Dental Entrepreneur Woman - Spring 2018

Spring 2018

After 32 Years of Practice: A Trip Down Memory Lane Dr. Donna Galante

Interiors All My Own Dr. Tara Levesque-Vogel

Third-Generation Dentist & North Dakota Native Dr. Kate Robinson

PLUS: How to Feel Happier and Less Stressed Even When Life Gets Messy! and

Warrior On! Lessons Learned from the Big “C”

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Congratulations DeWers!

Spring 2018 Editor and Publisher Anne M. Duffy, RDH Assistant Editor Michael Duffy Managing Director Patti D’Agata Creative Consultant Beth Linesch Design and Layout Brian Rummel Production [CURAtive] James B. Kennedy Reilly Williams Spring Contributors Sarah Clarke Dr. Donna Galante Andrea Greer Lynne Leggett Judy Kay Mausolf Dr. Kathleen Robinson Angie Stone Amanda Sturner Dr. Tara Levesque-Vogel, Cover Photography: Suzette Hibble She Photography Web Design Jameson Management

Yes, we made it and we are celebrating! It is our official first anniversary of our print edition of DeW Life magazine, proudly for women, about women and by women. Yes, we are FAB! Social Media Rita Zamora Connections Charter Sponsors A-dec Crest Mary Fisher-Day Inspired Hygiene Patterson D5 Patterson Fuse Shofu Advisors to the Board Katherine Eitel-Belt Linda Miles Board Lois Banta Kristine A Berry Shannon Pace Brinker Dr. Tanya Brown Bonnie Hixson Janice Hurley Suzanne Kump Tonya Lanthier Dr. Carmen Leary Anastasia Turchetta Rice Rachel Wall Rita Zamora Junior Board Jennifer Chevalier Dr. Neha Garge Dr. Erinne Kennedy Rachel Mele Dr. Amisha Singh

As you probably know, it all started when I made a knee-jerk decision that it was necessary to inspire and highlight women in dentistry. It didn’t matter at the time that it might get messy or might be hard. It seemed more like a calling from above for me.

And now, I can see it is a calling for you. You have made this effort a success.

You have shared your hearts, your minds and your selves with us! You have made DeW Life into a movement. You are DeWing YOU, and we are honored to share you with the rest of the world.

Our task ahead is to continue to grow together. Who do you know that could use a dose of DeW? After all, we are powerful beyond measure. To quote a line from Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”

One of our mantras is “Everyone is Welcome.” There is no scarcity mentality in DeW. We are here for inclusivity and love. Think about all the female professionals you know and invite them to join the DeW Crew. You know how to connect us. Together we can make a great impact on our profession.

There are so many amazing stories in our spring edition, starting with the great Dr. Donna Galante. Even though she has 32 years of experience under her belt as an orthodontist, it wasn’t easy to get there. You will be shocked at the challenges she has faced when you find out where she is today.

For those of you that are dealing with the stresses of everyday life, Judy Kay Masoulf has some helpful tips in her contribution to the magazine. As she breaks down what causes anxiety in and out of the workplace, you’ll come to realize that we must be grateful for what he have and filter out the clutter to find peace and happiness.

And surely you’ll be inspired by Andrea Greer’s personal account of her brave battle with breast cancer, from the day she found out she had it to the day she beat it. She is truly a warrior, and I think we can all take a page from her inspiring playbook.

One year ago, DeW Life started with a simple spark, the idea that women in the dental industry can and should band together to raise each other up. We are strong, we are successful, we are DeWers!

Live well and keep DeWing YOU!!

Editorial Office 12233 Pine Valley Club Dr Charlotte, NC 28277 704-953-0261 Fax 704-847-3315 anneduffyde@gmail.com

Anne M. Duffy Send materials to: DeW Life Magazine 8334 Pineville Matthews Rd Ste. 103-201 Charlotte, NC 28226

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SPRING 2018

Contents 6

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After 32 Years of Practice: A Trip Down Memory Lane Donna Galante, D.M.D.

Interiors All My Own

Tara Levesque-Vogel, D.M.D.

Third-Generation Dentist & North Dakota Native

Kate Robinson, D.M.D.

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Asking the right questions in the right order will help in all aspects of life

How to Feel Happier and Less Stressed Even When Life Gets Messy!

Save the Drama for your Mama

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34

36

The Analytical Mind vs.

The Emotional Mind Tribulations of an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Warrior On! Lessons Learned from the Big “C”

What is Your Purpose?

Lynne Leggett, BS, FAADOM

Judy Kay Mausolf, CS

Sarah Clarke, RDH, CSMC DeW-ers

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Andrea Greer, RDH, BS Health & Wellness

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Who, Wear, When

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Success

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DeW Dish

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Living Your Strengths

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Amanda Sturner, M.Ed, RMT

Angie Stone, RDH, BS Balance for Life

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AFTER 32 YEARS OF PRACTICE: A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

I

think we all have those memorable events in our lives.

Our first date, our first prom, the day we graduated from high school and then college. Other momentous occasions could be when we got married or had our first child.

For me, after 10 years of post-high school education, the day I graduated from my Orthodontic Residency at the University of Pennsylvania was without a doubt one of those days that will be forever tattooed to my memory.

By Donna Galante, D.M.D. www.drdonnagalante.com

tiers of my class both in my dental school program and in my orthodontic residency.

My ultimate goal was to open my own orthodontic specialty practice, but first, I needed a steady paycheck, and that would come by associating with an established orthodontist.

I need to set the stage for you so you can understand, the unique challenges I had entering this phase of my orthodontic career.

I still remember my father, so proud of my accomplishments, saying to me in his direct but noble manner, “Now you can I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Dental be your own boss and not have to work for a big company. School in 1984, and then spent two more years there Being your own boss will give you the freedom I never had.” graduating in 1986 with my Orthodontic Specialty Certification.

My father was a very educated man, a pharmacist, who opted to work for a very large multi-national I was the only female student in my class, and even in the pharmaceutical corporation. I honestly did not see much group of doctors in the second year of the program. So it of him growing up as he worked the evening shift in the was me and the “guys,” and I have to say in general, they quality-control department, leaving to go to work around 4 treated me with respect as they did any other colleague in p.m. and arriving home after midnight. the program.

He had my mother and four children to support, and this job was safe and secure. Owning his own pharmacy was never one of his options due to a lack of funding. I could tell he was not happy with his job, but he seemed to make the best of it.

I was excited to venture out in the world of orthodontics and the business of dentistry and be my own boss. How quickly I discovered I had no clue what that really involved!

I had confidence in my clinical skills, my ability to diagnose and treatment plan cases, and I had graduated at the top

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My eyes were opened to the challenges of being a female in a very male-dominated profession after graduation when I went on interviews for associate positions and potential partnerships.

One “potential partnership” interview went well, but ultimately I did not get the position, as the senior doctor assumed I would get married, have babies and leave.

Another opportunity was quickly closed down when the owner orthodontist made some suggestive and aggressive passes at me.

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There were a few more of the same types of situations, and waiting room. Today that same build-out would be around I remember thinking, “No one prepared me for this!” $500,000 with all the new technology that is available and needed.

Of course, 32 years ago, women in dentistry as dentists and orthodontists were a rarity. There were no female mentors At one point, the prospect of me getting the funding I to be found and certainly no one was talking about the needed did not look good. My father had the same problem real challenges of finding a partnership or associateship as a young pharmacist. Getting the bank to loan the money position let alone starting your own practice. needed to start up his pharmacy just wasn’t possible.

I eventually landed on a few associate positions to help pay my bills, pay back student loan debt and have a life.

I remember being so excited (another memorable event) when I bought my first brand new car, a Toyota Camry.

Before that I drove a Chevy Chevette (I know I am really dating myself now) that had rusted out on the passenger side underneath the car. You needed a pair of waterproof boots when you rode with me during rain or snow so your feet wouldn’t get wet!

When I was ready to give up and go on vacation instead, news of a loan program from a local Philadelphia bank was presented to me by one of my patients, an accountant. The bank specifically was targeting loans for small business owners that were women. I had my financing!

I signed a lease, developed a plan with the help of a local dental supply company and began the process of being a practice owner. I had fulfilled my dream and that of my father, as well. I was now going to be my own boss!

After two years of associating and having a fairly steady From the start, there were problems. It started with the income, I decided to open my own office in King of Prussia, lease. a suburban community just outside Philadelphia.

I had an attorney review the lease, and she gave me the So began another memorable occasion in my life. thumbs up to sign off on it, but later realized that she missed a clause regarding the common area maintenance My first “hoop” to go through was getting a loan. fees or CAM. Without getting too technical, this lease had a provision that I had to pay a portion based on my I had nothing really, but a car and a ton of debt, so to banks, space size of the common area maintenance. Things like I was not a good risk. I was only asking for $150,000 to landscaping, snow removal, heating and air conditioning, build out my office that would include four chairs, a pan/ and lobby and hallway maintenance. ceph machine, lab, consult room, private office and

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dew-ers frequent anxiety attacks that felt more like a heart attack.

I had no social life, as I was working to pay my practice debt, my student debt, my car loan and my apartment rent, while the most insidious payment was on my lease which corrected upwards every six months.

If this sounds like a horror story, it truly was.

My dream of practice ownership was a nightmare.

There were some bright spots, however.

The contractor who did my build-out protected me from anyone who would try to upsell me on their products. For example, I had a sound system put in the office, and he negotiated the entire cost for me savings me thousands of dollars. Most contractors go over budget, and he actually came in slightly under budget by $25,000, which helped give me some extra working capital.

Most leases will have a cap on this amount so the landlord cannot arbitrarily decide to raise the cost because he or she is not prudent on who is handling the maintenance.

When I finally moved into my space, my rent had increased 50 percent, and all that came from the increased CAM fees which, by the way, were escalating each and every month out of control.

I tried to speak to the landlord who happened to be a physician on the second floor of the building, and he brushed me off, saying that I had signed it without a cap.

It was my lawyer’s fault for missing that very important part of the lease. Too bad.

To make matters even worse, savings and loan types of banks were going bankrupt all over Philadelphia.

People were starting to lose their jobs, and therefore not pursuing orthodontic treatment for their family until they had some financial stability. What few patients I had began to dwindle even further.

Luckily, I still had all my associateships, and I picked up another one on Fridays. I was working like crazy Monday through Saturday and had Sundays off to recuperate. I joked half-heartedly that I worked in three different area codes and traveled over 500 miles a week to the various offices I was working in.

I began to develop TMJ problems and even cracked a molar due to nighttime bruxing. I would have very

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My accountant was so kind and helpful. His counsel and guidance helped me survive what could have been bankruptcy. In fact, a female chiropractor in the building who I became friends with ultimately did declare bankruptcy One of the doctors I was associating with was very helpful in lending an ear of support and mentorship. His wife treated me like one of their own children and gave me encouragement and a shoulder to cry on when I needed it most.

Ultimately, five years after I opened the office, I ended up selling it for about the price of my original debt and moved to California to get married. I actually started to be able to take a salary in the fourth year despite the horrible lease, and when I sold the practice, it actually had an upward trend that allowed the new owner to negotiate a much better lease.

I was so terribly worn out and shaken by what had happened to “my dream” that for the first two years of living in California, I did not even attempt to get my dental license.

My husband understood and patiently waited. I finally did get my license, and today we own four orthodontic specialty offices in Northern California.

I learned several years after I moved to California that the physician who owed the building and his partners all went to prison for embezzlement. They were the general partners in the building and had many other partners that had limited shares. One of the partners, an oral surgeon, noticed some “fuzzy math” on the CAM reports.

dew-ers An investigation led to their arrest for embezzling funds from the limited partners.

I can look back and while these “memorable” moments are those that you want to forget, they have ultimately shaped who I am today and how we together as a husband and wife orthodontic team manage our offices, expand and grow our offices and basically run our business.

I wish I could tell you that it has been smooth sailing ever since, but there are always new and different challenges.

The terrorist attack on 9/11 dampened our new office grand opening, and certainly the economic collapse of 2008-09 put a huge dent into our practice income.

The good news is that those events too are just memories and, ultimately, learning opportunities.

For anyone reading this and thinking about opening their own office someday, I have a few words of wisdom that I would like to share; Be careful with your debt service. You have to pay it back, and after a while, that very expensive floor or countertop you had to have becomes not so likeable when the loan is due and the funds are short.

You need not compete with all the other doctors and their shiny, over-the-top offices. Be strategic in buying only what you need in the moment. A $100,000 piece of technology is not useful if you have no patients yet that need it.

Keep your “day job.” Those associateships saved my back.

It was hard, and I was exhausted, but I was able to meet my debt obligations.

Do not let every marketing or sales person into your office. As dentists, we love new shiny objects, technology, marketing brochures, etc. With the use of social media, you can build a nice practice with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and spend very little to start. Look at all the available used equipment first. Patients don’t care, as long as it is clean, comfortable and works.

Stay connected with other like minded practice owners.

Build solid relationships though local study clubs. Find a mentor.

Read journals like this one. Join online forums and blogs.

It is amazing the content that is out there today for dental professionals to learn from the comfort of their home or office.

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Some of you reading this have had similar experiences and stories relating to associateships and partnerships, while practice ownership is another entire article!

I look back at these memories and 32 years of practice as an orthodontist and can say without a doubt that I am still learning (I think that is why they call it practice).

Dentistry is changing rapidly as is private practice for many of us. Use your experiences, your momentous occasions and most of all what you already know to chart your ideal path for your dental career and your personal life. And finally, don’t be afraid to share or reach out to someone you suspect needs some guidance, mentorship or just a cup of coffee and a listening ear.

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Jennifer Hasch (Kentucky Hygienist of the Year), Julie Drury & Kayla Tudor

Deb Roberge & Dr. Diana Batoon

Dayna Johnson, Kevin Henry, Dana & Dr. Terry Watson

WHO, WEAR, WHEN. Lois Banta book signing at CMW

Stephanie Parker-Eddy, Sarah Toboy, Sarah Lauringer, Nicole Phillips at CMW

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Ubering DeWs at ADA, Atlanta

Heidi Mount & Dr. Quyen

Dr. Bethany Valachi, Debra Englehard, Dr.Kristen Aadland & Janice Hurley

Julie Varney and the Kinderhook Team

Peggy Fisher and Dr. Tanya Brown at CMW

Kate Willeford, CPA

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Dr. Ronni Brown-Kimbrew at 2018 JumpStart

Dovetta Johnson, Amber Auger, & Jasmin Haley Beyond the Prophy event

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INTERIORS ALL MY OWN By: Tara Levesque-Vogel, D.M.D. www.levesquedentistry.com

W

hen I was a child, my father built me a dollhouse for Christmas. It was a surprise, and for many weeks, I wasn’t allowed in the basement while he built it. When I received the house on Christmas morning, I was overjoyed, not only because of the beauty, craftsmanship and love my father put into it, but also because it was the first time in my life I had the opportunity to make something my own. I took that dollhouse and transformed it, creating each room from a vision I had of my ideal home, and while I didn’t know it then, I know now that was where I first found my love of creating. I know what you’re thinking. Lots of young girls receive a dollhouse for Christmas, and lots decorate the interiors.

But this interior story is a little different. Sometimes the peace we find on the outside gives us space to find peace on the inside.

I’m sure you’ve heard the famous line, “life is a journey,” and for me, it’s a journey to love wider and wider as I age, serving the world in ways seen and unseen. But it takes experience, deep thinking, confidence, mindfulness and even a little wisdom to live a life filled with love and purpose. For me, it all started with my dollhouse. From that simple experience, I learned I had to do something creative with my life. I learned I had a love for architecture

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and spatial relationships. And, most important, I learned spatial harmony was foundational to my spiritual well­being.

First, a little history. During my off time from college, I worked with my father in his dental office. I enjoyed the social aspect of working with all the wonderful patients, and I grew to love his office, so much so that ultimately, I became a dentist. I now practice dentistry with my brother, Keith, after many years of practicing with my father. Keith and I outgrew my father’s original dental office and moved into another larger office, but something in the new space seemed off. It didn’t flow, the colors weren’t peaceful, and it didn’t feel like me. Yes, it was my office, something felt foreign. It didn’t take me long to figure out that I needed to redesign the space to make it feel comfortable and relaxing. I didn’t want anything fancy or too decorative.

I wanted something with simple lines and abundant warmth, and believe it or not, the ability to emanate love for all patients and colleagues that would pass through its doors.

After long hours of construction and headaches, we finally finished. While I still have some rooms that need some love and care, I found peace in the new space. Ideally, I

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wanted my team and my patients to find the environment nurturing and supportive. I’ve had many patients tell me how comfortable they felt coming to the office. That is very rewarding to me. And for me, the new space allowed an untapped reservoir of energy to flow. When an environment is in harmony, it mysteriously seems to transfer energy not only to me, but to my patients and colleagues, as well. How cool is that?

I believe the mind is powerful. When we fill it with positive thoughts, feelings and people, it brings positive energy.

For me, environment enables positivity in myself, and once I’m in that place, I’m often able to share my energy with others.

Of course, I always provide my patients with quality dentistry, but combined with the genuine compassion and positive internal flow, I hope those people leave the office with a good feeling. OK, so it’s not always easy to be positive all the time, especially in the world we live in, but I’ve learned if I manage expectations it’s easier.

Do you know the famous Alice Walker poem, Expect Nothing? The first line is, “Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise.” I believe that line with all my heart. I wake up in the morning and make a decision that I will be positive.

I like to take that energy and pass it to my patients. If I can pass that to even one patient, then I know I’ve done something meaningful for the day. Once I’ve done that, I’m always surprised by the generosity of the patients and colleagues who cross my path. You see, when you live frugally on surprise in places filled with positive energy, life can be quite miraculous.

movement is very minimalistic and organic in form. The simplicity and ample windows allow for integration with nature. Large post and beam structures allow glass to become the walls.

I knew I had to respect this architecture. I wanted to keep some original characteristics and raw products.

Before the time came to renovate, I dusted off my drafting tools and went to work designing. I spent hours drawing out how I envisioned the space and even longer picking the colors and materials that I felt this unique, wellconstructed house should have. I wanted to create a feeling in the home that no other home we had lived in gave us. An open, inviting feeling in a home brings people together and once again gives people a certain subconscious, warm, content feeling.

My family and I lived through this renovation, dealing with the dust, the noise and the three months of outdoor barbecuing. We finished one day before this past Thanksgiving. When I sat at the head of the table, with 26 family members at my house, I knew I succeeded in restoring the environment back to this home that the original owners and architect had envisioned. I had an amazing feeling of thankfulness, and I’m pretty sure everyone had a similar feeling.

Who knew that the visions I had with my dollhouse as a child would come full circle, allowing me to create peace and harmony in external places – my workspace, my office – and in the process, take steps toward that elusive interior place, a place more and more all my own.

There is another interior that’s important to me. Four years ago, I was lucky enough to come across a rundown, unwanted, 1958 mid-century modern home with a million-dollar view. Yes, it still had the shag carpets, wood paneling, and its original stainless-steel kitchen. Not many people could see the potential. The home deserved the respect the designing architect had in mind. Literally, I had just finished renovating my office when we decided to purchase and move into this house.

Again, I was placed in an environment out of harmony, in this case even though it had pure, raw beauty with its original architecture.

The midcentury modern

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DEW DISH

DeW DISH

RACHEL WALL What obstacles have you overcome in your career?

Fear is probably the big one and I’ve learned to take it one day at a time. Decisions that scare us usually have the potential to take us to the next big level. And each time I face that fear and take positive action, it gets a little easier.

What do you do to turn around a bad day?

I say a prayer and give it to God. Then I look at what’s really great in my life and feel grateful for that.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate. I have some really good dark chocolate every day.

What advice do you have for the new person in your office?

Hang in there. The pace is fast but we’re here for you and you’re contributing to something bigger than all of us.

What “DeW” leaders do?

What is the best part of your job?

They champion others. Everyone has a light to shine and sometimes they need someone to believe in them to get that light out into the world.

The people I get to work with. This includes my Inspired Hygiene team and our clients and all the people I get to meet when I’m out speaking. I really believe they all want to get better in order to better serve and that inspires me.

What is your favorite Indoor/Outdoor Activity?

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

Wow! There have been so many influential women in my life both personally and professionally. My mother was a single, working mom when I was growing up. When I started a family, she was there to help my husband and me so we could raise our kids AND start two businesses. It would have been a lot harder without her help.

How do you measure your success?

My success is based on the success of those I serve-my family, our clients and my team. If they are doing well and reaching their goals, then I’m successful.

I love music and I love being outside. Combine those two and you’ll find me rocking out at a fun music festival or outdoor concert.

What is your dream vacation?

Taking my kids to all the amazing places I’ve had the chance to visit. I want to see it all through their eyes.

What does balance look like?

As a dental speaker and coach, our schedules get booked years in advance. The trick is to block the calendar for family time and vacations.

What movie always makes you laugh?

Pretty much anything with Will Ferrell.

ANASTASIA TURCHETTA What do you do to turn around a bad day?

Breathe! Refocus on someone I know who is struggling, a loved one has passed or battling cancer, etc. and send them a private message on social media or text that simply says “I’m thinking about you today, lifting you up in prayer for strength, grace and health” or “How may I best be helpful to you this week, month?”

What is your guilty pleasure?

Time with my husband!

What advice do you have for the new person in your office/

What is the best part of your job?

To take the unique opportunity of keynoting & video blogging health empowerment messages to consumers, based on my 30 years of being a passionate licensed healthcare professional.

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

ZERO! For me, influential women have entered into my life at various seasons of both my personal and professional life. Happy to list a ton of names yet that is not the answer to your question. Got your attention though, right? J

How do you measure your success?

Success for me is the fusion of spiritual, emotional, physical and financial health.

What obstacles have you overcome in your career?

The biggest obstacle I overcame was to some how harness my stubborn side into relentless believing in myself when many turned their back on me for a few years.

What obstacles have you overcome in your life?

Domestic Abuse, ADHD, Grief

It’s ok to feel overwhelmed or shocked! Ask questions!

Nurture relationships with your colleagues. Be passionate about the extensive service you get to provide given our legal scope of practice and for the love of Pete … stop saying “cleaning”! It is a health & wellness visit! J

What is your favorite Indoor/Outdoor Activity?

Indoor … shopping. That is an activity!

Outdoor … toss up between riding my motorcycle, playing golf, walking for exercise or for gratitude awareness being a sunrise, sunset.

What famous person living or dead would you like to have lunch with and what would you ask them?

Tina Fey - Who did you surround yourself with personally & professionally at various phases of your career that were key decisions for your success then and now?

They are playing your theme song as you walk on stage. Name that tune!

Fight Song or The Highway to Health (you know what I mean)

What is your dream vacation?

Any fun / stress free adventure where I do not have to literally wear Under Armour to stay warm

DR. TANYA BROWN What obstacles have you overcome in your career?

Lots of them- from NOT getting accepted to Dental School the first year I applied as a Junior at Georgia Tech to starting a practice from scratch in a town where I had recently moved. Starting a practice from scratch is a tough gig with tons of obstacles- at the time, I didn’t know what I didn’t know! Hiring and training a team of Dental Professionals. Making tough business decisions and taking the risk to start a Dental Practice only a year and a half out of Dental School.

What obstacles have you overcome in your life?

What is the best part of your job?

As a Dentist- Helping Patients achieve their goals for their health, appearance, and long term stability. It is very rewarding to hand a patient a mirror after showing them what is possible and seeing that “sparkle” in their eyes!

As a Consultant- Helping Dentists and Dental Teams realize that there is a “better way” and they don’t have to be “on the treadmill” forever! It thrills me when I see the “lightbulbs” turn on & they start achieving their goalsDoctors are happy, Team is appreciated and less stressed, Patients are smiling, and Practice is more profitable.

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

There are many, my top 2 are- My Mother & Linda Miles.

Obviously, my mom raised me to believe that anything is possible and that hard work and dedication will go far in this world.

How do you measure your success?

I measure success by that feeling inside of me that whispers “you did good today” and by those around me.

When all the wheels are turning in the right direction and all cylinders are firing in my Practice and with my ClientsI have been successful.

I have been very blessed with a good family and upbringing. I have also been very blessed with a scientific/ Dental “Geek” mindset which was born for Dentistry! Don’t get me wrong, I have had my share of struggles including working my ass off for a GPA of 1.8 my first quarter at Georgia Tech(it went up from there- thank goodness!)

Moving away from my family and friends out of my home state of Georgia. Compared to other people with major obstacles mine seem minor!

What do you do to turn around a bad day?

Call one of my girlfriends, talk to my hubby Richard, go shopping, or get a manicure! Take a breath, then realize that “what doesn’t kill me will make me stronger”!

What is your guilty pleasure?

Hmmm... I don’t really “do guilt”- I was raised Baptist!

But if there was one thing...it could be slot machines in Vegas!

What advice do you have for the new person in your office/ HOLD ON...it’s going to be a WILD RIDE! This is NOT a place for sissies!

What “DeW” leaders do?

Breathe, FOCUS, Take one step forward...The major difference between those who “DeW” & those who don’t is that those who DeW are willing to DeW whatever it takes!

SUCCESS

THIRD-GENERATION DENTIST & NORTH DAKOTA NATIVE RISES THROUGH RANKS TO BECOME HINMAN DENTAL SOCIETY PRESIDENT

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’m a third-generation dentist, originally from North Dakota. Not only were my father and grandfather dentists, but my uncle was, too. My father practiced general dentistry for 25 years and then decided it was time for a semi-career change to live in an area where he no longer needed a snow shovel. After taking a battery of psychology tests, it was discovered that he would be happy being an instructor, so he went about applying for teaching positions at every dental school in the country that was south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Hence, our family moved to Atlanta so dad could begin his teaching career at Emory University School of Dentistry. I was 10 years old.

A few years went by and my dad started quizzing me about what I wanted to do for a living, he encouraged me to go to dental-hygiene school. I had an aunt and a cousin who were hygienists, and it appealed to my then “teenagery-self” to have a job where I could easily work part-time and have a family. My dad was not exactly encouraging me to go to dental school, because he thought it was a particularly difficult profession, and, even though this was the 1970s, he feared our nation was moving towards “socialized medicine” and dentistry would follow suit. He told me that he was certain I could do anything I set my mind to and I could make it through dental school, BUT he loved me and thought there were “easier ways to make a living.” So, I stayed the course, earned a two-year degree and then went to dental hygiene school at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in Augusta. It was there that I met my future husband, Robby, who graduated from dental school the same year I graduated from hygiene school.

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By Kate Robinson, D.M.D. www.vasseydentalpartners.com

Becoming a Dentist The turning point came for me when I began working for Dr. Marian Sprinkle in the early 80s. Marian was one of the first female dentists in Atlanta, and she was in her early 60s when I began working for her. Her story really puts mine to shame. When she graduated from Southern dental college, it was WWII and all the young men had been called up, so there were no new dentists to take associate positions offered by the older dentists. Marian found herself in a sweet spot and got hired immediately.

She was also one of the top students in her class, so that didn’t hurt. Anyway, Marian’s practice, by the time I got there, wasn’t glitzy or trendy or even particularly busy. She only worked out of one chair, and I was her only hygienist. But her patients were like family, and she was a very skillful and caring dentist. It wasn’t long after I started working with her that she encouraged me to consider going back to dental school. When I look back on that now, I think it was awfully generous of her, considering that if I did get into school, she would have to look for a new hygienist.

After a couple of years of Dr. Sprinkle’s encouragement, I began taking night classes to complete my requirements for application. One step lead to another, and next thing you know, I’m going to dental school. Robby remained in Atlanta when I attended MCG, and we managed to see each other every weekend except one. After graduation, I joined a small group practice in Peachtree City, Ga., and now I’m an owner-partner with five other dentists. I’ve been there for 27 years. My partners are precious to me, and I’m appreciative that they’re patient and kind, considering I’m the oldest by far and they have the burden

success program chair for General Chairman Dr. Jim Roos in 2016, I heard from many speakers and scouts that our meeting is one of the most well-respected meetings in the country.

I feel certain that Dr. Hinman would be proud of our society and how we’ve achieved our goals over the past 100-plus years by providing quality continuing education for ourselves, our teams and our attendees, and gifting scholarship funds to deserving students in our profession.

Currently, the Hinman Dental Society reflects the growing diversity of our membership. Dental school classes are now comprised of at least 50 percent women. While I am proud to be the second woman president of Hinman, what is important to me is the incredible caliber of people who have surrounded me on my journey. I am humbled to be mentored by the finest people in our community. Those who went before me set the bar high, and I believe Dr. Hinman would want us to keep it that way.

of trying to keep me current with new techniques and products. God bless them. I wouldn’t be the dentist I am today if it wasn’t for them, keeping me on my toes. Like Marian, I’ve enjoyed treating three and four generations of families and that is my favorite part about being a dentist.

My patients are like my family, too.

Joining Hinman Dental Society I have to say that if it wasn’t for my husband’s dental school classmates, I might not have become involved in the Hinman Dental Society. I think it was Dr. Chip Mohme, who was the youngest General Chairman in the history of the Hinman Dental Society, who encouraged me to become involved. I’ll always remember how much fun I discovered it was to serve on the committees during the meeting. I would run into classmates from dental hygiene school and dentists I knew from when I was in hygiene school and dental school, so every Hinman was like a big reunion. I discovered that Hinman was a great organization, not only for the camaraderie, but also for our gifting of money for dental scholarships.

Looking back, I feel so blessed to have taken the path I took 31 years ago. I’m grateful for the relentless nudges Dr. Sprinkle gave me until I finally took her advice and applied for dental school and for her fantastic example of what a happy dentist looks like. I’m grateful for my wonderful husband of 34 years, Robby, who sacrificed so much to ensure he’d have a professionally fulfilled wife. If it wasn’t for my father’s words telling me I was capable of achieving anything I desired, I’d have been filled with self-doubt. I’m proud to be a third-generation dentist, and I’d like to say there might be a fourth-generation dentist in our youngest daughter, a sophomore at Samford University. I tell her the same as my dad told me, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” And even though she’s seen me struggle as a working mom, I hope that I’ve been a good example for her. When I think about the advances made in the course of my professional years, I’m astounded. What would her practice look like? I can’t wait to find out.

Robby and I were asked to host a speaker for a March meeting after serving on several different committees over the years, and we hosted many in the years to follow.

We enjoyed that immensely and got to know many of the speakers and their spouses. Nine years ago, I was asked to join the executive council and that has been a wonderful experience. My eyes were opened to the multitude of details that go into not only running the Hinman Dental Society itself, but the extraordinary Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting. When I was fortunate enough to be a

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success STYLE

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS IN THE RIGHT ORDER WILL HELP IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE A

s DeWers, we all live very busy lives. I love what Anne has put together in an effort for all of us to learn from one another and lift each other up. Like many of you, I have several roles in my life. I am a wife, mother, business owner and client coach. There’s one thing I’ve realized I use in all of these areas – my mindset and communication style. More specifically, how to ask the right question to solve problems that arise.

As a wife, there were several months that my husband was unemployed due to no fault of his own. The company he worked for restructured, and we found ourselves on a new adventure. We were given the opportunity to reflect on what he wanted to do and make some reevaluations on what was important. I believe it’s through the challenging times that we grow. Viewing these tough times as opportunities is where my mindset had to be. Giving up is never an option that I ever consider. To make decisions, we either knowingly or unknowingly ask ourselves questions in an order to answer them and find our path. In this case we asked, “Do you want to stay in the same industry? Are we willing to relocate the family?

How can we shift some things around financially?” You get the point. To get to a conclusion, you need to ask the right question. Asking the right question will lead to the necessary critical thinking about the correct answer, and then action can be taken.

As a reader of DeW magazine, you may know I have two children, Megan and Nicholas. You may also have read about basketball being a shared passion between Megan and myself. Several years ago, Megan dislocated her shoulder in a basketball game. The funny thing is, she

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

By Lynne Leggett, BS, FAADOM Founder & CEO Victory Dental Management, LLC www.victorydentalmanagement.com

did it before halftime and played the second half like nothing was wrong. I only found out about her shoulder after the game. We didn’t know the extent of her injury until we saw the doctor the next day. I knew she had a high pain tolerance, but this shocked both of us. The injury occurred in the middle of the season and before Christmas break. We weren’t sure how quickly her shoulder would respond to physical therapy and if she would be able to play anymore before the season ended.

Megan had always been a leader of her basketball team, and her injury deflated her teammates. They needed her back as soon as she was cleared to play. As a mom, I thought her shoulders would need to be strong for the rest of her life since her dream was to be a pediatric trauma nurse. So, given this opportunity, Megan and I sat down with a calendar and started asking some tough questions. I asked when the tournament was, who on the schedule would be a tougher team to beat and how many hours a day could she commit to PT with her class load.

That’s just to name a few. By asking the right questions, Megan showed me how dedicated she was to work her hardest so she could get back to her team and her full strength. She even had to endure 5 a.m. workouts before school to achieve her goal. Throughout this opportunity, Megan learned she could achieve more than she even thought possible. Not only did she come back to help her team win the championship, she learned how to organize her time more efficiently and was a positive role model to others at school and the physical therapy office.

As business owners, we face challenges all the time.

They can be focused around market conditions, team/ employee issues, gaining new business, marketing. All

success kinds of things. In my situation, I was faced with one that we all struggle with at various times –how to get more business. I had to ask the right questions. “Why is this happening? Do I need to adjust my yearly plan? Do I need to focus on another area. Do I have clarity on what I want to do?” I am a planner by nature, and I look at my business financials on a weekly basis. I knew there was a potential for a problem before a budgetary crisis occurred.

By asking the right questions, I went back to my written plan for the year and saw that I wasn’t spending enough time cultivating business. While thinking about the rest of these questions, I was able to address some items that I hadn’t previously made firm decisions on. Taking the time to ask the right questions and finding the answers cleared my path to take the right action.

"By asking the right questions, Megan showed me how dedicated she was to work her hardest so she could get back to her team and her full strength."

The same process applies to the dental office and the dentist, as well. I often try to put myself in their shoes and what they have gone through. Imagine the drive and ambition needed to achieve high academic results to get into dental school. Then what it takes to learn new clinical skills to be able to practice dentistry after graduation.

There’s a lot of competition going on. As a basketball coach, I thrive off competition, and I help guide my clients through that maze to get results. As business owners, dentists have distinct types of competition they face each day – internal and external.

Internal competition is the drive that pushes one to succeed and not give up. Another way of saying it would be a perfectionist streak. Their skills needed to be perfect in dental school, and it would be unrealistic to think that internal drive would stop once you own your own practice.

Understanding that is key to asking the right questions, so not only do they listen to me as their coach, but also are motivated to act.

External competition is the one most people think about.

How many other dentists are in the same area, preforming the same service for their patients. With this type of competition, I must ask the right question, so we enable the practice to succeed. Such as, what type of experience do you want your patients to have in your office? That question gets everyone on the team thinking about how their individual actions affect the experience for their patients.

I love what I do for a living and am honored to do so. I get the opportunity to help dentists and their teams solve problems, enjoy their life and grow their practice. When I start talking with a potential client, I need to be able to meet them where they are. By that, I mean my communication style. It takes a lot for some people to admit they need help. Depending on their personality, that can be a big deal. I honor that with every phone call. Sometimes a dentist needs to be encouraged they are not alone, and

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I can help them with their situation. Guiding that first call correctly is one determining factor if we will work together.

I always actively listen first. Most dentists have so much on their mind, it’s like a floodgate has opened and they want to firehose me with information. I can appreciate that feeling, and that’s why asking the right questions, in the correct order, will help both of us the most. When many things are happening at the same time, it can be difficult to sort through which ones are affecting the practice the most from the standpoint of the dentist. Only after finding out the most important things can you structure a plan to address issues in order of importance for the practice.

Taking the time to discover those items and then creating a plan to solve those in order of importance is a direct result of asking the right questions in the right order.

Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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• Defining your career • Assembling your team • Developing your plan • Financing your practice

practicesuccess@wellsfargo.com wellsfargo.com/dentists any time

Practice Success Series for Dentists

Preparing for Ownership Wells Fargo Practice Finance

All financing is subject to credit approval and if applicable, determination of SBA eligibility. © 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Wells Fargo Practice Finance is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ADA® is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association.

ADA Business Resources℠ is a service mark of the American Dental Association.

ADA Business Resources is a program brought to you by ADA Business Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Dental Association.

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Wells Fargo Practice Finance 2000 Powell Street, 4th Floor Emeryville, CA 94608 1-888-937-2321

1-888-937-2321 Emeryville, CA 94608 2000 Powell Street, 4th Floor Wells Fargo Practice Finance a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Dental Association.

ADA Business Resources is a program brought to you by ADA Business Enterprises, Inc., ADA Business Resources℠ is a service mark of the American Dental Association.

ADA® is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association. a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Wells Fargo Practice Finance is All financing is subject to credit approval and if applicable, determination of SBA eligibility.

Wells Fargo Practice Finance

Preparing for Ownership Practice Success Series for Dentists

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All financing is subject to credit approval. © 2018 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Wells Fargo Practice Finance is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. IHA-5503001 • Financing your practice • Developing your plan • Assembling your team • Defining your career

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

HOW TO FEEL HAPPIER & LESS STRESSED EVEN WHEN LIFE GETS MESSY! I

am a child of the 60s! I remember watching sitcoms like Leave It to Beaver, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Andy Griffith where everything seemed perfect. Similar to today’s Facebook posts, they highlighted the perfect moments in life! Watching these old shows or perusing Facebook often leads us to believe that everyone else is living the perfect life. Our life seems like a mess in comparison. The truth is life is messy! The dictionary defines messy as disordered, untidy, muddled, chaotic, disorganized, confusing and cluttered. I think that about sums up the unexpected stuff that can happen in life.

When our expectations aren’t met or the unexpected happens life feels messy and we feel stressed.

We can alleviate much of the stress we feel by simply accepting that life is messy. Most of us want what we want when we want it. When it doesn’t happen in the time frame we expect we get impatient, upset and feel stressed. Stress is caused by wanting the moment to be something it’s not.

I use this stress stopper process to get back on track when I’m derailed with the unexpected.

• Breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth for 30 seconds • Observe the emotion you are feeling at the moment acknowledge it and let it go as you exhale • Go into creator mode; start thinking and processing a plan of action by asking yourself the question, “So now what can I do?”

• Triage the situation a. What has to get done b. What can be let go of c. Do the best you can in the situation – it’s not about perfection d. Take the next step Here are five life style practices to help you feel happier

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By Judy Kay Mausolf, CS www.PracticeSolutionsInc.net www.SpeakingConsultingNetwork.com

and less stressed even when life gets messy:

Labeling We often label the uncertain and the unexpected as negative or bad. Words are powerful. Emotion attaches to our words. How can we label something as bad if we don’t know what happens in end? None of us have a crystal ball. So how do we really know if something is bad? Instead, label it interesting. Interesting is a neutral word. Life is interesting. There have been many things in my life that at the time seemed … negative or difficult, that actually turned out generating a very positive outcome.

Two awesome outcomes from going through interesting times are my wonderful husband Steve Mausolf and my business. Haven’t we all thought or said, “This is going to be bad,” at one time or another and yet it turned out to be one of the best things to happen to us? Life’s difficulties often set us up for our greatest successes!

Positive Thinking You may have heard that happiness is an inside job. Our level of happiness in life depends on what we think about.

What do you think about on a day-to-day basis? We are the sum total of our own thoughts. The stories we tell ourselves become the life we live. If we believe we can’t … We can’t! Luckily, the same holds true that if we believe we can… we can.

The average person has 60,000 thoughts per day, and 95 percent of those thoughts are redundant from day-today. 80 percent are negative unless we are mindful of our thoughts. We get in a rut worrying about the same things today that we worried about yesterday.

The awesome news is we can hardwire our brains to get out of the rut and start thinking more positively! When we have mindful talk, actively choose where to focus our

health & wellness thoughts, and repeatedly apply it to a wholesome and constructive thought, we create a new path of positive thinking.

“Your life is a reflection of what you believe it can be!” ~ Judy Kay Mausolf Positive affirmations are like planting seeds in the ground. It takes time to go from a seed to mature plant.

It takes consistency and time from the first declaration to the final demonstration. You can’t just say something positive once and expect it to appear.

I had the privilege of growing up on a farm in North Dakota. We had dairy cattle that were milked every day at 5 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. The cows had a daily routine of heading out to the pasture after they were milked and being home by 4 p.m. They took the same exact path every day following one behind the other. Eventually they would wear a deep rut into the ground. We would have to physically block off the path in order to get them to take a new path to avoid having the rut get too deep. This is an analogy of how we think. Our thoughts get into a rut following a certain worn path. If we want to change how we think to be more positive, we have to create a new path.

Highlight the positives instead of the negatives. Look for a minimum of three potential positives in any situation or person. It doesn’t come natural and may feel awkward and uncomfortable at first. We have to force ourselves just like with the cows to take a new path. It takes focus, consistency and persistence until a new path has been formed and worn deep enough to become a habit. The average habit takes 66 days of precise and consistent practice. Today’s affirmations drive our future happiness and success!

Focus It is our focus that creates our attitude. We can be happy and less stressed even when life gets messy. Here is the big secret about staying happy and positive even in messy times. It does not take any superpowers or anything special, although a TA-DAH or Smile & Shine Band can give a burst of positive super power (www.

PracticeSolutionsInc.net resources/products tab). It is simply a clear understanding of the power of focus. Our attitude is a learned behavior. Having a positive attitude is a skill we can learn. If we focus on the positive, we will have a positive attitude. Find a reason to feel good and you will feel good. When you hear people say they are in bad mood, it is because they choose to linger in the negative emotions. The physical part of any emotion only lasts 30 seconds or less. Any emotion after 30 seconds comes from hanging onto the motion. Woe is me people, or what I like to refer to as wallowers, choose to be victims of their emotions.

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Choice Why do you feel happy? If our why to our happiness depends on external circumstances we lose our power to be happy. Our happiness will be at the hands of others and whim to our circumstances. Have you ever thought I was in a great mood until “ ” happened or I was in a great mood until that person made me in angry? When we allow whatever blank is at the moment to affect how we feel we are in essence relinquishing our power and allowing circumstances or other people to control our emotions. Once we have given up our power we are no longer a creator we become a victim. Circumstances and other people can only dictate how we feel if we allow them.

It is always our choice.

I am often asked how I stay so happy and positive. I will share with you that it is not because I only meet nice people. I meet some of the same people that you meet who are not always so lovely! It’s also not because my life is perfect or that everything goes my way. Trust me, I fly often and things usually don’t go my way. Instead, it is a choice I make when I wake up every day! It’s a choice to be happy and positive regardless of what may come my way. I choose to smile and impact others in a positive manner regardless of their behavior and whether I think they deserve it or not. It has nothing to do with them and everything to do with how I choose to show up. I choose not to relinquish my power to circumstances or other people or allow them to dictate whether I’m happy or not. I want to be the creator of my day and my life.

Gratitude Life is messy. Difficult times can force us to realize there are no guarantees in life. What we have in the moment may only be there for a moment. When we realize things in life, and life itself, are temporary, we are inclined to no longer take them for granted. We become grateful for what is.

When we push aside the noise, it becomes easy to be embraced with gratitude for all our blessings. How clear it all becomes - colors are more vibrant, sounds are more musical, smells are sweeter, relationships have become precious, and everything comes alive.

“Life is a gift. Our attitude determines how we live it!” ~ Judy Kay Mausolf The simple truth is we will never be happy with ourselves and our lives until we are grateful for what we already have. This concept may sound so simple and yet it can be so hard to master. Think about it for a moment. It is only when we give thanks and appreciate what already exists in our lives and stop comparing ourselves to others, that we find peace and happiness.

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BALANCE FOR LIFE

SAVE THE DRAMA FOR YOUR MAMA

By Amanda Sturner, M.Ed, RMT www.StretchZoneCoaching.com

We live in a time when “drama queen” is an enormous insult. “That’s not my drama” is a common saying and mindset. “That person is so dramatic! Chill! Relax!” We treat the up and downs of life as if they were bad. As if we should all be walking around in a zombie-like state of nonfeeling numbness.

I don’t think that’s what God intends. Sure, it’s hard to feel bad, guilty, sad, downtrodden, embarrassed, angry, etc.

But it’s part of the see-saw and the balance. You weren’t designed to feel “good” all of the time. That mentality almost makes it a joke. We have so many catch phrases like, “All is well,” “Be happy,” and “Happiness is a state of mind.” I completely agree! But we need some catch phrases like, “It’s okay to be afraid,” and “Sorrow is a beautiful part of this life.” As far as the Bible goes, we don’t live in the Garden of Eden anymore. That snake got his way, Adam and Eve ate the fruit, and here we are all living outside the garden gates. We are supposed to feel. Stop feeling like you have to pretend. Anger is powerful. Sorrow is releasing. Uncertainty makes us brave. “It’s all good,” but only when we include the hard and uncomfortable feelings in our definition of good.

The poet Mary Oliver wrote, “What do you plan to do with your one, precious life?” Oh the pressure! I have loved that quote for so long because it’s a call to action, a call to make the most of each day, which I’m all about. But the pressure behind it! What do you plan to do with this one, precious gift? Ahhh! I don’t know! But any plan I devise sure seems unworthy of my “one, precious life.” How do we live up to that? What are we supposed to do? Laugh all day, every day, while feeding the hungry and creating world peace and lifting up everyone around us? No! You can’t do it. You can drive yourself crazy trying and constantly fall short. But you can’t do it.

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The ironic thing is, that line of Oliver’s poem is famous, but it’s taken out of context. The poem reads: “What do you intend to do with your one, precious life? Isn’t it enough to just enjoy this lovely summer day?” Thank goodness for that line. In it, we find permission to just enjoy. Enjoy. In joy. When you are in joy and enjoying, guess what? You’re much more likely to create peace and feed the hungry and laugh until your belly hurts.

So live, live, live. Live loud, live big, live bold. Live dramatically. Have your highs and lows, your anger and happiness and laughter and doubts. It has nothing to do with attention seeking. It’s just rolling up your sleeves and feeling all there is to feel. It’s living this one precious life.

Which is all, and everything, God wants us to do.

From the author: I have a strong foundation in the fundamental and advanced communication skills inherent to coaching. For over 15 years, I have been helping people achieve their personal and professional goals.

Prior to launching my own coaching business, I coached successful entrepreneurs with Focus Four, a coaching company that serves small business owners. I have extensive background in working with individuals and groups through Outward Bound, an international experiential education organization founded on the principals of personal growth. I have worked with clients individually and as part of a group in wilderness settings from Montana to the Texas/Mexico border and North Carolina. I am an active member of Coachville, the largest network of coaches worldwide, and the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the leading global organization governing the coaching profession.

I'm also certified through the Excellence in Speaking Institute and the Robbins-Madanes Center for Strategic Intervention Coaching.

THE LUCY HOBBS 6TH ANNUAL

CELEBRATION

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B E M OT I VAT E D STANDING OVATIONS • INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGES • OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK Honorees speak candidly about their passion for dentistry, causes close to their hearts, and outstanding networks of support.

THIS YEAR’S PANEL DISCUSSIONS WILL COVER: Dynamic teamwork • Redefining “Having It All” • Marketing your business

BE INSPIRED KEYNOTE SPEAKER, ERIN GRUWELL, FOUNDER OF THE FREEDOM WRITERS FOUNDATION By fostering an educational philosophy that values and promotes diversity, Erin changed her students’ lives.

She and her students captured their collective journey in The Freedom Writers Diary.

Erin founded the Freedom Writers Foundation, where she currently teaches educators around the world how to implement her innovative lesson plans into their own classrooms. Erin continues to fight for equality in education and inspires teachers and students all over the world.

B E I N N O VAT I V E DIGITAL DENTISTRY SYMPOSIUM: THE TIME IS NOW IN COLLABORATION WITH STRAUMANN 10.5 CE HOURS COURSE OBJECTIVES: • Discover how to incorporate the digital dentistry workflow into daily implant practice.

• Master the efficiencies of the digital dentistry workflow.

• Adapt to a rapidly evolving dental market to meet patients’ needs.

• Learn the importance of team communication within your practice and among your peers.

TOPICS: • Pretreatment planning • Guided surgery • Final restoration design • Delivery and practice management • Ways to making the digital dentistry workflow simple, efficient and profitable

SEPTEMBER 13-15, 2018 IN BEAUTIFUL SAN FRANCISCO The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square 335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA REGISTER TODAY AT LUCYHOBBSCELEBRATION.COM 1.800.GO.BENCO

BALANCE FOR LIFE

THE ANALYTICAL MIND VS. THE EMOTIONAL MIND TRIBULATIONS OF AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET

C

urrently, we are living in a time where the entrepreneurial mindset is growing and becoming a reborn American dream. Our perception of our ideal life, our vision boards, our daily affirmations and goal lists largely consist of the common theme “Fire Your Boss – Pursue Your Passion.” I will be the first to raise my hand as a willing participant to this movement since, to me, it equates freedom. Freedom of creativity, freedom in decision making (autonomy) and freedom to be a changing force for others. These are powerful draws that leave many of us actively pursuing the path to entrepreneurship.

The catch, however, can be those tricky road-blocks along the way and how we deal with them. A mindset can make or break the entrepreneurial American dream.

The entrepreneurial woman, while all very individualized, contain many of the same traits – strong-willed, efficient, analytical and emotional. There are many more traits that could be accounted for, but we are going to focus on two that can get caught in a tug-of-war, creating some disdain and resistance while we strive to achieve our goals.

The Analytical Mind When pursuing entrepreneurship, the analytical mind is an extremely vital piece of our journey. This is the part of our mind that allows us to think logically, mapping out our journey in a way that makes sense. It may include vital business decisions, financial decisions or other decisions that relate to a professional venture staying afloat. Our analytical mind is our commonsense friend. It keeps us playing on the safe side to help avoid as much collateral damage possible.

The downfall of our analytical mind is what happens when we allow it to dictate our decisions 100 percent of the time. Rather than full of passion, our decisions

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By Sarah Clark, RDH, CSMC www.mindfulhygienist.com sarah@mindfulhygienist.com.

become simply calculated moves. Rather than pursuit of a goal with purpose, we remain stagnant due to the fear of failure imposed on us by our analytical mind.

While our analytical mind is necessary for success, we must learn that it cannot be the sole source of our decision making. We need to allow our emotional mind to have its own say in the matter, because, it too, has very valid points to make.

The Emotional Mind Often the journey of entrepreneurship begins with the emotional mind. The emotional mind is where that passion, that fire inside of us was initially ignited and the drive for pursuit was born. As we get deeper into our professional journey, our emotional mind begins to take a back seat.

We start to sacrifice that feeling of deep passion for the feelings of security because our analytical mind told us we had to. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can teach our analytical mind and emotional mind to get along, to stop their constant back-and-forth where neither will win.

Neither side is supposed to ‘win,’ because that is where imbalance occurs.

On the other side of the spectrum, it is possible that our mission towards entrepreneurship stemmed solely from the emotional mind. Being so deeply invested in the passion that drove us to this goal can also be dangerous.

If we never allow our analytical mind the opportunity to keep our thoughts in check, we risk extreme imbalance and potential failure, which, when stemming from our emotional mind, is 1,000 times worse than from the analytical mind due to our deeply vested emotions.

balance for life

Creating Balance Now we’ve talked about our two battling mindsets and how letting either side take over can greatly impact our professional journey. As with everything in life, the key is balance – teaching the analytical mind and the emotional mind to work together in harmony. They both carry extremely valid points, and it is important to allow each side the opportunity to shine. How can this be accomplished? Let’s take a look at three key components to balancing the analytical mind with the emotional mind.

Step 1: The Essential Pause

When you’re in a situation that calls for an important decision or business move to be made, sometimes we can find ourselves ‘in too deep’ and making quick, emotion-based choices. This is due to the emotional mind taking over and completely disregarding the analytical mind. While it may feel right in the moment, it could be troublesome, as we haven’t screened the situation for potential risks, action steps or potential benefit of that situation. To allow our analytical mind the chance to weigh in, but not takeover, we can benefit from practicing the essential pause.

To do this, when in a situation where you become tempted to make a spur of the moment decision, remind yourself to take the time to pause and ask yourself some questions. Does it feel right? If you happen to be wrong, how big of an impact will this decision make? What are the steps involved with this position, and are you capable of following through? While the questions can vary or be changed for your situation, they create a good screening tool to be sure your decision is well thought out without having to create stagnancy from a takeover of the analytical mind. You’ll feel much more confident after the decision is made when you know that you truly thought about the important pieces.

Step 2: When in Doubt, Write It Out

This method is for those who allow the analytical mind to take over the majority of their decision-making process, creating stagnancy and a lack of passion.

Similar to above, create a series of questions that you can ask yourself about a situation. However, to appease the organized analytical mind, write them out on paper.

Another component, where we now learn to restrict the analytical mind, is to limit the amount of questions you can ask yourself to a reasonable number (usually 3-5).

This allows you to learn to ask ONLY the most important questions and to not dwell on the aspects that are not as important. Those unnecessary points can quickly create stagnancy in your momentum if dwelled upon too long.

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Find the answers to your questions and write them on your paper. Whenever your mind wants to wander back to worrying about those questions, be comforted that you have already answered them and look back on your initial written answers – after all, there is no need to re-invent the wheel.

Step 3: Debate Your Roommate

Lastly, a good healthy debate never hurt anyone – including yourself. Your analytical mind and your emotional mind are often quite opposite, but both have great points to make. Typically, while one is taking over the other is whispering negative things to you in the back of your mind. You can call those little voices your ‘roommate.’ That roommate loves to tell you how what you are doing is wrong, and while it may not be true, it is the self-doubt of a decision or insecurity coming through.

This is a great time to learn to debate the other side.

Next time you hear your roommate trying to give advice against what your current thought process may be – whether it be analytical or emotional – have a healthy debate! Typically, debates open up others to seeing both sides of a topic, and that is our exact goal here.

For example, say your roommate is telling you that no one is going to like your idea so you shouldn’t pursue it.

You already know through your emotional mind that this idea is your passion, but your analytical mind is trying to sabotage you with fear.

While there are aspects to figure out before jumping into a business decision with the idea, it should be something that both minds can work together in harmony to create.

Debate that roommate by explaining your idea, your passion and how you KNOW that others will love your idea just as you do. Continue this process with each point your roommate presents and reap the benefits of a decision that has now been created on balanced grounds between the analytical mind and the emotional mind.

Enjoy Your Mindsets in Harmony

Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of training to get both the analytical mind and the emotional mind to work together in harmony. Once you learn to utilize management techniques like discussed above, your thought processes will become much smoother and more thorough. The entrepreneurial woman is constantly working passionately towards a mission, and that requires many important decisions to be made. Learning to balance the emotional mind and analytical mind is one way to elevate our thought processes to be as beneficial as possible.

About the Author: Sarah Clark, RDH, IPDH, CSMC is the founder of Mindful Hygienist - Professional Wellness Solutions, LLC which has the mission of promoting and teaching dental professionals to achieve personal and professional wellness.

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MacPractice Simplicity in practice

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living your strengths STYLE

WARRIOR ON! LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE ‘BIG C’

By Andrea Greer, RDH, BS www.onpoint.consulting

J

anuary 15, 2016. I was away from home on business.

It was late Friday afternoon, and the call I expected to receive that day hadn’t come. Desperate to know the results of Monday’s biopsy, I called my physician’s office and asked to speak to the nurse. She said the words no woman wants to hear: “I am so sorry to tell you this, but you have breast cancer.” This short phone call was the beginning of a very scary year, and looking back, an unexpectedly hopeful journey filled with blessings and joy. I met amazing people, learned amazing lessons, and unintentionally inspired other women. I became a Warrior!

I have been in dentistry for 25 years and worked in several capacities in and out of dental practices: dental assistant, dental hygienist, office manager, dental software trainer and management consultant. My career has been blessed, but I had no idea how blessed until 2016. I hope to help other women in our wonderful industry by sharing some of the lessons I learned while undergoing five months of chemotherapy, two surgeries (one major and one minor) and lots of recovery time in a recliner.

Every journey is unique. When a woman shares a diagnosis like breast cancer, people often come out of the woodwork to share opinions and offer advice about treatment, diet or whatever fad they read about on Facebook. This is not helpful. As a Warrior, I had to do anything and everything I could to ease discomfort, not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally. I learned to allow myself grace to be able to do what I needed to do to recover, without fear of judgment. Some Warriors lose weight, some gain.

Some Warriors feel angry when someone tries to present a silver lining to them (You'll lose weight!” or “You’ll get new girls!”), but I found my “internal giggle” as Lois Banta says, when I embraced these encouragements! Some Warriors are able to work through their treatment, but I found the chemo-fog phenomenon to be overwhelming and debilitating. Every Warrior has difficult decisions

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to make about their treatment, and none of them are fun.

None are taken lightly, and every decision will be right for that person at the time it is made. I learned that the decisions that seemed obvious to me were the wrong decisions for others.

Humanity is beautiful. People want to help. Let them.

Some Warriors share their story privately, perhaps with only close friends or family. However, I’ve always found the support of others to be uplifting and strengthening, so I wasn’t shy about sharing my journey though a blog of sorts. I joined a support group for women dealing with breast cancer in Austin. My challenge came when I had to ask for help. I needed help caring for myself after chemo and after surgery. I needed help caring for my home when

living your strengths I couldn’t and most difficult, I needed help financially. But because I asked, my cup overflowed in all regards, and I was blessed. The dental community, my family and my wonderful friends helped me at home and online. And I continue to be blessed every day.

A good friend in dentistry recently told me a story. She said another friend of hers shared that she had just finished chemotherapy to treat cancer, but she hadn’t told anyone else in their circle about it because she did not want to be a burden for anyone. My friend was so sad and hurt that she couldn’t help, or even pray for, this woman. She felt the opportunity to offer support was taken away from her.

Even though I heard this story after I was out of treatment for some time, I learned the importance of letting people help. As women, I feel we’re conditioned that asking for help is a sign of weakness, and it goes against the grain for so many of us. On the flip side of this, as women we also feel the desire and drive to support, help and nurture our loved ones. I learned that asking for help fulfills this need in others and has benefits for our own healing and peace.

Preparation is important. While I’m not sure you can ever really prepare for something like this, we all try to have things lined up for the “what if” scenario. As I was working hard on recovering, I thought about the dental practices that I worked with as a consultant. It’s disappointing how much reluctance for delegation, training and especially cross-training that I ran into from owners and employees.

As dental students, little to no business curriculum is offered, and unless a practice owner is proactive with hiring a consultant or coach, they are often flying by the seats of their pants when they purchase or open a practice. That’s a big gamble.

I heard, “No one else can do it right, so I just take care of it,” or some variation of that statement countless times. Well, what happens when an integral person in the practice becomes ill or incapacitated? Typically, chaos ensues until someone can be brought up to speed, often to the detriment of their other responsibilities. Without clear job descriptions, SOP manuals and written protocols, it’s very difficult for a person to step into an unexpected vacancy.

Sadly, sometimes there can be a passive-aggressive intention behind this: “They won’t appreciate me until I’m not here, and they don’t know how to do anything! Then they’ll miss me!” When I hear this sentiment, I must ask the person, “What do you want your legacy to be? Do you want them to resent you because things are chaotic now that you are gone? Or do you want them to think of you with love and admiration because the business ran smoothly even after you weren’t there?” I gently remind them that creating systems, delegation and development of others (e.g., cross-training) is true leadership.

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"This is the choice that science supported, they said.

And while that choice is the right choice for some women, it was not the right choice for me."

Be your own advocate. I had to fight for my choices in treatment. Specifically, with my choice of bilateral mastectomies and reconstruction. I was told by doctors, both male and female, that the sensible choice was to move forward with a lumpectomy. This is the choice that science supported, they said. And while that choice is the right choice for some women, it was not the right choice for me. Ultimately, my decision came down to the fact that I had to be the one to sleep at night, and I would be the one to go through treatment again if the cancer recurred.

And I would be the one to live in fear before the routine mammograms (no more of those – another silver lining!).

I advocated for myself, and now, 18 months after the surgery, I still am grateful that I stuck to my guns.

The future is so bright! I have generally always been a positive person, but when faced with this illness, my heart became filled with gratefulness, and this stirred even more positive energy in my core! I knew from the beginning that I was going to beat my cancer, and if I didn’t live my life to its fullest when I recovered, I was wasting an opportunity that I was granted. I am now channeling that positivity and grace into myself and my career! As a new business owner, and as a woman working in a man’s world of business, I strive to bring the best me I can be to all my clients. I choose to be happy and to create satisfaction. Of course, I am continuing to learn my Warrior lessons, and every day brings new challenges, joy and love!

Warrior on!

About the author: Over her 25 years of experience in the dental industry, Andrea has led practices from many positions: dental assistant, hygienist, office manager, Dentrix trainer, practice management consultant and speaker. She approaches her work with each practice uniquely to develop protocols and workflows to reduce stress and advance patient communication. In this current healthcare climate, it can be a challenge to navigate the murky waters of dental insurance and still achieve fulfillment and life balance. Andrea is passionate about helping dentists and their teams believe in what they are providing to the patient family and realize contentment and purpose. Her gift of connection and empathy is a key element in engaging with audience members, as well as developing leadership one on one with her clients. See what Andrea can do for your practice and your team!

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living your strengths

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

By Angie Stone, RDH, BS www.hylifeoha.com www.angiestonerdh.com

A

s I sat in the hall of the nursing home crying, my mother approached me and said, “You are not going to believe what she wants.” I lifted my head slowly with silent tears dripping off my chin and replied, “What?”

The words that came from my mom’s mouth were words I never imagined. “She wants you to brush her teeth.”

My gut reaction was, “I don’t have the strength to brush my grandmother’s teeth as she is actively dying.” I left the room because the pain was too much. My “gram” was talking and I couldn’t understand her. I wasn’t strong enough to handle this process. I didn’t want her to see me crying.

My heart’s reaction was, “How can you possibly not provide something that is likely one of her last requests on this Earth?” It was time to forget about what I was comfortable with and serve my grandmother. As I flossed and brushed her teeth, I did my best to focus on the task at hand and not the emotion of it all. Gram mumbled how good it felt to have a clean mouth. I ended our session by spraying her mouth with a dry mouth spray, which had provided her comfort from dry mouth for months. It was her saving grace.

short seconds later, her chest was no longer rising and lowering. She left us and went with those who beckoned her. We left the room and let the nursing home staff know she was gone.

We all waited outside her room with the door shut to discover what happened next. A nursing assistant appeared, and said she would be with us in a bit. She slipped into my grandmother’s room and shut the door behind her. I asked my mom, “What do you think she’s doing in there?” Mom said, “I don’t know. Go ask her.” So, I did. The woman said she was going to get my gram ready to go to the funeral home. I asked if I could watch. She said sure. She combed Gram’s hair, wiped her face with a warm moist washcloth and then grabbed a toothette … a sponge on a stick. I asked, “What are you doing?” and she just wanted to clean her mouth.” I have no idea why I asked to do it. I swear it was someone else who decided to take over my mouth and make those words come out, but she let me. Oh, boy. Now I was committed.

Without hesitation, I took the dental floss from the drawer in gram’s night stand and flossed her teeth. Trying to see through my tears, I gently brushed her teeth to remove the plaque. To finish up, I sprayed her mouth once again with A few days later, I returned to the nursing home with my the dry mouth spray, tucked it into her cold hand and said, mother. This time we were called there. Gram’s time “Now you’re ready, gram. I love you.” I left the room and was short. While my cousin and I were sitting vigil on a sobbed. motionless body, something or someone got gram’s attention. Her eyes opened, and they were vibrant blue. What I haven’t mentioned yet is that my gram entered She reached toward the ceiling where she obviously saw the nursing home two and a half years before her death, something and tried to sit up. A few seconds later she was and within the first two years, she lost 60 percent of the still. Cassandra and I weren’t sure what we just witnessed, teeth she managed to keep in her mouth for over 90 and we called my mom and our aunt into the room in case years. This atrocity was due to a severely dry mouth and something was about to happen. inappropriate measures to remedy this situation. There was a dentist on board at the facility, and gram was pretty My aunt began reciting the Lord’s prayer, and we all joined good at plague control. But the dentist and good plaque in, while my mom whispered to gram it was OK to go. A few control were no match for a dry mouth and lemon drops.

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living your strengths

"The words that came from my mom’s mouth were words I never imagined. 'She wants you to brush her teeth.'”

Another thing I haven’t shared is that while gram was losing 60 percent of her teeth, I was actively caring for a man in a nursing home near my house. He was a long-time dental hygiene patient of mine, and upon his admission to the care community, his oral health declined greatly. An experience I had with my mother-in-law during her stay in a nursing home, subsequent research and learning had my senses heightened to the potential troubles with oral health in these communities. It’s that experience that led to me trying a protocol with my patient and eventual nursing home resident. Imagine my heartbreak when I discovered my own gram had lost so many of her teeth while I was helping someone else remain dentally healthy.

Before these incidents occurred, I was oblivious to the oral-health situation in the care communities where our dependent elders often spend the last few years of their lives. I had no idea that on average, in my home state of Wisconsin, the oral-health stats of nursing home residents were sickening. Forty-two percent have untreated tooth decay, 31 percent have root fragments, 22 percent have severe gingival inflammation, 35 percent have substantial oral debris and 27 percent need periodontal care. What’s even more appalling is surveys conducted in other states echo similar results. And even worse yet is that nothing is being done, on a large scale, to stop this needless suffering. I am on a mission to solve this issue, and I am making progress, slowly but surely.

entrepreneur if they thought they would be doing what they do, and they’ll probably admit they hadn’t. If you take the time to discover why they’re doing what they’re doing, it’s usually because they saw a problem and they are attempting to solve it.

We all have our strengths and gifts. Our time is usually spent planning what we’re going to do for a living. We plot our path and move down that path based upon what we think we want to do or need to do. We allow others to influence our direction. We get wrapped up in our hopes and dreams.

We go through our days not realizing our experiences and their outcomes are preparing us for what we were made for, and things are happening for a reason. If we’re not paying attention, we can miss the signs and end up never reaching our full potential or attaining life satisfaction.

I never, not once, thought I would be a business owner. I also never thought I would be taking care of our elders or helping other dental hygienists have a business within my business. The experiences I share in this article and numerous others over the years prepared me for the next steps and the next. I am thankful for the trials and tribulations. They taught me a lot, and I’m still growing and learning. Who knows where I will end up? What I do know is that I’ve been given a purpose and will continue to trust in the journey and enjoy the ride. I wish the same for you!

Our life experiences shape us into who we are. This can be good, but it can also be bad. You see, we have a choice.

Are we going to let our experiences have a positive effect on us or a negative one? Many of us choose the latter. It’s very easy to become a victim and live to tell our sad story.

This takes no courage at all. Most of the time, choosing this path leads to bitterness, unhappiness and potentially depression.

About the author: Angie Stone, RDH, BS began her career in the Navy as a dental assistant. She has taught in dental assisting and dental hygiene programs. She has also provided onsite education to dental professionals in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and 7 countries and territories. In addition to numerous published articles, her original research regarding Xylitol and elders was published in a peer reviewed medical journal in November of 2013. Angie’s Amazon Best Seller book, Dying from Dirty Teeth, Choosing to make something positive come out of was launched in March of 2015. She is the founder and CEO of the our experiences requires bravery, vulnerability and HyLife Oral Health Alliance. The mission of the alliance is to keep persistence. It can be scary. It can be lonely. And when we vulnerable older adults free of dental disease for their life time. make progress, it is absolutely exhilarating. This is what Angie is an eight time attendee of CareerFusion and was awarded the life on an entrepreneur is like. Most entrepreneurs are the Sunstar Award of Distinction in 2012 for her work with Xylitol attempting to make the world a better place than what and the geriatric population.

they or those they love personally experienced. Ask an

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