Jacob Puhl CEO/Partner of The DEO
2020 has been a year that will go down in history as one of the most challenging in recent decades.
It’s been hard on families, businesses, and the brave front-line medical workers.
Despite the obstacles, The DEO community has found ways to not only make it through the year, but find new avenues for success.
This year has been a blessing and a curse, but we’re not done. It is time to end this tumultuous year with some massive action.
Here are 10 things that every dentist entrepreneur should do before 2021
1. Record the Ups and Downs of 2020
Many will want to forget this year, but we’ve all learned some valuable lessons. As an industry, we had to pivot and change daily business practices to accommodate for how COVID changed the world. You’ve overcome a lot this year, and it is important to remember the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
Take Action —- Write down a summary of your 2020 experiences in a blog, a newsletter, in your journal, or just on a Google Doc that you print out and save. Writing down what happened in 2020 will help strategize for 2021.
2. Write Down Your Goals for 2021
Once you’ve recorded what happened in 2020, now is time to think about what you want to happen in 2021. What are your goals? Don’t limit yourself to just thinking about your business goals, there has to be a balance.
Take Action —- Write down your goals. Make sure you include the goals for yourself, your team, and your business.
3. What Resolution Are You Making with Yourself?
Using the same goal document, what changes are you going to have to make in order to give yourself the best chances of success for 2021? Often, people don’t take resolutions seriously and this isn’t something you have to do, but after looking back on 2020, and now you know what your goals are, is there something you can do to improve? What can you do better?
Take Action — Using the same Goal document, write down your resolutions. Pick things that you can do better, and commit to them. Putting them down on paper next to your goals is a great way to stay focused.
4. Constantly Remind Yourself
This step is simple. Just print out the document and put it in a place where you can see it often. Print out a couple of copies and hang them around where you will see your goals and resolutions daily.
Take Action —- Print out your goal document and hang it up. If you want your team to get onboard, have them do the first 4 steps as well!
5. Schedule Some Time To Read
When it comes to achieving our goals, it is always easier with a little help. We’ve put together a list of 101+ books that can help you achieve your personal goals, your leadership goals, and your business goals. Schedule some time to just sit down and read. Away from your computer, and away from your phone. Invest in yourself, by finding the time to read daily.
Take Action —- Download the 101+ Book List For Dentist Entrepreneurs and pick 12 books you want to read. Pick some for each of your goal categories. Then plan out which one you want to read first and read one a month. Go ahead and order the first one so you have it in time for the new year.
6. Find The Right Community
This year, we’ve seen the DEO community grow tremendously and no place is that more evident than our private Facebook group, DSO Secrets. This is an amazing community of dentist entrepreneurs and DSO leaders who strive to learn from each other and help each other grow. If you’re looking for an active community of like-minded business professionals, then join the DSO Secrets Facebook group.
Take Action —- Join the private DSO Secrets Facebook group here. When you’re approved don’t be shy, let us know who you are and what your goals are for 2021.
7. Join Your Peers at the Largest Gathering of Dentist Entrepreneurs in the World
Every year, we host a Summit event that brings together the greatest minds in dentistry and business leaders for inspiration, training, and community. With speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Bob Fontana, and Jocko Willink, The DEO Summit is the best and largest gathering of dentist entrepreneurs in the world. Don’t miss the next Summit!
Take Action —- Get your ticket to The DEO 2021 Summer Summit here. Tickets go up January 1st, so get your ticket now for the lowest price we’ll offer.
8. Plan Your Next Steps for the Year Ahead
This could be the most important step you take. To plan for the next year, start by scheduling a call with Darin Acopan, DEO Partner and Execuitve Vice President of Business Development, and map out how to accelerate your growth in 2021. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Darin will help you get off the deserted island it feels like you are on and show you how to take your business to the next level.
Take Action —- Schedule your free 2021 Growth Accelerator Call here. Just for scheduling your call — we’ll be sending send you some bonuses.
9. Stay Up to Date on the Latest Trends in Group Dentistry
In order to stay connected and up to date with all the important trends in the dental world, we have a solution. The publication of Efficiency in Group Dentistry is an easy and free way to stay connected. We created DEO Media to be able to publish the most valuable Dental industry magazine. Get your subscription now.
Take Action —- Sign up for your free magazine subscription here.
10. Plan To Work More on Your Business Rather Than in It
The “Get Out of the Dentist’s Chair” Toolkit is an incredibly powerful guide PDF on how to transition out of the chair. These tools and resources were constructed using extensively researched observations and teachings from industry-leading experts, group practices, and DSOs. If you want to grow in 2020, then this toolkit will help.
Take Action – Download your complimentary Break Free from the Chair Toolkit here. This includes the ‘Chairside Financial Calculator” and two incredible training videos to help you get out of the chair.
When you’ve finished everything on this list, then you’ll be ready for 2021.
You’ll know where you’ve been, where you want to go, and how to get there. It’s been a challenging year, but we made it —- after surviving 2020, we can handle anything!
We hope you found this useful and helpful. Reach out if you have any questions and make sure you schedule your free 2021 Growth Accelerator Call. There is no better way to prepare for 2021 than having that call with Darin Acopan, the most connected person in group dentistry.
We made it, and we hope your 2021 is filled with success!
