I work out of my home, and I have a problem separating my business life from my home life. My office is on the lower level of our home, and I often will burden Sue, my wife, with the troubles of my day. This really adds a lot of unneeded stress to her day and does not help mine either!
A carpenter whom I had hired to build an addition to the house taught me a valuable lesson on what to do with the troubles of my business life. He had a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and, at the end of the day, his pickup truck refused to start.
While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree, and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.
"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he said. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then, in the morning, I pick them up again." Smiling, he continued, "Funny thing is, when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."
Now, I try my best to leave my troubles on the lower level. In fact, I am in the process of looking for office space outside the home.
I would like to call your attention to several meetings while you are planning your continuing education. The Richards Report Super Seminar is changing venues this year and moving to Nashville, Tenn., for its meeting on Nov. 8-11. My friend, Dr. Rich Madow, always puts together a terrific meeting with great speakers and many surprises. I hope to see you there; we can look at Rich's teeth together.
Cosmetic Dentistry 2002, presented by Dental Economics and RDH, will be held at the Las Vegas Hilton on Feb. 14 and 15, 2002. This meeting is aimed at the dentist and staff who have not really committed to the "Aesthetic Revolution." If you would like to learn how to change your practice and begin doing more of this type of dentistry, then this is the meeting for you! We will continue our format of doctor, assistant, and hygiene learning tracks, and we are adding eight courses that will give you hands-on experience in many different areas. This meeting is a must, but be sure to register early to get the course of your choice.
The last meeting is probably the best-kept secret in dentistry. The American Academy of Dental Practice Administration will hold its annual meeting Feb. 27 to March 2, 2002, at the beautiful Westin La Paloma resort in Tucson, Ariz. This meeting is always loaded with great speakers who will help you push the envelope in your dental practice and your life! I have been attending the meetings of this Academy since 1965 and have been a member for almost 25 years. This is a time when I can return to the "well" and renew myself. Special programs are planned to take advantage of the beautiful countryside surrounding the resort. Come join us for a wonderful experience.
Calling all CPAs! Rick Willeford, CPA, is spearheading an effort to establish a national study club for CPAs who work with a significant number of dentists. For more information, contact Rick at (770) 552-8500 or [email protected].
Don't miss the outstanding information in this month's Computer Systems Review and the How to Profit From Software section! They are packed with the latest!
Joe Blaes, DDS, Editor — e-mail: [email protected]
