I can think of several reasons to pursue continuing education. You might want to learn a new skill or change careers; improve existing skills; increase your quality or productivity in your current job; learn a new technology in your field; prestige perhaps; you might want to learn to teach others, or maybe you only need CDT credits.

As PTC’s Director of Training, I have trained hundreds of lab owners, and key technicians over the past 10 years. I’m sure I learned as much from them as they did from me. As I reflect back on the many concepts that we taught and learned, 5 concepts come to mind as some of the most significant in changing our thought process from stuck to successful.

Of the many unique concepts in PTC’s “Training and Verification Systems”, I believe one of the most interesting is the primary plane. I first heard of primary planes when I was introduced to PTC in 1983. I thought it was a very clever idea/concept, but I must admit that for nearly 15 years I really didn’t understand the true purpose of it.

The New Year is typically a time when we reflect on the past year and, inevitably, thoughts go to what we wish we would have done better. The start of a new year is the Perfect time to put those thoughts into actions.

The end of 2009 is near. Have you accomplished your last year’s New Year resolution?

Actually, I don’t even remember if I made one, other than the usual, “try to be a better example to my kids.” That one I routinely renew every year…

The problem is that a new year’s resolution is a goal and studies show that 2% of us actually have written goals. Personally I think 2% is a little high but I’m not an “expert” in that area.

When I ask lab owners what the number one thing they would like to see happen in their labs they frequently say; “I would just like to see everybody get on the same page.”

What does getting on the same page mean? Group agreement and harmony? Everybody doing the same thing? Everyone creating consistent quality? Simply doing what you ask? How about everyone just stop making mistakes? I think it is all this and more.

My friends thought I was crazy. The year was 1983 and I was a one man lab living in the country on a 90 acre farm. I had a vision that I could build a dental dynasty in the wilderness of Willow Springs, Missouri.

Do you do dentures?
I remember being asked that question over and over again by prospective dentist clients. My answer over and over again was “No, But I Know Someone……”
Looking back I’m sure that having a denture department would have been the answer to growing my business.

When you step back and take a look at how we all have learned dental technology it is easy to see why many of us think of ourselves as “artists”.