Dental Marketing - Tyson Steele Associates - Advanced Dental Marketing Concepts

Written By: Tyson Steele on 2010-08-02

Struggling with intense public pressure after the massive leak at British Petroleum’s Deep Water Horizon oil well, company CEO Tony Hayward didn’t do much to win over public opinion. He famously told congress that he’d “like his life back,” and he somehow thought his “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” yacht outing would look just fine. As if he wanted to confirm that wisdom is not a prerequisite to run a major multinational company, he followed that up by saying that “Life isn’t fair. Sometimes you step off the pavement and get hit by a bus.”

Poor guy. We hope he can afford a new house for his new post in Siberia on his $18 million severance package.

So he’s a schmuck. But fortunately, we can learn something in dentistry from his insipid display of narcissism.

First, remember that even struggling dentists have it pretty good. Sometimes, we forget that compared the average staff member, or patient, dentists are really quite successful by normal standards. In terms of work hours, net compensation, and flexibility, dentistry isn’t half bad. If you forget that, and start complaining to staff members or patients, you might lose some good will. Worse yet, you could end up looking like a blathering whiner. And nobody likes a BMW driving whiner!

I like to say that in dentistry marketing is “everything.” By this, I mean that you’ve got to remember to stay on message. Remember that you’re always “on stage” -- whether in your practice or out in the community. Be aware of your words and actions. Stay guarded, because even the smallest slip can come back to haunt you. Remember, you really do have a life, even when it feels like you’ve been hit by a bus. Act like it.