So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health

Fitbit - an excellent health tool!

Hi all!

I was down in Arizona this Christmas and I went out for some boxing day sales to buy new pants.  My ‘normal’ waist size is about 33…but I admit the pants were getting a little snug.  It’s funny how you can stay more or less the same weight and yet your body shape changes!!  I started trying on size 35 pants and told myself it was ok if I was getting 1” or 2” on my waist every 10 years…we are all getting older…blah, blah, blah.

I walked out of the dressing room disgusted with myself, and didn’t bring home anything but new underwear and socks…..but I DID go to Best Buy thinking buying some new little electronic gadget may make me feel better…

And I came out with a product called a Fit Bit.

The fit Bit is a high end Pedometer, wireless sleep tracker, connected calorie counter…it was exactly the motivation I needed to get serious about getting rid of that flab!!

I started making sure I was getting close to 10,000 steps per day – and I also soon realized exactly how bad my diet really was.  Even the days I didn’t think I was eating much – I learned that I was eating the wrong things! It didn’t take much for me to adjust my lifestyle.  I have been a bit of a fitness nut all my life…I was just a little off kilter and kind of lazy actually.  Accepting that I could get into this kind of shape! YUCK!! So I adjusted my protein up and my carbs to mid level (hey we own a bakery – and the stuff is like crack!).  I started eating something nutritious every few hours – so about 4 – 5 times per day but much smaller meals.  Cut down about 700 calories a day and increased my cardio to 40+ minutes per day.

And I lost 16 pounds in 6 weeks! Now 2 inches on the waist….but not quite happy there yet.

My new goal is to gain back muscle I used to own.  And that is a HUGE commitment! It takes dedication to lifting heavy. And I will.  I forgot how good it makes me feel, not just physically – but mentally.  It helps me with confidence.  There are no real downsided other than finding time – but HEALTH is one of the most precious things we have.  It amazes me how many people wait until they have major issues before adjusting their lifestyle.  HEALTH is a gift, I plan on making an investment…

How about you?

Smile!

Warren Bobinski

Success in Dentistry and Life

If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn’t follow. I’d be at the bottom to catch them when they fall.”

I believe our lives are empty without meaningful relationships.

For me, all relationships are the same no matter the type.

The beginning – discovering new relationships.

I look for opportunity to connect and develop relationships.  It’s a very fulfilling way to live and approach life!  The beginning of any relationship is scary – it’s a time of discovery.  You often have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations to develop new relationships.  Why would you do that when you are already comfortable?  Why leave home? Why take another chance on being rejected? Why fall in love again?  What if the other doesn’t like me?

It’s a great human need to feel wanted and important.

When your heart is beating fast, and you are unsure of where you may end up – you are living! It can be hard to put yourself in those awkward situations of developing new relationships.  It’s easier to just be content…but not necessarily fulfilled, wanted or feeling important.  We compromise our happiness instead of believing that we DO have something important to share and we
DESERVE happiness.

You meet that exciting new prospect, potential business partner, love interest….

Do you try too hard to be something you are not when you start out?

Can a person can try so hard they may even compromise their own values to make a relationship work?

It is the beginning of an end.

These are the business relationships based on price.

These are the personal relationships (lovers AND friends) based on money, or physical beauty.

In some cases it’s desperation coupled with guilt.  Neither party is really getting what they want….at least not long term.

Relationships do, however, need a place to start, an attraction.  And in the beginning – you may need price, money, beauty.  It’s that initial attraction most of us may need.
I DO NOT believe it’s shallow.
Shallow happens when initial attraction is all the relationship is built upon.  Shallow people find that only money, price, beauty work for them!  It’s kind of the easy way out, and you rarely have to actually be any more than just a pretty face offering a discount or shelling out the money.  But the pretty face, discount or money usually run out.  And  eventually the relationship ends.  Some people are actually happy that way.

Good for them.

Not for me.  And likely not for you if you are reading this.

Do you believe that these people will be constantly chase new relationships and will rarely find true happiness?  In my life I try to identify these relationships and cut them out of my life.  It does not make me happy.  I need more….

Relationships are work

Discovering what works is not always easy.  And I do believe there are compromises.  What are we willing to sacrifice to make this work for the other?  Can we both compromise in order to build this relationship and still be satisfied? Does it actually make us feel good to be in this relationship? As long as both parties are feeling important and wanted….or maybe even respected and heard.

That’s why my business relationships are not based on price.  I offer price as a part of a package since it is a part of business.  I FEEL GOOD making sure my friends are given a fair price, and would never compromise on that  value.  It’s possible I would have made alot more money if I approached my business relationships cold hearted and business shrewd– but I believe it’s shallow
and would not last.

There are times when I have taken my business relationships for granted and I try hard tomake sure to NOT do this.  But there are times when you are not able to commit your full resources. That’s when you can count on the commitment from the other person to talk to you.  If you are in a mutually beneficial relationship and they know your true desire is to have a lasting relationship – they know they can come and talk to you anytime to fix anything they are not happy with.

I  make regular investments in my relationships.
I educate myself to help my relationships flourish.

Keep it exciting. Offer new benefits.

When it’s not working – end it. Fire it. Re-tool. Quit.

I find most relationships are fully developed within 2 – 3 years.  More experienced relationship builders may discover this much sooner.  Without that experience, it may just take time to learn exactly what you need.  Time is the answer.  Risk is the answer.

Be confident in your approach.  Ask the questions that matter, then listen.  Understand whether this could be right, or if it would be too much work, compromise, or time to develop. You have to be considerate that the other party may have different aspirations than you and be ready to move on if it happens that way. There are billions of relationships in the world – move to the next one with confidence. The right relationship is there for you just waiting…

Some relationships start off on false pre tense.  One person or the other really wants to be the person the other one wants them to be.  It may be the salesman offering things they can’t deliver.  They become ‘fake’.  Like that cheesy salesman with the big smile and over the top compliments….yuck.

It takes genuine interest and care to make sure relationships work.  It takes a deeper understanding of what makes you, yourself happy to be able to share that with potential partners.

 The hard part may be letting go. 

Sometimes we grow and discover we want different things than our friends.  One friend discovers they want to go hang out more often. The other wants to stay home. One is more ambitious and the other one doesn’t want change. One wants to be a rock star, the other wants to be a doctor.  Many business owners don’t have a sense of relationship – or only know the ‘shallow’ part.  “Just give me a better price, that’s all I want from you”.  It’s up to you if you want to accept a relationship on these terms.  Sometimes it can work for a short while and give both parties what they want – right?

It’s nobody’s fault – but as respectful friends/partners/fanily there are considerate and respectful ways to handle the relations.  No need for blame, for bitterness.  Business partners split up and each move on to new opportunities.  It happens every day, and tends to work out. We are back at the beginning again.

Life is about being happy….for everyone.

Find true happiness in ALL your relationships.  If you read this blog and were thinking of your business relationships but are having difficulty with a loved one, a friend, a child, a spouse, at work,….read it again.

Life is about being happy.  We are the only ones that can bring ourselves to that place.  It is not the burden of other people.

Smile!

Warren Bobinski

Success in Dentistry and Life.

I LOVE what I do, and it’s because of you.

I am so thankful to be involved in such a great industry! It’s a privilege to be able to work with the most genuine, generous, compassionate people.

Several years ago, there were days when I wasn’t sure about my choices in life.  I felt like making myself happy took more money, better toys, and I was afraid to make changes in my life for fear of ‘losing’ what I worked so hard for.

And I couldn’t sleep.  Sunday nights were a terrible mess of stress about the people I had to work with on Monday. I lie awake many nights wondering how I could make a difference, change their mind about what I am willing to do to get that job.  Trying to figure out new ways to show how much I cared.  How hard I would work. I wanted to be the person they pick to be on their team.  It became a seven nights a week issue.  It really does matter that much to me.

There is a point in life where you decide that there are things that are more important than money. Family. Friendship. Loyalty. Trust. Integrity. Character. Relationships….

Money is important. Many of you have known me for years. Know how Carman Adair from Arcona personally bailed me out of close bankruptcy.  How I had to cash in pop bottles to buy milk for Sarah as a baby.  Many of you have been there yourselves! It’s scary!  For sure money is a part of happiness…but I realize that money is a tool that allows us to make choices, and it takes many years of hard work and ‘sucking it up’ to get to that point.

However,  being driven by money is not an answer to true happiness….is it?  You will never have enough, never find real happiness in the things you buy.  I realized more and more, the things that truly made me happy; it’s mostly the sense of accomplishment and a feeling that I am making a difference.  That I am giving my best effort.  That I care, and I show it.  Real happiness for me is about making my family proud, about helping my friends….about trying to make a lasting difference in what I do in this life.

So a couple of years ago, I made changes so that my days are filled working with people I truly enjoy working with.  It wasn’t always about the person themselves, it could simply be a way some people prefer to do business…and if they are happy doing business that way, then I am happy for them.  I just prefer to have a tight relationship built on trust and care.  Those are the people I am proud to work with, they think like I do – and I can wake up every day with that sense of accomplishment and wanting to try even harder. It really made a difference!

The challenge for many of my friends is to get out of that trap of working to make others happy.  If you can find a way to make  these ‘adjustments’ you may find yourself much happier, and still find ways to challenge myself with new opportunities that make life even more interesting (ie: a bakery!).  Because once you find a way out of the trap – you will find that those people you have genuine, trusting, loyal relationships can really make you happy.  And it just builds from there.  It is mutual.  It is shared, and like minded people tend to gravitate towards you and your friends….

And it only gets better. The happier you get…..the happier you get. It works.

I hope you get a chance to enjoy your hard earned holidays, the family and everything that matters to you in life.

Thankyou so much!!

Smile!

Warren

We all want to feel valuable.

“We all stumble….every one of us. That is why it is a comfort to go hand in hand” Margaret Mead

That staff member asks for a raise as a way to feel more important and valuable.  So often I get calls from staff members looking for another job.

And you know what……It’s NEVER been about the pay.

And yet, when I sit and consult with many of my doctors – it’s the number one thing many are thinking about!!

Think about how you want to be treated when you are performing.  Do you like it when someone doesn’t respect your treatment plan.  Questions your work?  Thinks you are overpaid for what you do? Tells you how to do dentistry, and they decide to pay you what THEY think it’s worth, or will just go somewhere else if you don’t do as they say.  What if they just think ALL dentists are the same, and think they should just go save a buck?

We are all human.

So think….

Who would you work harder for? Provide the highest quality of treatment for? That person who respects you,  is happy to pay you what you ask, accepts your treatment plan and advice?  Or that person who grinds you and tells you from day one they are just going to “get a second opinion” to make sure you are giving them good advice?  Maybe they will just ‘shop around’ to see if they can get a better deal…and they probably can. But will it really be the same as what you do?

Interesting things I know…

Most offices with high turnover pay the highest wages. Did you know that?

Most offices with the highest overhead also have multiple sales reps. Ya, that’s a plug for me. But my guys who check RK house and compare to the majority tend to be in the most desired ‘positions’ (low overhead, high production)….I don’t believe it’s a fluke.  I am proud of it, and proud of you, my friends for getting there!

Soooo…..

The golden rule of treating others how you would want to be treated yourself…..it seems too often forgotten while ‘doing business’.  “It’s just business”…..is it really?

If you want staff to perform – make sure they feel the respect for what they do.  Give them some freedom and understand they don’t live to work, they work to live.  The most passionate people find a way to enjoy what they do – get a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, and the true reward is not really the paycheque (albeit, it is one way to show people how much we value them – it isn’t the only way).

It works well with staff, and you almost always get back what you give.   Every high performing office rewards staff, pays ‘average’ but allows staff to show their skill and doesn’t dictate.  They find the right spot on the team for each team member. They have fun.  They often play together and pursue the passion for the profession together….

Production is more valuable than Deduction

Watching your expenses is important.

But stressing about dollars to save dimes is not good.  It is a path to mediocrity.

Instead focus on the end result.  Performance and time is everything in this profession.  If you keep your eye on constant improvement, time and proper staff management – the expenses will ALWAYS fall in place.

Did you know that wasted product and time  IN THE OFFICE will cost you more than you could ever save by ‘shopping around’.  Go ahead and see how much a wasted drop of bond costs….or two minutes of time wasted instead of performing chair side.  High performing staff will earn your practice much more relative to pay than an inexperienced person would for a few bucks an hour less.  You know it. 

The offices with the highest performance work as a team.

Every team member knows their job.  They are motivated to do better by the other team members doing better.  It’s a much easier goal to accomplish with a clear path.

Team meetings are valuable and necessary.

Having a goal is important, or you are on the path to nowhere.

With no sense of direction, you get no sense of accomplishment –and the team flounders.

KISS

When things are running right – it just keeps getting better.

It takes a bit of work to get on the right path – but once you have it figured out, it can become a self propelling machine.  The beautiful thing in our business is the amount of shared success stories.  It’s easy as a consultant (not a Salesman)  to help find ways to increase your production.  Most of the ideas are NOT just ‘let’s wing it’.  Since I know most of you so well, I can help find ways to get you where you need to be…..and that’s what I really do. Consult.

Someone told me the other day they didn’t understand how it was better for them to only have one ‘salesman’ to work with.  They felt it would be more advantageous to have us compete with each other.

We are not different, I always ask….when you are good at what you do – and you know the TRUE value of your services, and what you would do in a strong relationship you are trying hard to develop for life….how hard are you going to work if every step of the way your skills are questioned?

My commitment to you (sorry for the self promotion) is a lifetime commitment.

I have been there from the time of graduation, through staff changes, kids growing up – graduating, going on to build their own dental practices, selling practices.  There are not many other team members that are there from day one to the day you retire.  That kind of commitment is what you get from me, and it means ALWAYS doing the right thing.

We all want to feel valuable….

Have a great weekend my friends!

Smile!

Warren Bobinski

Success in Dentistry and Life!

PS –Dr. Gordon Christianson just “friended” me on Facebook….I thought that was pretty cool!

The impossible is often the untried

Are you going to spend you whole life waiting for someone to show you an easy way to….

Make enough money to live a dream lifestyle?

Get the body you always wanted?

Lose weight?

Build your dream (fill in the blank)

Attract that right person?

Help you find happiness?

Most people do wait their entire lives for someone else to invent that “something” that everyone wants.

It would be a disaster if everything was just easy. Maybe that’s part of what troubles society today – too many things ARE too easy. Maybe we all feel too entitled, and have lost some of our mojo?

Why not be the person who creates that something that never seemed possible? That most people would never attempt because it’s just too much risk, too hard?

If its too hard, it could be exactly what most people will never try.

These are the things that seemed impossible and are only one creative, industrial, crazy and passionate person away from existing. You aren’t the only one that wants to see that (fill in the blank) made easier, or invented. Everyone I know has said “I wish someone would make such and such” I always say….Why not you? Someone, someday, WILL make such and such. I guarantee it! Again…why not you?

You DO have the guts to be the one to make it happen instead of waiting your whole life. I know it and I haven’t even met you. Because every one of us has faced hard times and shines through. Just step up and use your talent to do those things you were meant to do. Quit being lazy and scared.

Don’t dream of retirement.

Dream of changing the world.

I promise you – I am working on it myself and it’s easier said than done….but one step leads to two leads to four…

Smile,
Warren

I wasn’t born to follow and I’m not sure if I was born to lead, but what I’m certain is that I was born to fight my way through life and win…

We are told competition makes us better.

We all compete in some sense, but does beating someone else really make you a winner?

What if we didn’t spend so much time worrying about competitors, and instead spend our time innovating the new standard Is it competition that drives us to new levels – or confidence in ourselves and passion in developing our talents that truly defines us?

I am proud when I meet others in my industries (dental and bakeries) that innovate and create new opportunities.

Instead of a traditional view of ‘competition’ which for many means “let’s find a way to sell something cheaper” some of the most innovative and creative people i know find ways to create a whole new market. A sub division within their own industries!

Instead of analyzing competitors prices and strategies – they are too busy finding new ways to bring in customers and patients who would never have considered them before….

Why not have a Dental Rep that is your human resources guy, business consultant, marketing guru, personal shopper? A consultant on lowering overhead and increasing profits instead of one who just promises to sell you a box of impression material at 10% less..

A definite race to the bottom!

Why not be the dental office that uses every form of financing available, perhaps even develop your own in house like Quality Dental Plan (http://qualitydentalplan.com/) or offer more than just a typical dental visit by becoming a more spa like experience, or adding technology like same day crowns, lasers…how about you have an in office app so your patients can book directly with your office like Dr Bob Marcus developed?

Why notbe the dental supplier that offers practice consulting, human resources, continuing education, financing plans, practice analysis, marketing consulting…AND blow the so called competition away by doing it at fair market prices?

Just think about it – don’t copy someone else. Be inspired by competition, be happy for those that set new standards, those that innovate and create….

…. and then develop your own place in this world...

……Create your own recipe…..
……invent a service that nobody can match, because they aren’t you…..

Patent your talent and let others compete, or ‘pay’ you by imitating you….

Smile!

Warren Bobinski
Success in Dentistry and Life

I do not believe in fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in fate that falls on them unless they act.

Never cry
Don’t take any chances of getting hurt or failing
Let mom do it for you
Get bailed out
Let dad buy it for you
Listen to your parents career choices for you
Never break any rules
Do what others say and become everything they want you to become

Go to school and…

Become a memorizing machine

Get all “A” s

Never question authority

Do whatever it takes to hang with the popular crowd or
Do whatever it takes to hang out with the unpopular crowd

Be afraid to be yourself

Go to University

Listen to a career counsellor
Repeat what thousands of others have done before you
Become exactly what the others have become
Never question authority or the system

Get a job

Listen to bosses as they set your goals for you
Go to work, get paid
Repeat, repeat. Repeat for decades,maybe change jobs because this one doesn’t make you happy (surprise…neither does the new one)
Be afraid of losing your job
Do whatever it takes to kiss everyone’s ass and make sure everyone ELSE is happy

Get married have kids get a house or just maintain and be happy to have just that. Accept you were never meant to be anything more.

Save as much as you can or allow others to do that for you too.

Hopefully have enough to retire and spend the days doing nothing very productive. Or just do something that fills the void of time until the next stage.

Die.

Or live
.

Learn to cry
Don’t be afraid to be hurt or fail
Be independent
Learn to Survive and thrive
Constantly improve
Make your own mistakes
Learn from your mistakes

Always learn what matters to you and strive to be excellent on your terms.

Find new ways to do tired old things
Break away from the pack and break new ground

Be the teacher

Be your own boss

Set your own goals

Control your own money and be in charge of your own destiny

Never blame others for what goes wrong and be proud of what finally goes right

Create your own luck

Live healthy
Live virtuous
Be proud. Strong. And be humble and thankful for this life and the opportunities you have been given, not those you have missed out on.

It’s never too late

Never feel like you have to retire.
Never stop living life until the day you don’t have a choice

Smile!

Warren Bobinski
Success in Dentistry and Life!

“A Successful man is one that can find a way to build a house out of the mud, sticks and stones that were thrown at him by those who didn’t believe”

Is it more important to add 3.8% to your yearly sales or your wages than to do the right thing?

Would you get rid of employees just to increase profitability, or would you take a little hit as an investment towards a stronger future with these people you once believed in?

Would you be willing to make another colleague look bad – point out their faults just to make yourself look better and get that raise?

Would you take short cuts to make it look like you are performing at a level that is not real? Pump through quarterly profits to increase the stock price so you can sell your personal stake and take advantage of others who don’t know any better? Or kiss the bosses ass while you really are out only for yourself and would take his/her place in a flash?

On your way to increased sales, did you do anything you had to do….or did you sometimes have to pass up a sale to maintain your integrity?

Are some people too busy on the road to success to realize there is a poor man lying by the side of the road beaten that may need some help?

Can we get to a world where true success is measured in loyalty? By rewarding only the people and companies that do the right thing – not just focus on profit, but focus on people.  Can a measuring stick for investors be based on companies that make long term commitments to making the world a better place and being as loyal to its’ people and the environment as the people and the environment are to the company?

Can success be measured in companies that have a sincere desire to do the right thing, and believe that doing so will increase brand loyalty, and in the long term profitability – profits which are re-invested in growing the company and offering more opportunity for the right people?

What if companies stopped believing just the next quarter has to be the best one? What if they thought long term we need to do the right thing, and it may mean taking a step back to re structure?

They say companies are not people. I say they are.

I say all business is personal.

I say success is not measured in how much more money you made, but in the way you thought differently to get there, and how many people you helped along the way.

Sometimes a success can be measured in a….

Smile!

Warren Bobinski

Success in Dentistry and Life.

What makes you invaluable?

Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?

Getting that job done just how the
boss wanted?

Being on time every day?

Do what is expected of you?

Kissing ass?

What if you became a key person where
you work, or at your profession?

How could you do that?

By becoming invaluable.

Of course you need to show up on
time, get the job done. Do what is expected of you.

Those people keep their jobs
(usually), their business does average. The average rep or employee or business
owner makes his average sales or leaves the office the way the boss (or the
customer) wants. Starts at 8 and finishes at 5.

Yawn.

Think about this. 

What really makes for success?

The business that decides to create
something exceptional? That offers something that nobody else has? That decides
they will never please everyone – and focuses instead on becoming the best at
what makes them different and makes them happier doing their jobs?

It becomes self propelling.

The person who pursues their job or
business and doing it the way they want is happier.  More motivated.

And if they are doing it right…more
successful.

So what makes you so different than
that guy across the street, or the other person working next to you?

What do you bring to the table that
nobody else does, that only you can do?

Are you doing it for the right
reasons?

Are you only doing it to keep your
job, or because of your sincere desire to be the best at what you do?

They say….to be happy you have to
work for yourself.  That can apply even
when you work for someone else…

It means doing it your own way, and
your passion will soon make you invaluable and a success….

Smile,

Warren Bobinski

Success in Dentistry and Life.

Conformity.

The reward for conformity was that everyone liked you except yourself.  ~Rita Mae Brown, Venus Envy

You don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note.  ~Doug Floyd

We are born to be ourselves.

The people that succeed in this world
are mostly true to themselves.  They have
ideas and won’t let others sway them.

How often do you hear of leaders that
break the rules?

It takes guts and determination to
colour outside of the box.  Other people
don’t appreciate the discomfort. They can’t understand how colouring outside
the box can lead to any success when the majority of people who have succeeded
before.

But without these people in the world
- we would never have progressed beyond our caves!

Not everyone is born with this
determination. 

It’s very hard work, and often more
than just un comfortable. It is probably miserable, since few will support the
crazy ideas, the failures. 

It’s much easier to conform.

Does it make us happy?

Does your heart beat faster when you
take some risk?

Does your adrenaline pump through
your veins when you get excited about an idea you have?

Does passion fill your soul when you
love something so very much?

What’s stopping you?

If you want to succeed, you can maybe
take some inspiration from leaders before you. 
Many wise people I have spoken to would say

“It’s what makes you different
that makes for success!”

Celebrate your differences.

Evolve from your failures.

Never give up, but learn from your
mistakes.

Conformity leads to an average life.

Be what you were born to be…..

Smile!

Warren Bobinski

Success in Dentistry and Life.