is learning to be had; work to be done; effort to be put forth. But, find the path of learning that works for you. Surround yourself with people who are like minded. And you will find more than colleagues. You will find friends.

Thank you, PAC, for the invitation to share with your group—and thank you for the joy!!