There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.
Just about time to wind down for the holiday weekend. Dinner soon and the unusual pleasure of Thursday NOT being a school night.
This afternoon Annie and I visited with our friends at ApexHub in Liverpool – she to check in at work and me to chat with Marita and the team over the last few snags to the 7connections web site.
We have delayed the launch of the site (again) because of my perfection paralysis – but I think the wait will be worth it as we discussed a tweak to the home page that will make the visitor experience even richer.
Excited about the site as we have made it FOR the visitor and not ABOUT how wonderful we are. Full of resources. You will see.
Driving back, I had the good sense to take the “long route” across The Bridge at Runcorn and back east along the M56.
No surprise to cross the M6 and see a car park in both directions – business commuters, haulage drivers, the white van mob, caravans and holiday-makers all competing for the same narrow stretch of tarmac that can take them North or South home or to their vacation destination.
No thanks.
Although, I must admit, we do intend a dash to Anglesey tomorrow lunchtime to visit a good mate and give the dogs some sea air – but back tomorrow night to shut the shop for the weekend and just enjoy Hale and The Bollin Valley (apart from Spidey 2 on Sunday evening).
I want to catch up on exercise, reading, SLEEP and some good fun – but I already know that I’ll be tempted back down into The Bunker because I don’t have any kids to worry about.
Funny how things change as you get older and the family become adults.
The road we travel becomes different as the years pass.
I’ll miss a few beers with Jon as he is straight off the plane from Arizona and up to The Lakes by train to spend some time with Abi’s family (his lovely girlfriend). Two kids in London – and probably one working most of the weekend, another looking for new digs.
It will most likely be a relatively quiet weekend, enjoying some rest before it all starts again – including a 9-day tour away from home that will start next Wednesday – incorporating trips to Romania and Luxembourg as well as an important date with destiny in London on 28th – I’ll keep you posted on what will be the start of an amazing “once in a lifetime” event in May.
For now – I genuinely wish you a weekend of happiness, connection and balance – and hopefully not too many traffic jams.
Pretty chuffed that this has finally appeared – a project that began 2 years ago and was, shall we say, “interrupted” by the course of history.
I know I’m biased in about 3 different directions here – but I have read the book and it is very good, if I don’t say so myself (given that I actually contributed about 25% of the content, 50% from Mr Gerber and 25% from Dr Kwong Hing).
Well worth adding to your dental business bookshelf no matter what stage of your career and I’m not motivated by financial considerations as I won’t see a dime or a penny (and don’t need to).
I genuinely hope some are helped and inspired by this. It took quite a bit of creating – and I also want to thank Erica Kilburn and the team at EK Communications for converting my ramblings into readable paragraphs.
Easter is almost upon us and I hope that, like me, you are looking forward to the long weekend out of the rat race (perhaps a longer vacation).
There has been a house rule at Chez Barrow/Bradley for some years, to stay off the roads of Britain during the festivities, for fear of an endless morning or evening staring at brake lights and surrounded by frustrated drivers and passengers.
Apart from one visit to a close friend, it will be home for us.
I’d love to visit the countryside further afield than our usual haunts but I’m not prepared to pay the price physically or emotionally.
Which brings me to a bigger point.
I have recently reviewed the 100 tips (to running a great practice) booklet created in one of my earlier Bowie-like incarnations and, with the help of the lovely people at ApexHub, we are going to make an updated version available FOC from our new web site in a few days time.
Whilst proofing, I spotted a sentence written many years ago – and forgotten – about creating an “emotionally cost-free practice”.
When I read that again in Starbucks last Friday morning (before day 2 of the BDA conference) it stopped me in my tracks.
I realised that a lot of the changes I have been making in my personal and professional circumstances over the last 12 months, have been about creating an emotionally cost-free life.
Perhaps its my age….
But I’m finding that the situations, things and relationships that I dislike the most are those that bear a negative emotional price every time I engage.
You will know what I mean about relationships that carry an emotional price.
How many hours do I spend listening to my clients bemoan the spouse, team member, clinician, business partner, supplier or patient who drives them to despair?
Answer = plenty.
We have talked before about removing tolerations and roadblocks from your life.
I’m realising more and more the heavy price we all pay when we tolerate the performance and behaviour of others, especially when it ignores or even denigrates our own brand standards at work or ethics at home.
Strange to be musing about this as we approach a religious festival invented by a group who proclaim universal love.
I’m all for the golden rule – “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – but all this “turn the other cheek” business has always seemed a bit weird to me – especially when said group then embark upon Crusades (both ancient and modern) to destroy those of differing belief – but then I’ve never quite understood that paradox in most of the world’s religions (best perhaps to stay off that subject).
Anyways – before I’m denounced as a heretic – I have been reminded in recent days that we are under no obligation to accept, agree with or tolerate the performance or behaviour of those who do not agree with our standards (especially those who then depend upon us for a job or financial support of any kind) – they are all free to get off the bus anytime.
Sometimes we need to give them a shove.
That’s my Easter message.
Devices, everywhere devices.
Across London by tube this morning, accompanied by the Bargrooves podcast.
Around me, everyone else on devices; listening, reading, playing.
We live in a virtual reality.
Invested lots of train time last night snagging our new web site. It is getting there and I’m trying to avoid perfection paralysis.
Why is it that we can coach others but never ourselves?
Looking forward to a Discovery Day with nice people today and speaking for the BDA in Tunbridge Wells this evening.
A beautiful sunny Spring morning in the capital is lifting my spirits.
You see, if Apple just made Macs, they would generate $25 billion dollars revenue every year.
Not bad.
Instead, they have developed additional products to sell to the same and new customers – and have grown to over $150 billion in sales.
The lesson here is to build and nurture a loyal Tribe, then (as Seth Godin said recently), teach them to have taste when they buy, then think up new pleasures for them to experience.
Look at the projected iPhone sales.
By the way – here’s another bit of information.
Advertising budget:
Apple – $1 billion
Samsung – $14 billion
You can spend your way to brand recognition – but it doesn’t buy trust, loyalty and good taste.
Just a heads up.
That I will be networking at the BDA Conference in Manchester next week – 10-12 April.
Actually I do have a few client visits to attend to, so will be in and out of the exhibitors area on Thursday and Friday – but around all day Saturday.
I’ll be finding somewhere comfy to sit with coffee, wifi and a table.
If you see me sat talking with folks, come on over and join in.
If you see me sat typing into a device – come on over and interrupt me.
No agenda – just listening and observing – taking the pulse of the profession you might say.
I confess to being burned out by the last 5 weeks of work, during which I have enjoyed a total of 4 days at home, none of which have been consecutive.
Chatting to Tim Caudrelier last night, me at Luxembourg Airport and he driving across Northern Ireland to catch a flight home, we congratulated ourselves on a record month for sales and profitability and commiserated that we are busy working “in” the business but not enough “on” the business.
“Physician heal thyself” you might say.
Fair point.
Actually, it has been a combination of unusual events that have conspired to create our current dilemma:
So all in all, its no surprise that Phillippa has been trying to weave her way through the maze called our calendars and make it all fit – a “mission impossible” that she takes in her stride and makes possible.
A business coach would say to us – “re-organise your calendars so that you have ample time to work "on” the business – learn to say “no” – prioritise – have strong boundaries – plan carefully – connect with your vision – take plenty of time to rest and to have good conversations.
All true.
However – as Stephen Covey said in the original introduction to “7 habits” – sometimes it is harvest time – and you just have to get spotlights on the harvester and keep going through the night to get the crops in.
I have a sense that we are going through that period right now – a far cry from 15 months ago when we were heading for Armageddon in a former life (and I count my blessings most days).
I keep getting asked “how do you keep going?”
My answer is always “keep going with what?”
I love the travel, the schedule, the clients, the industry – I love pretty much everything about my work.
I also hear “I’m sorry to interrupt you because I know how busy you are.” Even from clients!
My answer is always “if you want something doing, ask a busy man.”
I’m not too busy – I’m busy – and I ALWAYS have the time to listen so please keep asking.
For now – some chill time this weekend (and this counts as chillin’) and a reflection on how good a year 2014 has been so far.
You ain’t seen nothing yet……
I’ve met a lot of unsung heroes in my time.
People who deserved the recognition of an Olympic champion – but whose sacrifices and suffering remain unappreciated.
Today I’m thinking about business Olympians.
There is hardly a day goes by that I don’t read an email from a business owner at the end of his or her tether, unable to “give” any more and asking me how on earth they are going to solve the latest problem.
If any aspiring Principal were to read my in-box for a month, they would probably run a mile.
“Surely it can’t be that tough?”
Well it is – and if you intend to be in the business of business ownership – you had better grow a set – fast.
That explains why we business owners “partaaay” hard – so please don’t castigate us for letting our hair down now and then – or for resting well (when we can) or losing our cool (hopefully infrequently).
On the good days – the independence, the freedom of expression, the sense of achievement and the gratification at making a difference to others – they are all an inspirational buzz that make us feel immortal.
On the bad days – we feel as if we have to do everything ourselves, check everything, create everything, measure everything, sell everything, please everyone, spot the typos and make all the decisions. We feel used, abused and unappreciated.
Neither are completely true of course.
Or perhaps both are true in the moment?
As Bear Grylls says, “its going to be very, very hard but just keep remembering that the suffering will come to an end.”
Keep your chin up my friends. You are champions.
So I said:
And my Essential PA said:
“Ok, no problem, leave it with me, I’ll get it sorted.”
Following which, we enjoyed a lovely dinner, had a good old natter and I went to bed last night knowing that my life is sorted for the next 2 years and beyond.
Letters from a Perfect Imperfectionist 