Surrounding Yourself with Good People

When asked what she thought was the most important ingredient in achieving his success, Debbie Phelps, mother of the phenomenal 2008 Olympian Michael, responded: surrounding yourself with good people.

How can you, as a lab technician or manager working intently at your job, surround yourself with more good people?   One excellent way that comes immediately to mind is to join the internet forums for your industry.   These are basically set up to exchange ideas and information, opinions and news pertinent to dental labs all over the world.  The internet makes this easily possible for anyone with a few moments a day, a computer or other device connected to the internet, and a willingness to listen and share.

As in any endeavor, there are those who are leaders, movers and shakers who like to communicate frequently and have their opinions heard.  Others who are members of the forums are known as lurkers because they tune in but do not make their voices heard.  And in between there are those who participate from time to time, asking questions, seeking opinions or whatever comes to mind.  Out of these exchanges, there develops camaraderie, giving support and friendship when needed, joking and good-natured kidding, a way to find good people who share your profession and livelihood. 

On these forums are also representatives of industry organizations, journals and vendors who have a mandate not to advertise directly but to share information and expertise when requested.   Also included in this group are dentists who can add knowledgeable viewpoints from their side of the fence.  The net result of tuning in is that you find those good-hearted folks who are willing to give back to the industry.

After a time in this quest, you come to know the personalities of the active participants:  who is witty, who is wise, who never seems to quite know what is going on, who is always trying to impress, who is willing to provide whatever education they may have to give---but basically all good people who care about this industry and each other.

To get you started, here are the contact points for some of the online communities for dental laboratories:  

Popularly known as the IDF:            internetdentalforum.org

-       to sign up, go to this link:

http://www.internetdentalforum.org/subscribe/subscribe/subscribe/sigsubscribe.html .

Dental Lab Network:                         dentallabnetwork.com/forums

Worldwide Dentaltown                     towniecentral.com or docere.com

-       First choose your area, then message boards and  dentallabtown

Lab Management Today                  LMTmag.com

-       Then choose The Bridge

Give them a try.  Find one or two that you like best.  We’ll look for you there.

Published in Spectrum Dialogue-Voice of Techno-Clinical Dentistry

About the Author:

Elaine Whelan is president of Mainstreet Systems & Software, specializing in software, training and support for dental laboratories as part of the Intuit Developers Network.   The flagship software system synchronizes case management with the QuickBooks products for accounting and financial management and services a large number of laboratories in the USA, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom. She has been a columnist for three journals of dental technology and has been guest speaker and lecturer at a number of dental conferences.

She is a graduate of Drexel University, has completed graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University, and has earned a CDP from the Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals.   She is the author of two books “My Mom’s Making History” and “Jameer” that have been chosen for Read Across America Day.  Pennsylvania has honored her as one of the Best 50 Women in Business for 2007.

 
Contact through:   http://www.mainstreetsystems.net