Just Two Minutes: Look Around

Bite-sized dental wisdom in under 2 minutes.

I think Tim said it best.

And here’s something I’ve learned the hard way:
You can’t “out-discipline” a circle that’s dragging you down.

If you want to be wealthy - spend time with people who are smart with money.
If you want to stay motivated - hang out with people who are actually doing hard things, not just talking about them.
If you want to stop complaining - maybe don’t surround yourself with people who treat venting like a personality trait.

Same goes for dentistry.

You want to level up your practice?
Then get in rooms with dentists who are already where you want to be.

Go to the CE where they are.
Join the groups where they hang out.
Build relationships with people who think bigger than you.

It’s one thing to say you want to grow.
It’s another thing to stop surrounding yourself with people who make excuses for not doing the work.

And it’s not just your peer circle - you’ve got to look at your team too.

Your staff is your daily environment.

If they’re negative, slow, or always resisting change, you’re going to feel like you’re pushing a boulder uphill every day.
It’s exhausting. It kills momentum. It kills vision.
And worst of all? It starts to make you smaller, just to keep the peace.

That’s not leadership. That’s self-sabotage.

You don’t need to burn it all down.
But you do need to be honest about what your environment is costing you.

Because you can’t build something amazing if you’re stuck with people who secretly want you to lose.

So if you’re feeling stuck, or uninspired, or like you’re the only one who cares - don’t automatically blame yourself.

Just look around.

Because sometimes, it’s not you.
It’s your environment.

-Dr. Alex

P.S. Your circle is your responsibility. If it’s dragging you down, change it.