Just Two Minutes: Called Out

Bite-sized dental wisdom in under 2 minutes.

I pulled my shoulder earlier this week…
Not from a CrossFit class or some heroic save.
I did it… in my sleep.

Apparently, sleeping in a weird position—with a baby beside me, nursing with my back hunched, after playing airplane and Superman with two wild kids all day—is a full-contact sport.
And my body finally called it quits.

The pain sucked. But what really hit me was the realization:
If I had been clinical, I would've had to cancel my whole day.
And if I hadn’t stepped out of the op years ago, I’d be scrambling right now.

Most of us operate like we’re indestructible.
We assume we’ll always be available.
Until we’re not.

So here are the two takeaways:

1. Build systems that don’t rely on you being there.

If you’re the only one who knows how to do something, you’re the liability.
Not the asset.

2. Take care of your body like your income depends on it.

Because it does.
Whether you’re still chairside or just holding the business together, your physical energy is your base layer of performance.

I didn’t cancel a single meeting.
But only because I’ve already built the business I used to be scared to step away from.

Can you say the same?

Final Thought:

You don’t need to be on vacation to step back. Sometimes your body will force the issue. Build something that doesn’t collapse when you’re benched.
And maybe… do some stretching too.

-Dr. Alex

P.S. I pulled my shoulder in my sleep. Yes, in my sleep. At this point, my greatest risk factor is existing.