2017 New Grad Edition - 42

message board

I would suggest that paying off debt such as school loans and avoiding loans on cars, etc.,
should be high priorities. Loans for practice improvements are good investments. The freedom
to live your desired lifestyle with ease is hard to beat. I have enjoyed all the ideas on this topic-
thanks for posting.
P.S.: I do have a year left on my 2012 BMW loan, which makes sense at 1.9% APR. ■

3/25/2016

JustNat
Member Since: 08/16/03
Post: 204 of 358

This is a fascinating thread and a great read. I love seeing the dichotomy of those who love
it and wish they'd done more or done things earlier, and then those who wish they'd done
something else or gotten out earlier. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground!
I'm not an old-timer-only 14 years in as a dentist (but started assisting in 1993, so in
dentistry total for 23 years now). I'm one who is trying to get out, or at least change what I'm
doing. I love reading Kirk's posts. (So glad to see you again; I'd often wondered where you'd
gone.) I like seeing people who recognized things weren't fitting right for them and managed to
find something that did suit them.
For me, finally started working at the dental school with the students last spring, and something clicked. I've never had a job that I looked forward to going to like I do with this one-and
I've done it all: associate in private group, corporate group, HMO group, solo owner, public
health. I truly enjoy my interactions with these students; they inspire me, they energize me. It is
exciting. It is fun. So now, the hard part is transitioning into doing that full time and making a
living at it, rather than part time and making peanuts.
But I'm trying to be patient, be available and be flexible and keep letting the powers that be
know that I'd like to do more. I hope it works. I'll never get rich doing anything in dentistry at this
point, but if I can just be comfortable and enjoy what I do, that's all I'm asking for. ■

4/5/2016

The Admiral
Member Since: 10/01/04
Post: 207 of 358

Hi, Nat. I've got some coaching questions for you (if you're up for playing along). You mentioned that you tried it all, but never had a job that you looked forward to going to. Specifically,
what is it that's different? What values and passions are here that weren't there before? When you
think about the other things you've done, what aspects of those jobs were really fulfilling, what
aspects were neutral and what aspects were really hard on you?
I'm going to assume (and correct me if I'm wrong), but is it safe to assume that the variety of
previous jobs all felt a little bit different? There was something about public health that was right for
you and you didn't get in the other jobs (but something still felt wrong), and there was something
about solo practice that felt right (different from the public health but other things felt wrong).
If so, pinpoint the parts of the jobs that were the high points. How do you collect and
amplify the best of each experience so you can put it all toward a positive future experience?
Sometimes, this is a tough game. If you get stuck, start to make a list of your passions.
Things that Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls "flow." They might be challenging, but you lose
yourself in the flow of the task. Once you have a list, start to group them and look for common
themes. What type of really challenging work do you absolutely love to do? (Mastering a musical
instrument, training for a marathon, learning to paint, creating a beautiful garden?) Look for
the similarities between what you are passionate about, and what really worked for you in your
history of experiences, and in your current (most fulfilling) experience. Then use that information to craft your own future. ■

4/5/2016

A wealth of information from dedicated dentists
Search: "Long Timers Any Regrets"
Advice from experienced colleagues can be invaluable. This message board might be one of the best
out there for new and seasoned dentists alike. To read more from this thread, go to dentaltown.com
and search the message boards for "long timers any regrets"-this conversation will be the top result.

NEW GRAD 2017 // dentaltown.com

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2017 New Grad Edition