By: Dr. Eric Recker
I remember so vividly being in the throes of burnout. My life had gone gray. Nothing excited me. I was under immense pressure running a practice with a team of 18. I was exhausted. I was dying inside. I questioned whether it would matter if I wasn’t here on this earth at all. I was alone at the top. Every day felt the same. Every day was a battle to just move forward.
I tried to sell my practice and walk away from dentistry. Anything to escape. Sound familiar?
There was a little voice that kept whispering to me,
- This is just how it is.
- This is just how it is for dentists
- This is just how it is for business owners.
- This is just how it is for leaders.
Why try to do anything about it because this is just how it is?
Is This Just How It Is?
If you are feeling any of the above, let me just say this- you are not alone. Not by a long shot. There are thousands of dentists suffering in silence believing this is just as good as it gets.
Nothing I can do can make a difference, I am stuck here.
Let me tell you this – that is a lie. This is not as good as it gets.
It does not have to just be this way. There is hope. If you are anywhere from overwhelmed to exhausted to full-on burned out, let me offer a few next steps.
Steps to Move Forward Confidently
These are the steps I took to right the ship and move forward in a new and confident direction.
- There is no shame in being here. Not by a long shot. Any shame you feel is a lie. Remember – there are THOUSANDS of dentists feeling the same way inside.
- Raise your hand. I can assure you, nothing happens until you admit something is wrong. Houston, we have a problem. I wish someone had screamed this to me from the rooftops about 10 years before I actually raised my hand. It would have saved so much pain for me, my team, and my family.
- You may have to write a check. We spend money as dentists, but are we spending it on the right things? We buy new equipment and attend CE courses, but what would the ROI be if you hired a coach who could help you right the ship? It’s time to prioritize you as a person. Your people need you to be your best.
- Take care of you. Again, you are your best asset. You are worth prioritizing. How are you going to bless your people if you have nothing left in your tank? Think small – what is one thing I can do today to take care of myself today? Then DO IT! And do it again tomorrow. And the next day. Your oxygen mask must go on first!
- Stop procrastinating. Right now you are perfectly set up to get the results you are getting. You can’t expect anything to change if you aren’t willing to mix things up. The time is now. There is a lot at stake.
- Breathe. Every chance you get. In between patients, on your way to work, on your way home, at lunch, before a tough conversation. Breath is vital. Take every chance to get more oxygen.
- Know you are not alone. You are one of thousands. Healing is possible.
If you are there, I see you. I believe in you. I believe there is more and better for you! I was there. It’s up to you if you stay there. The stakes are high. There is a lot riding on your shoulders. No one wants to see you become a statistic.
Imagine this- what might life look like a year from now?
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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
