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You need to accept accountability for your life. Understand your role in creating the results that are your practice. Learn how to choose better so you have better. The law is simple: you are accountable for your practice results. Good or bad, successful or unsuccessful, happy or sad, fair or unfair, you own your results!
You are accountable; you have always been accountable; you will always be accountable. That is how it is. That may not be the way you want it to be, but that is how it is. This is not a "generalization" or a theory. I'm telling you that you create the results in your practice and in your life. If your practice is ailing, you are accountable. If your staff does not show much initiative, you are accountable. If your patients often say no to necessary treatment, you are accountable. If you are not happy with where you are in your life, you are accountable. Accepting this law means you can no longer dodge responsibility for how and why your practice is that way it is. And taking responsibility doesn't just mean paying "lip service" to being accountable by saying, "Okay, I'm accountable."
Why is this so important? If you don't accept accountability, you will misdiagnose every problem you are faced with. If you misdiagnose, you will mistreat. If you mistreat, things will not get any better. For example,if you were to misdiagnose an abscess, your protocol would dictate a very specific treatment plan. And although you may be masterful in completing that plan, your misdiagnosis did not alleviate the problem.
If you resist this law of accountability, you can get stuck in a world of victim-itis. By convincing yourself you are a victim, you are guaranteed to make no progress, have no success, achieve no fulfillment. So what's at stake here? If you fail to accept accountability and react as a victim, you will cling to the belief that you are "right" and the problem is not your fault. Taking that premise further, you will never, ever create a meaningful and lasting change in your life.
Recognizing your own accountability is a crucial building block in your success. Keep the focus where it belongs: on your choices and behaviors in the here and now.
If you tell yourself. "I have no reason to expect that my life would be anywhere else than where it is," you are beginning to program yourself for success rather than failure. Certainly, this train of thought contradicts most behavioral expectations that our society currently offers. After all, we are a society of "blamers" where blaming others and blaming situations is the "accepted behavior."
Right now, identify three challenges your practice is currently facing that you have NOT taken action on:
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
Decide what needs to be done for each challenge:
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
Determine what resources you need to overcome challenge, who will help, and by when you plan to start AND complete your plan (date):
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
Now that you have your plan in place, I recommend you review your progress each day/week to ensure you are on-track. If you find yourself failing to follow-through on your plan, consider asking someone you know to be an ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. Their job is to keep you focused on the plan and not let you skate-by.
The tendency to strive for perfection constrains far too many of us. Whether waiting for the perfect staff member, waiting for the perfect circumstances, waiting for just the right time to have a difficult conversation or waiting for a clear sign before making an overdue change. When you're burdened with perfectionism there tends to be a lot of waiting.
The fact is...SUCCESS favors action, not perfection!
Software is routinely shipped with bugs. Cars are sold with minor defects. The best dentists make occasional mistakes. And virtually every parent wishes for a "do over" from time to time. When you aim for excellence instead of perfection, you're in action, striving for improvement, pushing for progress.
Ready? Fire! Aim. Actualization is better than intention. And even the smallest step taken in faith is better than a well planned leap never taken. You Must Act! You can always fix it, improve it, refine it and move towards excellence later. It all starts with taking action!
Let me share a story of a dentist who waited for "perfect":
A dentist was looking for the perfect front office person. I sent him some resumes and had the chance, several weeks later, to ask how it went: he said the first knew her stuff, great experience but lacked the verbal skills he demanded. The next candidate had great experience and her verbal skills were exceptional, but her people skills were not up to his standards. The last applicant had all the right stuff - perfect. I asked when she was starting. He said, "She isn't. It turns out she was looking for the perfect practice!"
Continued Success to you and your Team!
Sincerely,
Art Deden
Vista Practice Management
www.vista-practice.com
If I can be of further service to you, your family, friends or business associates - please let me know. Most of our business comes from referrals; please tell others of our services... DONT KEEP US A SECRET.
