Page 16 - The Dental Entrepreneur

The Dental Entrepreneur

1. Likeability

2. Clinical Speed/Efficiency
3. Clinical Quality
4. Work Ethic
5. Organizational Skills
6. Leadership/Character
7. Confrontational Tolerance

Are you Likeable? Most people pass here pretty easily but there are always a few
A***oles that know it and don’t care. Don’t kid yourself here. This is a very humbling
profession. If you feel entitled for any reason, you will struggle mightily. The good news is your
staff will eliminate you much faster than your patients abandon you. The bad news is, you end
up working at a dental school. ( just kidding, I worked there too) The personal skills are always
at the top of the list. That’s why the gregarious social chairman whose class rank is at the
bottom is usually a top producer.

Clinical Speed. I love Dr Kuschner’s observation that dental schools don’t provide enough
reps. Its like a pro athlete. Their prep work is all about reps. In pre clinical lab you should be
doing dozens of preps as opposed to a handful. Same goes for clinically.

Clinical Quality. Quality is a little tricky for the beginner but seeking out a mentor who can
help you decide what is acceptable or not will go a long way here. Every student from their first
day in dental school needs a “real world” private practice mentor who they can call on or visit

on occasion. A great lab technician can also be a tremendous resource.

Work Ethic This is the come early, stay late personality. The polar opposite of flat ass lazy.
Most fall somewhere in between but realize here that owners need a big time work ethic.
Some people thrive on hard work, it is a big plus.

Organizational Skills. Did you learn how to utilize a daily list at school? Are you a short,
medium and long term written goal setter? This can be learned but naturally more organized
people will ramp up much quicker. I have seen students that are so sloppy it looks like a
tornado swept thru the entire lab. I would bet money their entire life is a reflection.

Leadership/Character. This one is double tough I think this is a combination of your
upbringing and natural abilities. I have experienced more than one top level manager in my
career who had a position of authority and years of “leadership training” who couldn’t lead a
kindergarten class to a bowl of candy. That leads me to believe that this is not a very trainable
skill, especially in someone that lacks talent and integrity

Page 10
.