On the eve of a new decade, I am updating this thread. Only now am I realizing that it has been 17 years to the date. I am now 41 years old; it is incredible how time flies! I will be entering my tenth year of practice in this wonderful career. When I initially started this thread, I was a 24 year old kid. Now I am a middle aged man with a 8 year old and 6 year old! Many changes have occurred in my life since I started this thread many, many years ago. It is truly crazy to think back! It is insane to think about the debt I was so scared about incurring prior to the start of dental school. Crazy to meet some of my classmates on this very site, prior to knowing they would even be my classmates and see their careers prosper.
This career has been so fulfilling in so many ways. I truly love what I do now. I could not always say that. I enjoyed it, but now, I have a passion for it. Several years ago I set lofty goals and started writing my goal down. I cannot say that I wrote them down daily, but I tried to be consistent. Some of these goals were about becoming a better person, father, son, husband, etc. Some were business related: purchasing a building by year 5 of being out of school. Purchasing a second practice, moving on to the lecture circuit. Some of these goals have not been achieved yet, but some are on the cusp.
I have been in practice at my office for almost 7 years. It has been wild, but we have become a very successful practice and service wonderful patients. I will be starting my second practice in Capitola, CA in 1 week. This is new, uncharted territory for me since this requires me to move into more of a management position than I have been accustomed to. I would be lying if I said I was not nervous, but facing these challenges is what allow us to grow. THAT, I do know.
A few tips for you young ones looking to enter this profession: Take care of your body. Start a solid exercise program am make it your goal to be physically elite for your age. This profession can be brutal on your body, so counteract it by taking care of yourself. Your future self will thank you immensely. Treat yourself. Take lots of CE. Your education will never end, so accept this and continue learning. Read a lot of books of differing, interesting subjects to you. You will gain a least a nugget from each one of them. Face your fears and don't be afraid to not know everything. I just realized this line was used in my last post. I guess, that is still a constant. Do what others do, get was others get....do what other won't, get what other don't.
Wishing everyone a prosperous 2020!
HEO, DDS
