Dental Entrepreneur Woman - Winter 2020 by Dental Entrepreneur Media

Winter 2020

Spiritual Leadership Victoria Peterson, SsD

Breathing Life Into Our Future Dr. Meghna Dassani

Getting to Know Your Clients Before ANYONE Signs the Papers Jennifer Pearce

Live Your Best Life: 5 Keys to Finding Your Version of Success This Year Naomi Cooper PLUS

DeW Retreat: The Beginning of Something Great

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Dearest DeWs,

Hello, my name is Anne Duffy. Winter 2020 Editor and Publisher Anne M. Duffy, RDH Associate Publisher Rebecca Paciorek Assistant Editors Michael Duffy JoAnn Schutte Susan Beatty Creative Consultant Beth Linesch Design and Layout Brian Rummel Production [CURAtive] James B. Kennedy Reilly Williams Winter Contributors Hollie Bryant Naomi Cooper Dr. Meghna Dassani Renee Dixon Dr. Julie Kellogg Jennifer Pearce Victoria Peterson Cover Photography Mariel Garza - Mariel & Joey Lifestyle Photography

Charter Sponsors A-dec Crest Mary Fisher-Day Inspired Hygiene Patterson D5 Patterson Fuse Shofu Advisors to the Board Victoria Peterson Katherine Eitel-Belt Linda Miles Board Christie Bailey Dr. Meghna Dassani Dr. Hazel Glasper Jasmin Haley Janice Hurley Suzanne Kump Tonya Lanthier Dr. Laura Mach JoAn Majors Rachel Mele Lori Streeter Rachel Wall

Junior Board Dr. Shakila Angadi Christie Bailey Social Media Jasmin Haley Blue Dot Digital Marketing Dr. Erinne Kennedy Web Management Minal Sampat My Dental Agency

Editorial Office 12233 Pine Valley Club Dr Charlotte, NC 28277 704-953-0261 Fax 704-847-3315 anneduffy@dew.life Send materials to: DeW Life Magazine 8334 Pineville Matthews Rd Ste. 103-201 Charlotte, NC 28226 Guidelines go to dew.life

I am a WOO. I am an Activator. I am Positivity. I am Communication. I am an Arranger. Hear me ROAR! These are my strengths, and I own them. I love them. I love me just as I was made in the womb. And I love you just as you were made. Together we can DeW great things! Our Inaugural DeW Retreat centered on “Living Your Strengths.” We were honored, happy and grateful for your attendance and your profound presence. We are dedicating this issue of DeW Life Magazine to all of you. We hope you will join us and bring your friends to our DeW Retreat in 2020! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We begin this beautiful edition of our Winter DeW Life with our DeW whisperer, aka “Dream Releaser” Victoria Peterson. Soak in her divine insight on taking the next step in your leadership role, a role each of us is destined to seize. As you will learn from her words, there is richness in following your dreams. Dr. Meghna Dassani and Renee Dixon give us significant information that we can use in our personal and work lives. As DeWs we are always learning about how our profession can change lives, not just smiles. Please reach out to them if you would like more specifics. Our winter Dish is so fun. I hope you enjoy this recurring feature. If you would like to be spotlighted or recommend someone, please send me an email. Isn’t the DeW Dish a fun way to get to know our DeW Crew? Naomi Cooper, Jennifer Pearce and Dr. Julie Kellogg add sound advice as we begin the new year. It’s light reading and food for thought. You will get a charge out of their perceptiveness. Hollie Bryant is one of my favorite people. I met her twenty-five years ago while I was building my networking business. Her story is closing out this quarter portraying hope and confidence that good can come from bad. We must be open to the possibilities and be ready when called. Every DeW who has written for us in this issue is special and thoughtful in their words and deeds. Their stories inspire me. I hope you are inspired to look beyond where you stand now and find a way to use your strengths to grow yourselves and others. We are counting on you! Please reach out to our sponsors and let them know you appreciate their support of raising all women in dentistry. They have jumped in with their assistance from the beginning. Let’s reciprocate and show them some DeW love. Remember to reflect on your strengths every day. Own them. Love them. And live them! Happy New Year! 2020 is our year. We are ready for ACTION! DeWing,

Anne M. Duffy

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WINTER 2020

contents 6

Spiritual Leadership Victoria Peterson, SSD

Breathing Life Into Our Future

DeW retreat: the beginning of something great

Getting to know your clients before ANYONE signs the papers

Dr. Meghna Dassani

Jennifer Pearce

Live Your Best Life: 5 Keys To Finding Your Version of Success This Year Naomi Cooper

Recognizing warning signs of sex trafficking in the dentist’s chair Renee Dixon

Curiosity

Giving More Than You Think You Have

Dr. Julie Kellogg

Hollie Bryant

DeWers

DeW Retreat

DeW Dish

Success 20 Living Your Strengths

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DeWERS

SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

By Victoria Peterson, SsD

entistry has been the backdrop to my adventures for nearly 40 years. It has allowed me to be a dental hygienist, to 4x Inc. 5000 dental consulting firm, dental practice owner and most recently a doctorate in spirituality. In every role, I played the position of leader. When Anne invited me to share my story, she had one question: “How in the world have you accomplished so much?” My first thought was, “Of myself, I can do little.”

Lesson #1: Be Open to Receive One of the roughest times of my life brought the greatest gift. The decade of my thirties gave me two beautiful pre-term children, a marriage that wasn’t built to last, and the need to shift careers to gain flexibility.

Life seemed to be pushing me out of the operatory. The needs of my children prevented me from working And it’s true. If I had put my faith in my (human) self, I full-time. I came face to face with the reality of being would have crumbled in the face of my personal short- a single-income household. I needed to increase my comings. Call it love, source energy, God, Goddess, earnings and have flexibility. What a tall order! But Creator, One, there is no doubt in my mind there is a force how? Looking through a spiritual lens, my role was to greater than me flowing in my life. figure out the ‘what’ and release the ‘how’ to spirit. Combining business acumen and soul purposes has changed every aspect of my leadership. It allows me the space to be less judgmental, more accepting and more inclusive of others. It has also brought forth a sense of ease and grace, knowing that I’m never alone; I’m always tied into the universal flow of innate intelligence and support. Spirituality teaches us that once we are clear on “what” we want, the universe will organize itself to aid in the “how.” Think of it this way: a gardener selects the seeds, but the tomato seed contains within it the blueprint to grow and bear fruit. The role of the gardener is to support optimal conditions for growth. As my mentor, Kendra Thornbury often shares, "The more successful we become, the greater support is required. The greater support we receive, the greater success we experience." Here are three of my top lessons:

Perhaps I could become a speaker. My parents recognized my talent for public speaking during high school. I competed state-wide in extemporaneous speaking (which is code for ‘can make stuff up on the fly’). I was fortunate that my parents fostered this talent by sending me to a series of workshops called “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Leaning into Dale Carnegie training, I wondered if I could make a living as a public speaker or dental consultant. I joined the National Speakers Association and began the exploration. The first local chapter meeting (Georgia) hosted my hero and incredible DeW, Linda Miles, as a keynote speaker. I sat in the front row...she came and sat next to me. We were asked to turn and share our biggest dream. Uh-oh! My dream was to become as successful as Linda. How did I share that! Holding

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my breath, I knew that if I could be open to receive, this iconic woman could share so much! Her kind words and advice live with me today. “Vicki, consulting is like a fire; it can keep you warm or burn you up. There really are only two paths for consultants: (1) you’ll be very good at what you do, and you’ll have a hard time balancing family with demands of consulting; (2) you will not be good, and you’ll choose something else. My bet is that you will be fantastic. My advice is to take out a purple marker and pre-block all the days that are sacred to you: family birthdays, holidays, school plays. The things you’d look back and miss. This way you can say, “Yes” to the speaking engagements and consulting clients without missing out on the important moments in life.” Big dreams begin with small steps. A phone call: “Are you available to do event coordination for a dental consulting firm?” YES! I went behind the scenes to learn how events were produced. The level of detail, the thoughtfulness of the content, the management of the various personalities and needs of the audience. What an education. I fell in love with speaking and coaching. Linda, I’m so glad that I was open to receiving your wisdom. If you are reading this, that purple marker continues to be my #1 life balance tool.

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Lesson #2: Success Requires Support Leadership is about knowing when to let go. After eight years of successful consulting on the east coast, life was once again shifting me in very big ways. In the aftermath of the twin towers’ collapsing, I felt the need to leave Atlanta and create a slower pace of living. My children and I each packed two suitcases and a pillow. We moved from Atlanta to Anacortes, a small island north of Seattle. I took a year sabbatical and embarked on an amazing adventure. I have to admit, having the time off was wonderful and, yet, boring! Leadership is in my DNA. Big dreams began to resurface – small steps began to appear. I was invited to Texas to observe a friend’s course on productivity (Dr. Bruce B. Baird). He wanted to begin providing team training. Within two days, we instinctively knew that our philosophies aligned. A handshake, an agreement “doing good while doing good” and fifteen years have laid an incredible foundation for the Productive Dentist Academy. We began with seminars, added consulting services and then developed a marketing firm. We’ve been listed 4x on Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies and work with an awardwinning team of 40 employees across the country. My leadership skills have been tested and elevated year after year, honing deep spiritual connection in the process.

DeWERS From 2010-2018, I purchased five dental practices and successfully sold the network to my partner. Along the way, I also met and married Pete Peterson (yes, we always call him by both names). He brings joy, laughter and play to our family, and I adore him! These are the top notes of this decade, the outer appearance of success that we all seem to strive to achieve. People have described me as empowered, inspiring, generous. I am tenacious in the face of adversity, a trailblazer, a rebel and compassionate mentor. And, yet, in the midst of success, I was sometimes feeling a bit burned out. I had a sense that things were happening “to” me and that I was not in control.

outside felt like self-doubt on the inside. I bought into the grind in an effort to avoid facing my own anxiety and emotions. In so many moments over the years, God spoke to me in big ways and small to simply slow down; to embrace grace over grind; to stop attempting to “do it all” to please others. Here is a short-list of my mind-trash that kept me in that loop for far too long: • People are depending on me; I can’t let them down. • If you want it done right, you have to do it yourself. • I can’t afford to hire more staff or delegate.

I found myself running o-u-t of s-t-e-a-m... Even as we grew, I didn’t know how to create an infrastructure to allow me to let go of day-to-day decision making. I was (and still can be) the bottleneck in two multi-million-dollar organizations. It was definitely time for another change. The spiritual lesson that came was to let go and allow others to support me. It’s a very difficult lesson for most entrepreneurs: letting go of “how” people gained results, knowing their method would be different than mine; letting go of micro-managing; trusting that I had embedded the cultural DNA that would sustain the company and continue to serve our clients. The question I could not answer as a leader was, “What do YOU want?” At some point, the needs of the business and others became stronger than my own needs and desires. The next journey was one of relaxing into self-care.

Lesson #3: Self-Love is a Requirement of Leadership To relax, Pete encouraged me to take up a hobby. I bought a bit of red chalk paint to refresh old wooden chairs. The paint hadn’t dried on the second chair before I found myself looking up domain names like “redchair.com.” No doubt, I was seriously addicted to work. “Hello. I’m Victoria, and I’m a workaholic”. Let’s be clear: addiction is a chronic disease. It is the inability to control how you use a substance or partake in an activity (be it work, gambling, video games, etc). You become dependent on it to cope with daily life.

• You have to work twice as hard as a woman to be equal to a man. • My family will understand my absence (I’m working). • I wish I could just turn it off at night – I’ll just get up and get this one thing off my mind. Perhaps you are a “Type A” achiever and can relate to how difficult it can be to slow your mind and simply “let go.” Radical self-care became my mantra. I’ve spent the past four years earning a Doctorate in Spirituality. The coursework included meditation, mindfulness, yoga, Reiki energy healing, emotional intelligence, self-love and divine connection. Spiritual lesson: self-love is a requirement of leadership. We know that all results are based on actions. Actions are based on habits and beliefs. Beliefs are influenced first and foremost on our beliefs about ourselves. So many limiting, negative beliefs embedded by outside influences surface in the crucible of leadership.

Bringing It All Together Our Divine potential is the unique role we are here to play; a unique usefulness. We are called to take who we are and what we have and be useful. Everybody has this, so part of our challenge is to become aware of this. What is yours? What is mine? What is it that I bring to life that no one else does? Sometimes it’s so natural it doesn’t seem like a big deal. Sometimes we are holding on to old patterns so tightly that our soul gives us a nudge. True leaders bring out the best within themselves and others.

The hustle and bustle of achieving was taking its toll, The spiritual work is about unconditionally loving and and it was real. A glass of wine with friends turned into embracing who we are, in each moment. No one can do a nightly binge to numb out. Working from 8am - 5pm this work for us, and we cannot do it for anyone else. It’s turned into 5am - 8pm. I was in the center of a self- ours to own; and, at its core, it asks these questions: created storm. I’ll have to admit, that confidence on the

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Im.4agine a wor.4ld.3 where.2 self-worth is not.4 connec t.6ed t.5o net.4 worth.

Can I love myself if I fail? Can I love myself if I succeed?

About the author:

Victoria Peterson, SsD lives a spirit-filled life, splitting time between PNW and Big Island of Hawaii. She lectures internationally on Sacred Commerce and enjoys mentoring entreprenuers. She co-founded Productive Dentist Academy with Dr. Bruce B. Baird to support dentists in decreasing stress while becoming more productive (www.productivedentist.com). Her book Matthew 22:39. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. “Frustration: The Breakfast of Champions” can be found online @Amazon or Barnes & Noble. DeW members All biblical and spiritual traditions of the world teach us are encouraged to submit topics for monthly blog to seek love. Imagine a world where self-worth is not Coffee Cup Coaching. She can be reached at: Victoria@ connected to net worth. Perhaps these foundational ProductiveDentist.com lessons can help: As humans we have difficulties with both spectrums. Primarily because ego keeps us chasing material appearances of success. Isn’t entrepreneurship the perfect medium for putting these two questions front and center in our lives!

Be open to receive. Success requires support. Self-love is a requirement of leadership. I caught a glimpse of this new world order at the inaugural DeW Life retreat. I stood witness to the passion and purpose of this community. We claimed our strengths and celebrated common ground. As Anne says, “Good DeWs seek good DeWs.” A good friend once called me a dream releaser, and I just love that. So, please feel free to shoot me an email, friend me on Facebook or comment on the monthly DeW Coffee Cup Coaching blog. I’d love to know what topics interest you or what challenges knock the wind out of your sails and bring you back to spiritual center.

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DeWERS

BREATHING LIFE INTO OUR FUTURE By Dr. Meghna Dassani

very why I have or at least those that are etched into my soul have arisen from tragedy.

If you’ve ever faced a significant crisis in your life, you have probably experienced the power of purpose... you have learned to tap reserves of energy, grit and courage you likely didn’t know you had. Your mission was clear... Your goal was compelling... Your focus was laser-like... Your potential was tapped... Having a clear sense of purpose lets us focus all our efforts on what matters most. This is what compels us to pursue and persist regardless of what the odds are or the obstacles we face. “He who has a why can endure any how.” It was this “why,” this passion for answers that led me on my path of learning and discovery for treatment options and solutions for sleep apnea and sleep disordered breathing. You see, my “why” started with losing my father-in-law to complications related to sleep apnea and not wanting the same fate for my husband. Because my husband had resigned himself to the fact that this was genetic, this was how he thought it was meant to be. But I refused to accept that as status quo. I knew there were answers that would help not just our family but the countless others, adults as well as kids, who are suffering similar fates. This is what led me on my journey deep into the world of sleep disordered breathing and its effects on not only those that suffer but also their loved ones.

As we incorporated screening tools and started to have conversations with our patients, word spread. I started seeing patients refer their friends and family to us because they just didn’t know there were options. The CPAP, we know, is the gold standard for treating patients who have sleep apnea. But that comes with its own set of challenges. Seventy percent of patients who are prescribed a CPAP are unable to use it due to a multitude of reasons. In kids, it can prevent growth of the premaxilla which presents a problem in a growing child. As my “family” of people who I wanted to help grew, I quickly came to the realization that if I could treat kids suffering from sleep apnea I would not have to treat them as adults. Nor would they have to grow up suffering from the effects of sleep disordered breathing. The little girl leading this movement for me on a personal level was Avery. Avery is my Office Manager Christina’s seven-year-old. When we identified the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in her followed by a diagnosis, it lit a fire in me, pushing for solutions. Adults suffering from sleep apnea typically present with snoring, daytime drowsiness, frequent night time urination and are witnessed choking or gasping for breath. The lack of oxygen to the brain and the various organs puts them at a higher risk for heart attacks, stroke, diabetes and even Alzheimer's disease. We hear of too many lives lost at a young age due to heart attacks or cardiac disorders because of sleep apnea. In contrast, children that suffer from sleep disordered breathing present very differently from adults. Common signs and symptoms of a child who is suffering from

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sleep disordered breathing, which leads to reduced oxygen reaching the brain, are snoring, mouth breathing, bed wetting, ADHD, night terrors and frequent ear infections. The signs and symptoms of a child suffering from ADHD are the same as that of a sleep deprived child. I always recommend getting a child's sleep evaluated before starting any such medications. Fifty percent of kids who have been given a diagnosis have been able to get off medications just by getting better sleep. Not only do these kids and adults need enough hours of sleep but better quality of sleep as well. We see so many parents go from doctor to doctor seeking answers, looking for someone to help connect the dots. As dentists, we are in the unique position of being able to do just that. In kids, we are able to utilize a plethora of options and create a custom plan for each child utilizing different stages of their growth to actually grow their airway into something that is conducive to their development. The benefits of recognizing and addressing these issues in kids early is priceless. Be it through appliances or other therapeutic options, we see these kids bloom... from better grades, to no more bed wetting (in older kids), to increased self confidence. These are days that make us WANT to go to the office because this is when we can truly see how we can impact the lives of these kids and their families. And it is this burning passion, this quest for answers that led me to develop my own design for a patented dental appliance for kids that’s designed to do just that... help them breathe and sleep better while growing and developing their airway so their brains can keep up with their bodies. Knowing our “WHY” is, I believe, the first step in figuring out “HOW” to achieve the goals that excite us and create a life that we enjoy living (versus merely surviving!). Only when we know our “WHY” do we find the courage needed

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to take the risks, stay motivated when the chips are down, and move life into an entirely new, more challenging and more rewarding chapter. Knowing our purpose compels us to take on challenges that stretch us as well as inspire us. And as I always say, there is little we cannot do when we are powered by a clear purpose.

About the author: Meghna Dassani, DMD, FICOI is passionate about helping adult and pediatric patients with sleep disordered breathing get the treatment they need to live healthier, happier lives. Throughout her career, she has gained invaluable insight into what it takes to implement those services into the practice and currently shares her knowledge and experience in her role as a speaker. She is an international speaker who strives to leave audiences with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver sleep apnea treatments. Before attending the Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University, Dr. Dassani operated a successful dental practice in Mumbai. For the past 15 years, she has been practicing in Houston, Texas, where she continues to enhance her knowledge of obstructive sleep apnea and TMD.

DeW RETREAT

THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING GREAT

he Fire is Lit. And it is roaring! DeWs are growing in number because “Good DeWs find Good DeWs” and together, we can DeW great things!

Our Inaugural Retreat was beyond my wildest dreams! It was triumphant, so much bigger than any one of us. The contagious energy throughout the two days led to thought-provoking discussions, camaraderie, collaboration, friendship, appreciation, personal growth and, most importantly, love of ourselves and others. We accomplished this feat with our amazing DeW Life team, our amazing speakers, our sponsors and the professionals at Dental Cast Productions. A special thank you to Rebecca Paciorek, JoAnn Schutte and Susan Beatty. Susan started in Minnesota, drove to Ohio, picked up Rebecca and JoAnn and arrived in Charlotte in time to prepare for all of us. They were there for me and all of you with a single goal of making this a special event that you would never forget. Our mission was accomplished. Dental Cast Productions captured our spirit, and, truth be told, they said it was the most engaging event they had the privilege to document. They were so fun to work with and kept us on our toes and lighthearted. We were honored to have our Gallop coaches, Leanne Burnett and Valerie Menzel, on hand to help us understand the meaning behind our Strengths Discovery so we could walk away living our strengths. All 100 women now know their top 5 strengths and are armed

with the personal knowledge of how to best use them to further their own unique mission in life. “Living Your Strengths” will continue to be the mantra of DeW. We couldn’t have done this without our impressive sponsors. We are very grateful to Patterson Dental, Pulpdent, Dental Creations, Ltd., Solutionreach, CloSYS, Biteline, ACT Dental and Weave. Our dream of filling the “DeW Bucket of Love” raised $5,000 for BrownGirl, RDH and the Oral Cancer Cause, thanks to the generosity of our attendees and the matching efforts of The Productive Dentist Academy and Inspired Hygiene. I wanted to bring women in dentistry together from all career paths to inspire, highlight, empower and connect. The fire was lit, and there is no turning back! We have sparked something so powerful that our burning desire will not wane! Words cannot express the joy I feel knowing that women in our field are coming together to celebrate each other. We need each other in these extraordinary times. Who do you know that we need to know? Please accept my heartfelt invitation to join us in 2020 for our 2nd DeW Retreat. Mark your calendar for November 13-15, 2020, Charlotte, NC. Join the Movement of DeW. Be heard, be a force, be YOU and #BeAdew!

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DeW RETREAT

We've Been Blown Away by the Response "I was honored to be invited to the first inaugural DeW Retreat but felt even more joy by the welcome I felt from each of the amazing women attending this meeting. It was such a pleasure to meet each of them and experience such support for each other. I not only met new friends and colleagues but learned new things about myself and my strengths. I will take these new strengths and build on them, honor the old friendships as they continue to grow and cherish the new ones I have started to build. Thank you for having the insight and the strength to start us all on this journey, and I personally look forward to continuing it with all of these amazing women and hopefully many more!" - Janelle Storck Front Office Rocks

"At a DeW Retreat, it is quite awe-inspiring to be in the presence of this force. To see a DeW is to see strength, beauty and inspiration.

"I have never, ever been to a meeting that was so empowered with the singlemindedness of 100 women trying to change dentistry for the better." - Dr. Laura Mach Feeling Good Podcast “As a survivor of many things: abuse, miscarriage, failed IVF...it was such an amazing, eye opening event! I had never seen or experienced so much lifting up of one another as I had at the DeW Retreat! Count me in every year to come; we NEED this in our lives!” - Sandy Lee Lighthearthed RDH, LLC “I walked away from the DeW Retreat feeling refreshed and invigorated! This event was truly transformational for me in my journey as a female entrepreneur.” - Adriana Booth Lead Practice Coach, ACT Dental

To be a DeW is to be among some of the most marvelous women in the world."

"The DeW Retreat was 'an awakening' for me. It fed my soul, confirmed that I was not alone in this field and was REAL. The setup and structure of the meeting forced interaction that might not necessarily had been in a traditional meeting. Worth every penny!"

- Beverly M. Wilburn, FAADOM Karl A. Smith, DDS, LLC

- Hollie Bryant Bryant Consultants

To know a DeW is to know a gracious heart, a friendly hug and a giving soul.

"Sometimes I do not need continuing education directly pertaining to clinical or business expertise. Sometimes I need education that allows me to surround myself with like-minded people who will influence me to plan my tomorrow to exceed my today. Thank you so much for the opportunity. The hard work and time spent developing, completing and evaluating this retreat have not gone unnoticed." - Emily Boge MPA, RDH, CDA Think Big Dental, LLC

“DEW. Three letters that have great significance and purpose. Dental Entrepreneur Women. This title has multiple facets; Dentist, RDH, Office Manager, Public Speaker, CEO, President, and a multitude of other titles, but all 100 came together this weekend because of 1 amazing and dedicated, caring woman, Anne Duffy. I thank you for inviting me and coming into my life. You opened my world to new insights on life, but even better new women and connections that go deeper than any friendship I’ve ever felt. I thank each and every one of you women for opening your ears and your hearts to my story and journey. I thank you for believing in me and encouraging me to find my inner power.

“I was blown away by the number of ah-ha moments I had, not only from listening to the speakers but also in regular conversation. I walked away with a sense of comfort and confidence, knowing that I wasn’t alone in this. There is a tribe of women who have been where I am and are there to lift me up. There was a lot of love in that room, and I felt very blessed to be a part of it.”

As business women we take on many roles each and every day, but being a DEW has got to be one of my favorite!!! I loved hearing from each and every speaker that spoke from their soul, and shared their story and strength and wisdom. I was so humbled to be in the presence of everyone. I look forward to all my new friendships from this retreat and excited to take what I learned and prosper even further.”

- Jenn Rhoades CEO & Co-Founder, Smile Virtual

- Caitlin Nicke President & COO, Vermillion Cosmetics

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DeW RETREAT

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Good DeWs Find Good DeWs

DeW

DATES

Here are some upcoming events we will be attending. Let's meet up Dew Crew! 155th Midwinter Meeting February 20-22, 2020 McCormick Place West Building, 2301 S Indiana Ave Chicago, IL www.cds.org

A HUGE Thank you to our sponsors. We couldn't DeW it without you.

American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Annual Session March 14-17, 2020 Prince Georges, MD www.aadea.org Hinman March 19-21, 2020 Atlanta, GA hinman.org Smiles at Sea April 23-26, 2020 Nassau, Bahamas www.smilesatsea.com Be Boundless September 9-12, 2020 Atticus Hotel McMinnville, OR alwaysbeboundless.com AADOM Conference Sept 10-12, 2020 Boca Raton, FL aadomconference.com DeW Retreat November 12-14, 2020 Charlotte, NC www.dew.life DeW PJ Parties ... to be announced

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W e D

h s i D

Getting to know more about our DeWers, the women that make up the dental world.

Dr. Joy Void-Holmes www.drjoyrdh.com

What do you do to turn around a bad day? In order to turn a bad day around, I try to focus on all of my blessings – the things for which I am truly thankful. I also remind myself that a bad day is just what it is – a bad day. A little music and chocolate never hurt either. WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? My guilty pleasure is anything chocolate. It is hard for me to say “no,” in fact, to anything sweet. And another guilty pleasure is watching “The Golden Girls” every night at 11pm on the Hallmark Channel.

What “DeW” leaders do? Leaders develop other leaders. They lead by example and motivate, include others and take initiative. Leaders establish relationships and are always open to learning.

What is your dream vacation?

What is the best part of your job? The best part of my job is I get to live out my passion: empowering, impacting and helping others advance their education. The best part of all is that I get to do it on my own terms.

Who has been the most influential woman in your life? I know this may sound cliché, but I would definitely have to say my mother. For every day that I am a wife and a mother, I appreciate her even more. She sacrificed so much for my siblings and me so that we could live the amazing lives we have. She protected us from all harm (fiercely, I might add) and extends that same maternal bond to all of her grandchildren. My mother’s mother died when she was five years old.

How do you measure your success? I measure my success by my sense of fulfillment and inner happiness. I have learned that my definition of success is not mainstream (defined by a dollar amount). When I feel good about what I have done and can pat myself on the back, I know I have succeeded.

I have two dream vacations. The first would be an African safari with my family. The second would be a trip to Greece. Both would be two weeks, all inclusive, all expenses paid, including wardrobe.

What is first on your dental bucket list? To teach a room full of 100 dentists one of my instrumentation courses.

What movie always makes you laugh? “Friday” featuring Ice-Cube and Chris Tucker, and “Ace Ventura Pet Detective” (1 and 2) always make me laugh.

What is the best gift you ever received? There have been so many, especially the gifts given to me that were made by my children. I have them all! Outside of that, I would say Mother’s Day 1999. My husband called me from the dealership and told me to come pick up my new car (Lexus GS 300). When I pulled up, they pulled the car off the truck, opened the door and handed me the keys. All black, with dark grey leather interior. I was totally surprised.

How do you take your coffee? If I drank coffee, I would take it black and strong like my husband, J. But, alas, I will settle for tea with honey.

Laura Hatch frontofficerocks.com

“thank you.” They just do it because if they did not, they could not sleep at night.

How do you measure your success? Happiness and memories are how I measure success. You can’t take money with you at the end of your time here on earth, but if your heart is full of love and you are surrounded by those who love you, you are successful. I think that a life full of great memories is the true measure of your success. There is not one person at the end of their life saying they wished they worked more or regretted time spent with their loved ones instead of being at work.

What obstacles have you overcome in your career?

What is the best part of your job? I built my team virtually with professional women who decided to balance their lives by working from home. Each of my 14 team members has amazing skills to help serve our clients, yet get the opportunity to drop their kids off at school in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day. The best part of my job is offering such a great career to these amazing women who are so dedicated to helping dental team members train and fall in love with our industry of helping people keep their teeth for life. When I meet clients on the road and they tell me how awesome one of my team members is, I beam with pride.

What “DeW” leaders do? I don’t think I could have truly answered this question prior to going to the first annual DeW Retreat in late 2019. I have always had people tell me that I had something special but wasn’t sure what that was; and I have known a ton of other women who had something special, but I could not put my finger on it. However, after being in a room full of DeW leaders all at once, I now get it. We are all special in our own ways, and there is not one thing that makes us the same, except the outflow of abundance. Every woman in that room was filled with the desire to do more each and every day to help others and improve the world around them. And all of this is done completely as their core being. They don’t do it for recognition or a

The biggest obstacle that I have had with Front Office Rocks was being told that it was not going to work or that I was wasting my time. I knew our industry was missing a key component with not having good training, but there were many people early on, and still today, who told me that my concept of online training wouldn’t work. Too many people are stuck in the old way of “this is how it’s done” and “we’ve always done it this way” that I had to learn to not listen to the naysayers and stick with my gut.

What obstacles have you overcome in your life? Honestly, divorce has been the biggest obstacle that I have had to overcome. My parents are my role models and have been married over 50 years, and I thought when I celebrated my 20-year wedding anniversary that I was all downhill from here. When I got divorced, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt like I had failed and that I was a failure. I had to learn that divorce does not define me and who I am. I had to learn how to find the true me again, and, thankfully, I am stronger now than ever.

What do you do to turn around a bad day? I have a philosophy that I share with people all the time when I am, or when others are, having a bad day. Many times it seems to compound. One thing turns into another, and, before you know it, many things about the day suck. My philosophy is that it is better to get it all out of the way in one day. I would rather have one really crappy day, push through, then go to bed and get a fresh start the next day. You can then wake up the next day with a totally new fresh perspective.

Dr. Sonia Chopra

tanked, and I couldn't find a job. My two options were to be unemployed or start my own practice. I wasn't ready at all for my choice, but I had no other options — so I started my practice from scratch. This process taught me resilience and has made me learn that I can do anything that I put my mind to.

soniachopradds.com

What do you do to turn around a bad day?

I was not always good at this, but recently I have tackled it by taking a breath, closing my eyes and reminding myself that life is not all about ME. I take a moment to ZOOM OUT from myself to see that there is a bigger world out there. It takes the focus off of my problems, and it makes life look more balanced and the way it is meant to be. And then I allow myself to be grateful for the gifts that I already have.

with Which famous person living or dead would you like to have lunch and what would you ask them? What is the best part of your job? Being an endodontist makes me feel like a superhero. I love being able to free someone of their pain and save their tooth in the end. It's not a sexy job, but it's incredibly rewarding. Tooth pain is probably the worst pain imaginable and being able to be there for someone and help them back into good health is extremely gratifying.

Who is the most influential woman in your life? I know everyone probably picks their mom as an answer to this question, and I am no different! She always taught me to be able to stand on my own and not depend on anyone financially. My mom is an anesthesiologist, and her life in medicine had a very profound influence on me. However, one thing that stuck out to me was that she never had control over her schedule. So, seeing this frustration in her was probably the number one thing that I did not want to repeat in my life, especially as a mother. So that's why I picked dentistry and being a practice owner. I was still in medicine, like her, but I could be my own boss, and that has made all the difference in the world!

What obstacles have you overcome in your career? When I graduated from my endodontic residency in 2008 and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, the economy

Princess Diana. Honestly, I wouldn't ask much; I would just sit back and listen. Or maybe Jennifer Lopez. She is a triple threat: She can sing, dance and act; and I would want to hear about her journey through it all...and of course learn some dance moves and her beauty secrets so I can look like her when I am 50!! Can they both be at dinner together??

What is your dream vacation? It includes my family, friends and a BABYSITTER!! I notice that when my husband and I take a trip just the two of us, we miss the kids. So, I prefer a vacation with my entire family. But, every parent needs some adult time, so having a sitter there to get that adult time and have some flexibility is what makes this mama happy. And if you can park us on the beach, I am in heaven; but just being with the people I love makes me happy.

What does balance look like? Balance looks like a little bit of work, fun time, family, friends and self-care. However, I have come to realize that perfect balance does not exist, and I’ve learned that many times things shift into one domain over another; but then it can shift back the other way. Recognizing that life is not usually perfectly balanced is important, and having that awareness when it's out of whack to shift it back to center is where the magic is.

SUCCESS

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CLIENTS BEFORE ANYONE SIGNS THE PAPERS

n any relationship, including coaching, setting it up for success requires open and honest communication regarding expectations, desired outcomes and how those outcomes are to be achieved. Spending some time getting to know one another is of paramount importance before deciding to begin a coaching-business relationship. I prefer to be called a coach. I’ll share my “why” I feel this way and how it ties into getting to know my clients before we mutually decide we are a good fit. When I am approached by a dentist to coach their team, this begins the getting-to-know-one-another process. It also provides the opportunity to see if a coaching relationship can be helpful in reaching the dentist’s desired changes in his practice. Open and candid discussions will cover outcomes, how long it will take to get to the desired outcomes from the current state of the business, the doctor and team mindsets and the path to get to the desired vision of the practice. I have been in dentistry 24 years. I came into dentistry as a practice manager and enjoyed the position for 18 years. I then became a practice co-owner for four years. I am forever grateful for all my experiences in dental practices as each experience was a stepping stone to making me the coach I am today. Throughout my journey in dentistry, I was an avid learner. I wanted to understand the “why” behind things to be a better leader to my teams and to my dentists with whom I worked. Therefore, I say I am a coach. There isn’t much with which I haven’t personally been involved in running a dental practice. Because of this I believe coaching requires getting into the practices I coach, seeing the flow and flaws of the office as well as feeling the culture of the practice. It involves seeing what is working and what needs help. It is important to

By Jennifer Pearce

determine how much hands-on will be needed to create sustainable systems in the practices I coach. I’ve come up with some points to consider when considering a coach:

Are you hiring a coach to fix your team or the whole team including you? If you are hiring a coach to primarily come in and fix the team and you believe the team is the primary problem, you are more than likely going to be disappointed; the business owner is usually the biggest part of the puzzle that must be delved into.

Systems and processes are instrumental. Be ready to be the leader; the doctor ensures the systems the coach recommends are kept in place. I find integrative change to be the game changer as well as the hardest implementation if not managed daily. Notice I say managed and not micromanaged. Training, trusting and empowering your employees is a big part of the practice’s success.

Is your team open for growth? Not all teams and doctors are open to growth. Have a candid discussion with your team about “why” you are considering a coach. Don’t be secretive about it. Don’t surprise your team with a coach. Sometimes the team will be the one desiring a coach. I see this quite frequently. Commit to the process together to create a pathway for coachable moments and a more engaged team perspective.

Is coaching being brought in just to increase the numbers and profitability of the practice? This is

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SUCCESS a slippery slope. A practice focused solely on the numbers usually has a culture or vision problem. Again, what’s the “why” behind the doctor’s vision for the practice? When the team is creating and living for the “why” of the practice, the numbers will be there!

The culture of the practice is extremely important. “No culture” means “no heart” behind the business. Just like the body needs its heart to run, your business needs a heart as well. If you are the leader of your practice and this befuddles you, talk to your team and co-create your vision statement for the “why” of your practice, whom you wish to serve and how you intend to deliver the dentistry. I create the Prosperity Genius model with the teams I coach. This is their vision statement brought to life in a model. Again, hire a coach to help with this if it resonates with you.

Coaching is a contact sport. Everyone on the team will need to be coached. The dysfunction of a dental practice didn’t happen overnight, and it will take some time to fix. There will be ups and downs. Just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, the dysfunction will take time to fix.

We often hear the phrase ”coachable spirit.” Ask yourself if you have one. If you do not, why not? If you think you do but the idea of having a coach in your practice makes your heart race and your palms sweat, I believe that makes you normal. The anticipated personal involvement in the process is the unknown. However, beautiful things happen when people trust the process of a coach. You’ll learn to work smarter not harder. Have a fully engaged, higher functioning team and a less stressed doctor with the benefit of having systems and guidelines to support more predictable outcomes.

“There is a saddle for every ass!” I hope you are laughing! What do I mean by this phrase? I mean choose your business model for your practice or it will choose you. What level of ladies and gentlemen do you desire to serve? 1. Fee for service/out-of-network 2. PPO 3. HMO 4. Medicaid or government-assisted 5. Some combination of two of these

Isn’t that ultimately what we all desire in the day-to-day teamwork of a practice? Get in on time, serve our patients to the best of our abilities, have a lunch, get paid for our services and get home on time to enjoy our families. The elusive work-life balance is ultimately what a coach is trying to move you toward. This requires a fully engaged team, rowing the boat in the same direction…TOGETHER!

These are the current business models in dentistry. The reason I discuss these is the coach needs to understand and be familiar with the model you choose to serve. The coach also needs to agree with the model you have chosen. Business philosophies must be congruent to create a successful coaching relationship. Sometimes a coach is brought in to facilitate a change in another business direction. As an example, leading a practice to be less insurance dependent. Starting a relationship with a coach who understands this as well as how to coach the mindset of the team and coach the doctor to shift directions is of paramount importance.

As a coach I love a saying from one of my favorite books, “Excellence Wins.” We must remember we are “Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.” To maintain that mindset is of paramount importance to attract, retain and serve the level of patient and team members we each desire. When we keep the patient the focus of the practice, the patient feels this, and we all win by creating a culture of happy, paying and referring patients. Being from Texas, another phrase I love is,

With all the above said, coaching is needed by many dental practices. As a business, a dental practice goes through many life cycles in its existence. Coaching in each of the life cycles ensures the practice stays viable and healthy for many years. Knowing what life cycle the business is in and what is required to help it in each phase is where a coach can greatly benefit the doctor and the team as they journey down the path of practicing dentistry. The right coach at the right time can be the

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SUCCESS

WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. For over 100 years, Patterson Dental has built relationships with practices of all kinds, listening to needs and delivering industry-leading solutions. From office design to dental supplies, we offer the help you need to create the ideal practice environment. And a de-stressed office means you’re free to provide the best possible care to every patient.

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game changer. But again, make sure the relationship is built on understanding, proper expectations and a good fit with the vision of the practice long-term before signing on any lines. About the author: Jennifer Pearce is co-owner of two dental practices in the DFW area and co-founder of The Prosperity Dental Practice, an online and hands-on coaching company developed because true change doesn’t happen without integration and help. Jennifer is the lead integrator. A practice administrator for 17 years and a co-owner for 5, her experience uniquely qualifies her to facilitate positive change, and she is comfortable with it. Nicknamed the “closer” with a 98% closing rate, she can help you with this aspect of your practice. jennifer@Theprosperitydentalpractice.com and on FB under the same or cell 817-975-4576.

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SUCCESS

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SUCCESS

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE: 5 KEYS TO FINDING YOUR VERSION OF SUCCESS THIS YEAR

erfection is the enemy, according to Sheryl Sandberg, best-selling author and longtime COO of Facebook. Do you agree?

There’s no doubt that striking the perfect balance between work, personal and social obligations can be overwhelming; and let’s be honest, it often feels unattainable. Sandberg believes that we’re setting ourselves up for failure when we tell ourselves that we can do it all and do it all perfectly. Yet, we still try, don’t we? As we settle into the new year, let’s give ourselves some grace this year and agree that there can be new ways of accomplishing all that we set out to do, even if it doesn’t conform to the norm. As women in business today, we have the special opportunity to create our own versions of success, and the beautiful thing is that no two women will have the same definition. Because it’s time to stop living up to others’ expectations and find peace in our own individual journeys, here are 5 ways to find your version of success in 2020.

1. Design A Work Schedule That Works

For You

In the past, the prototypical dentist or executive had a standardized 9-5 schedule for 4-5 days a week. As entrepreneurial women, we don’t have to fit into that traditional mold if we don’t want to. As your own boss, you have the unique ability to craft your own work schedule – and then change it as necessary. There’s no reason to keep doing things the same way if they aren’t working for you personally.

By Naomi Cooper

Ask yourself – what does your work week look like? And what do you WANT it to look like? Whether you work six hours six days a week or you choose to work fewer days with longer hours, you have the power to design a better schedule for yourself. And then use your untraditional schedule to attract more patients and customers. Perhaps you offer evening hours once a week or open for half a day on the weekends. Embrace your schedule’s unique advantages — and that you are bringing something different and new to the table.

2.Find Your People Having supportive family and friendships are some of the best gifts in life. Whether or not you have those traditional support systems, cultivate a new network for this particular moment in your life. Find people who push you outside of your comfort zone and disrupt your normal routine — in a positive way. Whether through a formal group that meets regularly and offers entrepreneurship tips and mentorship, like YPO, or a group that focuses on a specific skill, like Toastmasters, or even just a book club. It’s imperative to surround yourself with inspiring, like-minded individuals who will help propel you into the best version of your future. Likewise, find a way to give back and be a part of something bigger. Whether it’s mentoring a student or joining the board of a local non-profit organization, you’ll feel fulfilled in ways that you never expected. And you’ll find that the people you meet while participating in these endeavors will also be among those who support you the most.

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SUCCESS 3. Be Confident In Your Leadership Role The kind of leadership that women have to offer is different than traditional, male-dominated styles – and that’s incredibly advantageous. Women are by nature more intuitive, empathetic and concerned with building personal and business connections rather than focused on destroying the competition. Use this to your advantage. Build your community, cultivate relationships and understand that leadership comes in many forms. It’s an important balance to strike, however, between being empathetic and being a pushover. And as women, we unfortunately sometimes get a bad rap when we advocate strongly or make hard decisions. But whether it’s asking for higher pay, negotiating a big deal or firing an employee or a client, as the leader you have to have the hard conversations and make the tough calls. You’ll find, though, that once you check it off your list, you’ll feel better and lighter than you did before. In fact, you’ll often wonder why you didn’t do it sooner! No matter what, remain confident in your decisions and secure in knowing that you are doing the best you can for your business.

4. Know Your Value As women, we devalue ourselves all of the time. We are natural nurturers and most of the daily life tasks fall on us, aside from our professional responsibilities. From house cleaning, laundry and childcare to managing finances and arranging the family schedule, all of these duties are also incredibly time consuming. This means that a woman’s time is all the more valuable, so make sure that you are consistently asking for what you know you are worth. That’s not to say that whenever you ask for a fee increase or a raise you will get it, or that you will win every negotiation every time, but all it takes is one person to say yes to make you realize that you were truly capable of asking for more all along. For every person who tells you how much you made a difference, and how much value you have brought to their life, there are many others who may think it but don’t ever say it. So when people tell you your value, listen to them. Take it to heart and use it to fuel you in your next negotiation, and let it help carry you through the times when you don’t win.

"As women in business today, we have the special opportunity to create our own versions of success…"

Success for women like us may mean following a nonlinear path, like taking a few years off to raise a family or cutting back hours to care for a sick parent. You may earn less in those times, but if these are the moments that are truly important to you, then you’ve achieved your own personal version of “success.” And those lean years don’t last forever; they pass and give way to times when you have all of the time, energy and interest in the world to devote to your business. As long as you don’t live by others’ expectations and stay true to yourself, you’ll have no problem continually defining and redefining success — on your own terms.

About the author: Naomi Cooper is CEO and co-founder of Doctor Distillery. With nearly 20 years in the dental industry, Naomi is a respected dental marketing executive, consultant, author, speaker and industry opinion leader. A former VP of Marketing for 1-800-DENTIST and Chief Marketing Consultant for Pride Institute, she currently serves as a strategic branding and lead generation advisor to some of the most successful companies in the dental industry. Naomi blogs regularly about dental marketing at www. minoamarketing.com. For more information about Doctor Distillery’s services to the dental industry, visit www.doctordistillery.com or send an email to naomi@ doctordistillery.com.

5. Know What You Want Whether you agree or not about perfection being our enemy, the truth is that as a businesswoman, you can’t always give everything in your life 100%. The important thing is to be honest with yourself about what it is that you truly want because if you are attuned to the wrong goals, you will never feel like you’ve succeeded.

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

RECOGNIZING WARNING SIGNS OF SEX TRAFFICKING IN THE DENTIST’S CHAIR

hat would you do if you went into your patient room for your next appointment and found a sex trafficking victim sitting there? Would you know that you were looking at a victim? If you did, would you know how to handle the situation without putting yourself or your patients in more danger? Several years ago, one of our dental assistants was faced with those very questions. She was treating a new patient and saw visible scarring in the patient’s mouth. Our clinical staff had gone over possible indicators of sex trafficking as part of their ongoing training, so the assistant knew how to handle what could have been a very dangerous situation. As it turned out, there was a good explanation for the patient’s condition, and she was not being sex trafficked. Thankfully, she was OK; and we were all relieved to know that if she had been a victim, we were in a good position to recognize the warning signs and provide help quickly – without putting the victim, ourselves or our other patients in danger. At the time, I remember thinking to myself: “What if that had been my daughter?” It’s a scary, sobering thought. According to a study* by the UT School of Social Work, child sex trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world, with 79,000 young people being sex-trafficked in the state of Texas alone. Because many indicators are found in the mouth, dental professionals are in a unique position to make a big difference in reducing those statistics – saving lives, one patient at a time. Unfortunately, many dental professionals say they don’t know what to look for or how to help. With this in mind, I want to share some tips on what to look for, in the hope

By Renee Dixon

that dental professionals everywhere will join us in the fight to end child sex trafficking.

What to look for: One of the most significant warning signs is the presence of visible injuries or scars in the mouth, particularly bruising on the floor and roof of the mouth and/or a torn lingual frenulum that results from repetitive and/ or forced oral sex. The lingual frenulum is the small fold of tissue that extends from the floor of the mouth to the midline of the underside of the tongue. “If you have a child in your care with other warning signs of trafficking and she has visible injuries or scars in her mouth, then you can be pretty certain she is being trafficked, especially if she has a torn lingual frenulum,” notes Steven “Flyer” Phenix of The Refuge for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST). “Call the hotline and/or 911 as quickly and covertly as possible, and make sure you aren’t discovered. If the pimp thinks you suspect the truth, he’ll go further underground, taking the victim with him and punishing her for it.”

Be cool and covert: Victims and their companions become “spooked” easily and may make a run for it, putting the victim in even more danger. If you’re thinking about questioning a patient about an injury and are worried you’ll be too invasive, then don’t mention it. Be cool and covert. Find a way to call 911 or contact The National Human Trafficking Resource Help Center without being observed. If you do not think you can do so without being observed, find a

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

"Because many indicators are found in the mouth, dental professionals are in a unique position to make a big difference…"

way to flag down a fellow staff member. Create a symbol that you can use to communicate the situation to another employee, so that they can call 911 or the hotline without raising suspicion. Make sure the symbol is something innocuous that won’t raise suspicion. It’s also a good idea to save the help hotline number into your cell phone or tablet, so you can contact the authorities as quickly and unobtrusively as possible. Call 888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to 233733. Make sure everyone on your staff has access to these numbers at all times, but don’t post them where a predator might see them.

Other warning signs: Additional warning signs may include tattoos of ownership, money symbols or emoticons, a patient who appears younger than the stated age or additional signs of abuse or neglect. These signs may include excessive bruising anywhere on the body, cigarette burns, extremely skittish behavior, evidence of untreated dental needs or even signs of malnutrition such as swollen or bleeding gums, tooth decay, low body mass index or extremely dry skin. Every case is unique, and the victim may or may not display the same indicators. Even the same abuser can afflict different injuries on different victims. In addition, victims may feel ashamed or afraid to speak up. They may exhibit subordinate, hyper-vigilant or fearful behavior – which also are indicators. When asked about their personal or medical histories, the patient’s responses may sound scripted or rehearsed; or the patient may have a constant companion (pimp) with him or her who speaks for the patient and holds all of the patient’s identification paperwork.

Trust your instincts: It’s important to note: The presence of one or more of these indicators does not necessarily mean the person is a victim, but it is a cause for concern. Use your best judgement and trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, contact the hotline or the police and ask for help. The experts can guide you through the next steps

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and provide much-needed support that doesn’t put you or the victim in more danger.

Details, details, details: If you suspect a victim, recall as much detail as you can about both the victim and the pimp. Try to remember clothes, height, weight, race, hair and eye color, approximate age, visible scars or tattoos and vehicle make, model and color. Try to take photos – particularly of the pimp and vehicle – but be covert. “Remember as many details as you can and try to get photos, but be as inconspicuous as possible. Don’t approach the victim or the pimp. Call the police and the hotline and let the experts take it from there,” adds Phenix. For more information, visit www.bethe1educate1save1. com. About the author: Renee Dixon started her career in oral surgery in 1981 as a surgical assistant at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas. She joined Austin Oral Surgery in 1988 and became a part of the leadership team in 2008, when she was named marketing director. As director, Dixon spearheads the practice’s marketing, community outreach and educational programs, including Dove Projects, a free program that she helped establish in the dental community to train dental professionals to properly recognize and report signs of sex trafficking. Through this program, Dixon and her colleagues have brought awareness to more than 1,800 dental professionals throughout Central Texas. Reference: * A two-year study by the University of Texas School of Social Work; Human Trafficking by the Numbers: The Initial Benchmark of Prevalence and Economic Impact for Texas, Final Report; December 2016. http://sites.utexas. edu/idvsa/files/2017/02/Human-Trafficking-by-theNumbers-2016.pdf

LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

CURIOSITY

By Dr. Julie Kellogg

am a Gen X, just barely, being born in 1980. We are a small cohort born from 1961 to 1981, squeezed in between the much larger baby boomer and millennial generations. We are the generation in midlife and in the prime of our professional careers. When I graduated from dental school, I joined my family’s dental practice with three male baby boomer owners. But over the last fifteen years, I have seen the practice transition to employ primarily millennials, and it is currently also transitioning to complete Gen X ownership and management. With fascination, I am watching my Gen Z patients grow up and mature into the workplace. The world is poised to have four generations working side by side. Dental offices, and our professional associations, are an amazing, dynamic example of this reality, combining baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and most recently Gen Z. How do we all navigate the communication and generational challenges that confront the modern workplace? I began to think about this earnestly when I became the 2020 program chair for the American Academy of Dental Practice (AADP). Like the Washington State Dental Association (WSDA) and many organizations, this group is facing the challenge of integrating multiple generations into its membership while maintaining its unique focus and traditions and growing into new technologies and relevancy.

turned Airbnb intern. Conley was recruited to Airbnb as a senior advisor to grow hospitality, but his lack of experience in the digital world meant he needed to become an intern as well. This reading lead me to conclude that each of us needs to cultivate the ability to become both mentors and mentees, and at the heart of this is asking curious questions. To paraphrase Conley, being curious is a way to catalyze courage, learning and creative thinking. Loosely defined, a mentor is someone who has traveled a particular path or developed a certain level of experience or expertise that enables them to guide others on a similar journey. A mentor can offer expertise and help with decision-making, can help build leadership skills, and facilitate others producing their best work. We can be mentor and mentee no matter our age. In Conley’s book, Stanford professor Robert Sutton says, “At places where intense innovation happens, they often combine people who know too little and people who know too much. The tension between massive knowledge and fresh thinking can spark a fundamental breakthrough.” Multiple generations working together can create curious and dynamic organizations. Conley offers several suggestions for mentoring in a multigenerational workplace: •

In preparation for a breakout session at our 2020 AADP meeting, one of my co-leaders and I read the book “Wisdom @ Work” by Chip Conley, a successful hotelier

Intern publicly and mentor privately. This means asking the obvious questions to ease the tension in a meeting but giving advice or suggestions one-on-one.

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS •

Avoid age-related stereotypes and generational name-calling.

•

The intergenerational transfer of wisdom needs to flow both directions. Allowing someone to teach you creates a bridge and conversation.

•

Have a growth mindset. Focus on a curious future and not a comfortable past.

•

Listen for the story. Be present, and listen actively to discover the whole person behind the story.

Growing up in a dental world, I had only ever interacted with male dentists. When I went to dental school, I was on the hunt for a female mentor. When a local prosthodontist, who was a woman, gave a guest lecture to my second-year class, I took the initiative to introduce myself and ask if she would be willing to meet with me. She offered me her phone number with an invitation to call, but as a busy student I didn’t make it a priority to call her for many months. And that’s the thing about mentors: You have to want the relationship and ask for it. Willing mentors are everywhere, but you must seek them out and take the initiative. It took some time for the relationship to develop, but her guidance was invaluable to my success in dental school and beyond. She generously gave many evenings of her time to help me with treatment plans, denture setups and general encouragement. After dental school, the mentor relationship really started to flow in both directions. We listened to and asked questions of each other. I continued to learn from her experience in prosthodontics and patient personalities. She learned about social media, lasers and fashion. We even got our first iPhones together. Her advice on mentorship: “Really take care of the person you are mentoring.” That requires curiosity. I recently read a fascinating article hypothesizing that Gen X is just lying low and letting the baby boomers and millennials fight out their generational differences. In reality, Gen Xers are standing right in front of our biggest leadership opportunity. With careful observation and keen leadership, we can encourage and nurture what could be the most powerful and innovative mentor/ mentee relationships ever known and, in turn, create dynamic dental practices and organizations. We can ask the curious questions. Conley says, “While creativity and innovation get the headlines, curiosity is the elixir that gives them stamina.” This Gen X dentist is committed to a curious future.

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About the author: Dr. Julie Kellogg is a third generation general dentist who practices with her father and uncle in a 4-doctor practice in Walla Walla, WA. She is a 2005 graduate of Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Julie is past president of the Walla Walla Valley Dental Society, past course director for Introduction to Dentistry at Walla Walla University and past governing board member of Walla Walla General Hospital. In 2015 she completed the Washington State Dental Association Leadership Institute and is a current columnist and editorial advisory board member for the WSDA News. She is the 2020 program chair for the American Academy of Dental Practice annual meeting. She is working with the Academy to bring more technology to the event, feature more women on the stage and focus on topics that bring generations together. Julie is an entrepreneur and investor and especially enjoys real estate. Her fun time activities include snow skiing and stand-up paddle boarding, travel and photography as well as reading and writing. Her two white dogs, Rossi and Mochi, are usually along for the adventure. Her current goal is to visit 40 countries by her 40th birthday.

LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

GIVING MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU HAVE By Hollie Bryant

t was February 13, 2019. This day would forever change my life, and the lives of so many others, in ways that we will never fully comprehend.

I was sitting in Nashville, Tennessee, working with clients when my phone rang. On the other end was a familiar voice that asked, “Are you ok?” My immediate response was, “Sure, everything is great!” My friend pressed me again, “Did you see the news? I thought you were at that dental office that just had a shooting.” Within minutes, I received multiple text messages from concerned friends and colleagues, asking me if I was OK. I eased everyone’s minds by letting them know I was out of town and safe. While my response reassured their wondering hearts, mine was filling with fear and terror. Once seeing the breaking news, I immediately texted a friend of mine, Harry Weaver, asking if his wife, Kelly, was OK. Kelly worked at the dental practice where the shooting took place, and I had to know if she was safe. Little did I know that it was him, Mr. Weaver, who did the shooting, and that he had killed his wife, Kelly, who also was my friend. Over the next few days, my heart wept, and I wasn’t the same. I mourned the loss of a local dental colleague, the loss of a church member and my friends. I was praying, “What can I do to help? Lord, please show me how I can help this dental practice, and the people hurting from this tragedy.”

On late Friday evening, my phone rang, and it was one of our local dental sales reps from Henry Schein, Ben Kolbusch. He wanted to tell me about his client and friend, Dr. David Guy, and wanted to know if I could do anything to help the practice after this tragic incident. At that moment, without hesitation, the word “yes” flew out of my mouth. I didn’t know what I really was saying “yes” to, but I was all in, and that decision would leave me forever changed. Saturday morning came, and a meeting between Dr. Guy, his wife, Jane, and myself commenced. All I could do was ask a simple question, “What can I do to help you?” There we all sat, fighting back the tears, holding back emotions of the moment and struck with grief. We hugged and embraced. They shared with me the story of the shooting: How Dr. Guy had lost Kelly, his dear office manager of 18 years, and family friend of 30+ years. Kelly had been Dr. Guy’s office manager for nearly two decades. She had died at the hands of her husband, Harry Weaver, and in the arms of her sweet friend and coworker, Sabrina. My next question to Dr. Guy was, “Let’s travel back to a time before Wednesday, and you tell me what you and Jane had been talking about weeks and even years before this event. What kind of conversations were you having about your dental practice? What were you wanting to do at the ripe age of 69?” We began a conversation about his nearly 40 years in business, the career he has had and what his name means to the community. As they shared their stories, I could see their smiles showing up at that moment. Many, many stories of love and patient care, kindness and service were shared with me. We talked for hours about

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

"I did not want his career to end with this tragedy or the 40 years of his practice to be defined by this one moment. That was not who he was."

what they had envisioned before this horrific incident. My notebook was filling up with ideas, dreams and values that were important to them. After talking, I followed up by asking, “Would you still want to work if we could make that happen for you?” This was a difficult question for Dr. Guy to answer, knowing the tragedy he had experienced and the grief that he was dealing with and would continue to embark on; however, I don’t think that question had crossed his mind yet. I did not want his career to end with this tragedy or the 40 years of his practice to be defined by this one moment. That was not who he was. So, we talked about multiple scenarios. There’s always scenario #1, which was to shut the doors, move the charts and let someone else care for the patients. We talked about scenario #2, merging with the dentist next door, working for a year or so or until he felt like he was ready to retire. That way, his patients would not have to come back to this office of what was now a crime scene. And then, we talked about another scenario, #3, which was selling his practice and getting him a job where he felt that he could work until he didn’t want to work anymore. This way, it would get him away from Clinic Drive, and allow his patients to go to a new place that wouldn’t bring back horrific memories. So, I wrote the scenarios down and asked Dr. Guy and Jane to think about them and pray about their decision over the weekend. I would return on Monday to work on his existing business while it was shut down. It could not pause for the next two weeks. I needed to keep the innerworkings of his practice going for him. The weekend passed, and I canceled appointments with my clients and all my travel for the week, dedicating my time to Dr. Guy and his practice, not knowing what would happen. I reached out to a few friends and colleagues who I knew could help support this business and keep it alive while

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we were figuring out the next step. The response was incredible...absolutely incredible! The time clock began. Ten days were remaining that the practice would be closed to grieve and to regroup. Dr. Guy left a lovely voicemail for his patients to let them know he and his ladies were grieving and figuring out the next step for him and his patients. So, that Monday morning, Dr. Guy met with me at his office as we sat and talked again. He and Jane had decided that the best option was to get away from Clinic Drive and for him to continue working. He was not ready for this tragedy to define his career, although he did not want to make the drive every morning, worrying about what patients would be thinking of when they were in the dental chair. As he looked around and saw the walls torn from the bullet holes and the baseboards ripped away from the bloodstains, he could feel confident about that decision...and so it began! Monday morning was the start of a whirlwind. Dental Support Specialties offered their services. Mary Beth said anything that she could do, she was there to help. There we went. Supporting a dental practice, entering checks into the computer system, calling on outstanding insurance claims, cleaning up the disaster left behind in the office and making appointments with potential buyers that would allow Dr. Guy to move on with his practice. Knowing that we were going to sell the practice, the cleaning began. We sorted through four decades of history. We boxed up files and papers, deciding what would go to Dr. Guy’s house, what should be thrown away and what would be included in the sale of his practice. On Tuesday evening, a meeting took place with Dr. Kevin Martin, a potential buyer. Dr. Martin had always been fond of Dr. Guy. In fact, the first phone call I made to inform anyone about the sale of the practice was to Dr. Martin. I felt that God had called him to help in this way. That evening, the conversation that happened between Dr. Guy, Dr. Martin and me proved to be right.

LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS Dr. Martin asked Dr. Guy, “If I could purchase your practice, would you be willing to work with me and join our practice? Would you be confident that your patients would come and join my practice?” I could see Dr. Guy light up. I saw the return of hope in his heart. Over the next few days, we worked out the details of the contract to sell the business. We continued to work patient accounts so that Dr. Guy could pay his bills and his employees. They did not choose to be shut down for two weeks. And they certainly did not choose this tragedy. Next, we wanted to figure out what we could do to honor Kelly’s memory. How could we honor her presence of 18 years and allow the patients to remember who she was – her kind spirit, her God-fearing heart and her commitment to her faith? There was a beautiful locket in Kelly’s desk, and on that locket was the word “peace.” On the back of it was a bible verse: “Peace surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). I wanted to take a photo of this locket so that I could find a way to honor Kelly somehow. I asked Dr. Guy how he would feel sharing with each patient a small memorial of Kelly’s life, and he began to weep. His heart filled with joy as he began to see that he had a calling from God to fulfill a responsibility far larger than being a dentist at this point. He was responsible for sharing his faith, her testimonial and bringing others to know God’s greater purpose for their life here on earth. In those seven remaining days that I worked closely with Dr. Guy, we sold a business of 40 years, we signed associate contracts, we moved equipment, we moved a 40-year-old practice base, and we created a legacy. As the week went on, through all of the heartache and trepidation, beautiful memories were made. And beautiful memories of his patients were surfacing as Dr. Guy cleaned out his office. There was a story behind each lovely gift from his patients throughout those four decades, and he shared the stories behind these gifts with me. Those seven days that I spent with Dr. Guy were no longer a charitable donation of my time. It was God fixing my heart, getting my mind right and creating a beautiful friendship through Dr. David Guy, a 69-year-old dentist who had been living six miles away for all of these years. Here we were, selling, moving and creating a legacy, all in less than a week. Never in a million years could you think someone who lived through that tragedy would have a restored heart. Yet, here we are now. Ten months later, a man (Mr. Weaver) has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. A dentist has found his calling beyond his dental crafts, which is witnessing every day to patients who walk through his door and sharing his story of perseverance, love and heartache. He is happier now

than he has ever been in his entire 44 years of practicing dentistry. He enjoys practicing in a group, collaborating with other dentists of all ages and, most importantly, sharing Kelly’s testimony with each person who walks through those doors. Here I am; my heart is full; I have meaning in my life, calling to what I know I should be doing and affirmation that what I do every day has the ability to touch someone or to mean something to someone even if at that moment I might not know what it means to me. This horrific tragedy that occurred on February 13, 2019, has brought our community together, our dental profession together and our churches together. It also has created more purpose and more drive than we had on February 12th of this year. I encourage you to be a part of something. Be a part of a community or an organization. Don’t just stand alone. Stand together. Make the first move to help someone else by sharing your knowledge and your talents. Relationships matter. About the author: Hollie Bryant is a passionate speaker, writer, coach and offsite team member for many practices across the United States. Hollie has over a decade and a half of neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry experience. Her formal education, self- funded C.E., practice management and clinical skills have allowed her to provide a modernized spin to consulting services. From Dr. Ross Nash, to Dr. Jeff Blank and on to Dr. Brad Durham, Hollie found education and challenge to add to her credibility for dental practice management consulting. The Nash Institute, New Millennium Education and the Niche Practice were all educational facilities that Mrs. Bryant has worked with. She is a member of the American Academy of Dental Office Managers, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of Dental Management Consultants, Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics, and the American Dental Assistants Association. She is the former Editor-in- Chief of Contemporary Dental Assistant Magazine and has served on the Advisory Board for Dental Compare. She is on the editorial board of Dental Assisting Digest and Inside Dental Assisting, Contemporary Product Solutions and is a consultant for dental manufacturers and has authored numerous manuscripts on clinical assisting and practice management topics. Hollie Bryant is the owner of Bryant Consultants, a full service practice managementconsulting firm that provides practice success for progressive and neuromuscular focused dental practices. Bryant Consultants Consultant, Writer, Speaker www.bryantconsultants.com O:803.322.6020 F:803.462.5798 mail: hollie@bryantconsultants.com

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

The Principles of DeW 1. Look for opportunities that build on your strengths.

Just DeW it!

Fake it until you believe it.

Good DeWs find good DeWs!

Be kind. Don’t be a jerk.

6. Honor people in their absence. No gossiping.

7. Give people the benefit of the doubt. No judging.

8. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Luke 12:48

Start and don’t stop. DeWs never retire.

10.

Never give up on your dreams.

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We're Going Digital! As a member of The DeW Life Crew you have so many benefits: • Receive and download the magazines before anyone else gets to see them. • Complimentary subscription to the “Dental Entrepreneur” digital magazine. • Connect through the digital magazine via links and videos INSIDE the digital magazine. • Opportunities to write and be published via our blog or magazines. • Invitations to members-only events... INCLUDING OUR RETREAT. • The private Facebook group for meeting, connecting and learning. • The chance to be a part of an amazing group of women (and men) working to RAISE WOMEN in the dental industry.

“But I LIKE getting my hard copy of the magazine. Can I still get it?" OF COURSE you can still get the printed magazine. We just want to save as many trees in the rainforest as we can, but we are happy to still sell you a printed magazine. But, keep in mind, the digital membership is going to be less expensive as a thank-you to those helping conserve. (And, let's be honest, print costs more, too.) Go to dew.life to join us!

MONASTERY LENTIL SOUP One of my fondest memories of our Retreat was arriving home after we concluded on Friday night to find at least 25 women already there enjoying the apps my friends put out, the Food Truck (Two Chicks and a Truck), the sangria and the desserts! They were finding their commonalities, their differences, building friendships and collaborations. As the party grew, there were over 70 DeWs sitting, standing and lounging in every room in the house. The buzz was incredible. My heart was full! At one point, I realized I forgot to put out the huge pot of lentil soup I made just for this night. It’s my mom’s recipe, and one our family cherishes. This was my little gift from my family to theirs. I ran out to the garage fridge and took out the still slightly frozen soup. Defrosting it enough to get the soup in the pot was hysterical! You may ask, “How many DeWs does it take to accomplish a task like this?” As many as needed! Yes, the mission was accomplished, and it would’ve made a YouTube sensation. I’ll giggle to the end of my days remembering that kitchen scene (shout out to Jamie Marboe). Alas, we were laughing so hard, nobody pulled out their phone to take a video. You just had to be there! All this is to say, I really hope you don’t miss our second DeW Retreat in our hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina! I promise we’ll have that soup defrosted to go along with our schedule of inspirational speakers and a welcoming community of DeWs like you! Enjoy!

Mary Max en

e Linesch

INGREDIENTS 2 cups chopped onion 1 carrot coarsely chopped 1/2 teaspoon leaf marjoram 1/2 teaspoon leaf thyme 1/4 cup olive oil 1 lb. can tomatoes 5 cups of water 3 teaspoons of beef bouillon (Better than Bouillon) 1 cup dried lentils 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper 1/4 cup dry sherry 1/4 cup chopped parsley 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Sauté first 4 ingredients until lightly browned. Add rest and bring to boil. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, about an hour. Add sherry and parsley. Cheese on top in bowls.

Anne

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Last year, members of our Dental Resource Program provided access to dental care and preventive services for 529,116 kids. Since 2006, we’ve distributed more than $21,000,000 in financial grants, donated product, and educational materials to our nonprofit partners to help more than 7 million kids restore their smiles and prevent decay. Find out how you can help at AmericasToothFairy.org

100% of your donation provides access to care and oral health education to underserved kids thanks to the operational support of:

For You, About You, By You!

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DeW Life Magazine is both a digital and a print publication devoted to highlighting and empowering all women in dentistry. Our goal is to inspire women to connect and move each other forward lifting one another up to heights we only dreamed possible. We are delighted to receive general submissions from you,

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