Mistakes Dentists Make with Their Wives (and Husbands!) in dental practice advice
In my dental practice advice series let’s touch on mistakes dentists make with their significant others in regards to the business.
Owning a dental business / being an entrepreneur is lonely and it’s virtually impossible for a non-business owner to understand what it really takes to succeed.
That is why I avoid having that conversation with them. Anyone who simply reports to an office and collects a salary (regardless of how big or small the salary just doesn’t get it….even big blow hard wall streeters who work crazy hours and pull in 7 figure salaries moving other people’s money around don’t understand what is a requirement on our end)…..
If you are successful, they may think you are either lucky, unethical, or a combination…..
If you “fail” (in their minds), their belief is that you’ve just shown them that there is more security in being an employee.
Spouses very often (male or female) either want to help or aren’t interested in your day to day challenges……both usually create their own issues.
In my opinion, too many spouses work in the dental office… not because they want to, but because they think that they have to.
Sure, some love it, (a small group are actually good at it), and as a result, both spouses are living their passion. But, that is very rare. I can count the number of true dynamo teams that work well together and don’t create dysfunction either interpersonal or financial in a dental practice on less than 10 fingers…..
When doctors consult their spouses for dental practice advice and especially if they have a history of struggling, sooner or later they reach a point whereby virtually everything must be okay’d by the spouse first.
I’ve even heard of doctors saying things like, “If I do this without my spouse’s permission, they’ll divorce me!” Invariably……signs of business being out of control (business running the doctor) are always present when I hear that statement….it’s like a co-disease factor!
All of this is ultimately caused by a doctor not taking responsibility for their career early on and using their spouse’s shoulder to cry on more oft than is really needed….
Over time, this can decrease their respect for you, confidence in you, AND even attraction for you.
That is why, more often than not, keeping your home life separate from your office life makes sense and is good dental practice advice.
When you need to talk to someone, talk with an adviser, a close friend, or another dentist who you know and trust; but, when it comes to sharing your struggles with your spouse, when it comes to the dental practice- it’s usually better to lick most wounds in private……
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