The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

PRACTICE MORE THAN DENTISTRY

Think about one ultra-successful dentist you know. In addition to excellent clinical skills, what are the strong attributes of that practitioner? Chances are, you might list characteristics like outstanding people skills, a warm, memorable personality, genuine concern for others, and so on.

I was recently shown a note card with a short personal note from just such a dentist—one with very high visibility in his community, noted for being both an outstanding clinician and an excellent communicator as well. The note was sent by the US Postal Service (YES! By snail mail, with a stamp and envelope) to an equally successful colleague. The recipient who showed me this note had saved the card not only for the gracious words, but also for the quotation imprinted on the front of the card:

Rules for Life
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.

Selected from the writings of John Wesley,
Founder of Methodism

The last line printed on the card read, "Compliments of Dr. ___________________."

This small token, memorable and valued, marks the sender as a sensitive, caring individual, just the kind of professional you might like as a close friend, and one to whom you might choose to refer patients. Your colleagues and others in the community who receive a personalized card or note from you would probably feel the same way.

If you have a favorite quotation, scripture, or statement to live by, consider personalizing note cards or your business cards with an imprinted quotation. Recipients will be most appreciative. Further, it is often these small personal touches that mark a dentist as practitioner extraordinaire.