The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

CAPITAL GAINES—A MUST-READ

GREAT ADVICE WITH A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR—GET READY TO LAUGH AND BE INSPIRED AT THE SAME TIME

During my 36 years of consulting, clients who know my penchant for a wide variety of literature have occasionally asked me what I would recommend for their reading time. Today, I have a great one to recommend to you all: Capital Gaines—Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff, by Chip Gaines. Gaines stars with his wife, Joanna, in the hit show Fixer Upper on HGTV.

You might be wondering why I would recommend a book by a construction and real estate professional who's made it big starring in a reality TV show with his interior-designer wife. Let me assure you, Chip is an all-around smart guy, a practical, unpretentious bootstraps kind of entrepreneur who can teach you new concepts for running the business side of your practice. Almost all of his wise advice, presented in a heartfelt, humorous style, is applicable to the practice of dentistry, and is an invaluable resource for entrepreneurial dentists.

Capital Gaines is the fascinating story of how the Gaineses built their Magnolia retail empire in Waco, Texas. Their show on HGTV has allowed them to demonstrate how a pair of beginners in the world of business can dream big and succeed, in spite of the occasional misstep. And, as I say, much of Chip's wisdom applies to the dental practice.

From the cover:

In this semi-humble account of a man on a mission, Chip Gaines is living proof of how one's fearless dedication and love for both business and family can redefine modern success. With his unrelenting spirit as both a coach and a trailblazer, a few off-the-wall strategies to get things done, and the boldness to go all-in time and time again, Chip Gaines serves as a fitting poster child for entrepreneurs and risk takers the world over.

And now, a few pearls from Chip:

• I refuse to let my life be driven by fear of what others might do or what might happen to me...fear will literally ruin every single facet of your life; it cripples everything.


• This is a really important point to understand: when you aren’t trying to avoid failure, fear loses its foothold. The courage to take a chance is half the battle. The other half? Viewing failure as a teacher and not an enemy.


• At Magnolia, at least 75 percent of our workforce are millennials...I expect our team to dive in headfirst...we decided we wanted to establish a culture that challenges and stretches our employees past what they think they can do straight into their "discomfort zone."


• But even more important is the fact that each one of our employees really bought in to the spirit of our organization. They carried—and carry!—our vision in their hearts as fiercely as Jo and I do. Our people enjoy the process...

So allow yourself a few hours to sit down and read this non-dental book. Chip's adventures, mistakes, and successes in building his business and raising his family, as well as his words, attitude, philosophy, and rules to live by will inspire and encourage you in both your dental practice and in your personal life.