2. Don't be Defensive
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Reagan loved to be underestimated. He said, "It's true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?" When Carter attacked Reagan in the debate, Reagan just said, "There you go again."
Are you defensive about your fees or anything else?
3. Be Prepared
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Though so popular at the time that his re-election was all but assured, Reagan did poorly in his first debate with Walter Mondale in 1984. Suddenly, there was the question of the "age issue." Was Reagan, at 73 years old, simply too old to be President?
Predictably, at the second debate, Reagan was asked about the age issue. He then delivered the knockout punch: "I will not exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience."
Office Manager in a Box Scripting System
4. Wear a Velvet Glove
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Common courtesy was so ingrained in this nice man that even in the grips of Alzheimer's disease, when he had essentially stopped speaking, he would still say when he accidentally bumped the arm of a nurse feeding him, "Oh, I beg your pardon." Are we as unfailingly gracious to our employees and co-workers?
And underneath your velvet glove...
5. Have an Iron Fist
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When the Air Traffic Controllers threatened to strike illegally in 1981, Reagan gave them an ultimatum, even though he had no trained replacements and millions of lives were at risk. The controllers were shocked when Reagan carried out the ultimatum. Everyone knew after that, at home and abroad, that Reagan meant what he said. Everybody knew he meant business. Do you stand steadfast against threats and intimidation?
6. Don't Criticize Other Dentists
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Ronald Reagan admonished his fellow Republicans of an "Eleventh Commandment:" "Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican." Let's not speak ill of our fellow dentists!
7. Trust, But Verify
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Ronald Reagan liked to quote an old Russian saying to his Soviet counterpart, Mikhail Gorbachev: "Doveryay, no proveryay" or "Trust, but verify." Reagan explained in his last speech as President on foreign policy that "trust, but verify" means "keeping our military strong. It means remembering no treaty is better than a bad treaty." Trust without accountability is really blind faith. Does your office have a culture of accountability?
Trust, But Verify
8. Explore New Techniques
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After the Challenger disaster in 1986 in which 7 astronauts including schoolteacher Christa McAulliffe were killed, Reagan said in a televised address, "And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave."
9. Don't Be Needy
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Reagan may be the only President who didn't miss the job afterwards. Reagan enjoyed being President, and he'd have enjoyed himself if he had never been elected President. He didn't need it because he was comfortable with himself, which made others comfortable around him.
When patients sense you need them more than they need you, it's the kiss of death for a practice. People are attracted to success. When you don't need the patients, you can't get rid of them. They'll do whatever you say. Sometimes we can take ourselves or take our work too seriously.
What Successful Practices Do
10. Confront Problems
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When the Berlin Wall was constructed, no American President said a word. After all, speaking up might offend or provoke the Soviets. Every President before Reagan spoke of "détente" and "mutual cooperation" with the Soviets. Reagan was the first President to call the totalitarian Soviet Union with its brutal Gulag "evil."
Reagan said at the Brandenburg gate in 1987: "General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Reagan's Chief of Staff Howard Baker before the speech advised removing these lines, thinking that all this stuff about tearing down the wall was so unrealistic as to be "unpresidential." Today, there is no more Berlin Wall, no more Soviet Union, and no more Gulag.
What or whom are you afraid to confront in your practice? You'll be glad you did..
Create a Culture of Accountability
Coming Next Month
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Next month, little known new products that make your life much easier.
In the meantime, please, don't keep this newsletter a secret. Pass it on. Look below and you'll see a "Forward email" link. Try it. It's quick, it's easy, and your friends will thank you.
God Bless America, the shining city on the hill.
Pat, Lorraine, and Ginny
Contact Information
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email: info@officemagic.com
voice: 800-750-8779 or 302-229-9520
web: http://www.officemagic.com
