Every change initiative has a carrying cost. Before introducing one, it helps to run it through a simple lens: (Adoption Time × Workflow Disruption) ÷ Chair Hour Contribution = Margin Pressure Any change that increases adoption time or workflow disruption must either protect chair hour contribution or consciously accept margin pressure. That equation determines whether a change deserves a green light, yellow light, or red light. Green light: Adequate adoption time with relief on workflow disruption. This is a slow, deliberate change. Training is spread out. Support is available. Workflows are redesigned before go-live rather than patched afterward. Adoption takes…
Posts Categorized:Leadership
In the 1997 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan delivered one of the most legendary performances in sports history—The Flu Game. Battling illness, dehydration, and sheer exhaustion, he put up 38 points and carried the Chicago Bulls to victory. Fans and commentators marveled at the spectacle, calling it one of the grittiest efforts ever seen. But what’s often missed in these highlight-reel moments is the relentless preparation that made them possible. Jordan wasn’t just “clutch” in that moment—he was the product of thousands of unseen hours of work. The same shot mechanics, footwork, and decision-making that won that game had been drilled…
Brad Stulberg said something recently that stuck with me: “The goal is the path; the path is the goal.” Brad says a lot of smart things, actually. He was incredibly generous with his time on The Burleson Box, where we talked about his book Master of Change. What he’s getting at, I think, is the constant temptation to chase some big milestone—and then feel oddly disappointed when we reach it. We hit the goal, look around, and ask, “Is this all there is?” And then, as if we’ve learned nothing, we set off again, chasing the next big thing. In…
In elite athletics, peak performance is often less about sheer talent and more about the ability to recover, reset, and sustain energy over the long haul. Dentistry, a profession that demands both technical precision and emotional resilience, is no different. Yet, too often, the industry has ignored the very real demands placed on providers, leading to burnout, high attrition rates, and a struggle to attract and retain talent. In a recent conversation with Dr. Erinne Kennedy, Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Integrated Learning at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine, we explored how dentists can apply lessons from high-performance…
The dental industry is currently facing significant workforce challenges, with many practices experiencing difficulties in retaining staff for more than a year. This trend is influenced by several factors, including generational differences, workplace dynamics, and broader labor market conditions. Recent industry reports highlight the following insights: The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that staffing issues are a major concern for dental practices, with many experiencing difficulties in hiring and retaining qualified dental assistants and hygienists. Studies published in the Journal of the American Dental Association emphasize that a lack of leadership training among dental professionals can lead to challenges in…
The Monty Hall paradox is a famous probability puzzle that continues to stump many people, highlighting the ways in which our intuitions about chance can lead us astray. The puzzle is based on the classic game show Let’s Make a Deal, where the host, Monty Hall, presents a contestant with three doors. Behind one door is a car (the prize), and behind the other two are goats. The contestant picks a door, after which Monty—who knows what’s behind each door—opens one of the other two doors, intentionally revealing a goat. Monty then offers the contestant the chance to switch to…
Broken Windows, Broken Business by Michael Levine is a book we use frequently in my businesses, on stage at seminars, and in the practices of our members at Burleson Seminars. It’s based on a simple but powerful premise brought forward by criminologists James Q. Wilson and George Kelling. This theory posits that visible signs of disorder—like broken windows—can lead to more serious crime and antisocial behavior. Levine adapts this concept to the business world, arguing that seemingly minor issues, when left unaddressed, can spiral into significant problems that damage your company’s reputation, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, your bottom line. Why It…
The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup this year. The story of their coach, Paul Maurice, as captured by Jason Gay in the Wall Street Journal, is a poignant reminder of the power of patience and perseverance in building a successful career. Maurice’s journey through the ranks of professional hockey, culminating in his ultimate triumph at age 57, serves as an inspiring example of how success is often a long game, requiring years—if not decades—of dedicated effort. Maurice’s career began with the now-defunct Hartford Whalers and saw him traverse a variety of teams and leagues, including stints with the Carolina…
The idea that failure is always a valuable teacher might need a rethink. A recent study suggests that people often overestimate the likelihood of success following a failure, which could make us less inclined to assist those who are struggling. Researchers from Northwestern, Cornell, Yale, and Columbia universities analyzed data from various online surveys, including over 1,800 adults in the U.S. They explored how people predicted the resilience of professionals such as lawyers, teachers, nurses, and even those dealing with substance use disorders and heart problems. “We wanted to see if people think about resilience wrong,” said lead author Lauren…
Jason Zweig wrote a really nice article in the Wall Street Journal about his friend and colleague, Daniel Kahneman, who passed away recently at the age of 90. Below, you’ll find my summary of the article and a few notes worth considering: Daniel Kahneman, the eminent psychologist from Princeton University and Nobel laureate in economics, together with his research partner Amos Tversky, fundamentally reshaped our understanding of human decision-making. Before their groundbreaking work, economists had clung to the assumption that humans were rational beings, making decisions based on self-interest and perfect information. Kahneman and Tversky shattered this illusion, revealing…
