Learn Something New

Albert Einstein said “I have no special talent; I am only passionately curious.”

Never stop learning. Don’t stop because you finally own your own business, and especially don’t stop because you’ve run into some success. Success isn’t any indication that you should stop taking in new information, learning new things, and leaving yourself open to new opportunities.

I opened my dental practice in 1987, and I haven’t gone a single day without learning at least one new thing. And no, that’s not because I’m a slow learner!

Earlier this year I started doing podcasts, and now I’m completely addicted. I post every single one of them for anyone who wants to listen, for absolutely zero cost.

What has me hooked on podcasts is that I have the opportunity to sit down with the biggest names in dentistry and business and learn from them. At the end of every recording my mind is blown, and from the feedback I’ve gotten from listeners, I know I’m not the only one.

I guarantee that no matter what business you’re in, opportunities exist for you to learn, whether through associations, continuing education or something as simple as listening to one of the pioneers in your industry.

You can spend your time doing anything you want, but you owe it to yourself and to your business to spend at least some time learning how to be a better business owner.

The following excerpt is from my new book, “Uncomplicate Business: All It Takes Is People, Time, and Money.” The book comes out in October 2015 and is available for preorder at HowardFarran.com.

 

Excerpt: Dental associations provide dentists like me with many opportunities to broaden our knowledge and skill set. When I got out of dental school, I began taking over five hundred hours of continuing education courses per year because I wanted to learn everything at the beginning of my career. I figured the best return on investment would come at the beginning of my career, not at the end.

At the end of one particular course, I was asked, “Do you want AGD credit?” I had no idea what AGD meant. So I asked an older dentist who explained that it stood for the “Academy of General Dentistry” and insisted that I join. He told me that after completing five hundred hours of instruction and successfully passing an all-day exam, I would receive my fellowship (FAGD). Another six hundred hours and I’d receive my mastership (MAGD).

When I asked him why I should want fellowship or a mastership, he replied, “Trust me, if you follow the AGD program, you will become a better dentist.” Since I knew I wanted to become a better dentist, I committed that day to earning both distinctions. …

There is a reason there are 30,000 members of the AGD; they have much more successful practices than non-AGD members. It’s cause and effect.

What is the AGD for your profession? Whatever it is, I urge you to join today. Consider what credentials you could commit to learning today that could positively impact your career. You will never regret the time and money you spend credentialing yourself in areas of your profession.

Joining a professional association not only broadens your knowledge base, it also broadens your network. When you’re starting out in your profession, the first thing you need to realize is that you’re going to make a lot of mistakes. But you’ll make a lot fewer mistakes if you learn from the mistakes of other, more experienced members of your profession. Listen to their stories. Take their advice. You know what you know, but you don’t know what you don’t know. …

Too often in business I see owners who want to get rich quick, to become overnight successes. They have no idea they need to put in ten thousand hours over ten years before they master anything.

The current world economy is viciously competitive and you’re going to be lousy at whatever it is you’re doing for your first two or three years. You’ll be okay in years five through seven. But you won’t be the greatest at what you do for ten, twenty, or even forty years! Business success is a marathon, not a sprint. As long as you don’t give up, you’ll achieve it.

Whether it is with your clients, finances, networking or new technology—you have to put in the time. Too many business owners need to turn off the television, set aside the Xbox—or any other idle distraction—and put in the time to master their business and become a success.