I was recently rearranging and straightening my office bookshelves, which, among numerous items, contains a collection of antique dental texts, some going back over a hundred years. Along with the ancient text books is the complete collection of the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association from its initial publication in 1935 until the last edition in 2014. By chance I happened to browse through one of the texts. Titled Professional Practice published in 1916 – one hundred years ago – by Dr. George Wood Clapp. When the Dentist’s Supply Company was founded in 1899, Dr. Clapp served as advertising manager and in 1909 when the Company purchased The Dental Digest he became the editor. As best as I could find he published at least seven books throughout his dental career.
What fascinated me while reading through Clapp’s Profitable Practice was that some things haven’t really changed that much in over 100 years – except that today the dentist isn’t always a “he”. In just the 2nd of 24 chapters there it was: consult an expert.
The dentist who would conduct his practice well must accustom himself to two lines of thought, one professional and the other commercial. On business lines, he needs only plain common sense and a knowledge of what things cost him and the importance of collecting what is due him. If he finds difficulty in developing this line of thought, he will do well to adopt the practice he expects others to adopt toward him – that is, when in need, consult an expert.
Certainly, consulting an expert was not something new when Dr. Clapp wrote his book. The concept of seeking advice no doubt has been around for centuries but I found it particularly interesting to note that in the early pages of his book Dr. Clapp featured consulting an expert as an essential part of a Profitable Practice. And it hasn’t changed to this day.
When looking at 76 publications in 15 years it’s pretty obvious that page after page of The Professional Advisory has served – and is serving – as a consulting expert for dentists seeking advice on a profitable practice and a worthwhile life style for self and family. Consider the implications presented by David Chong Yen and Louise Wong in Selling Your Practice May Be More Expensive Next Year. Their expert advice could save thousands of dollars. And note how Ron Weintraub provides an expert overview in the Examination of Current Interface Between General Practitioners and Certified Specialists and concludes that the proper supportive interaction between the generalist and certified specialist is beneficial to all stakeholders. There probably isn’t a dentist in the country who finds negotiating a lease simple. Thankfully, there is Ian Toms who expertly outlines five excellent considerations for an Effective Lease Negotiation Strategy.
Who doesn’t like good news? Here we have it right before us when Mark McNulty sums up Good News Coming From the Investment Industry. And he also sums up the basis of expert consultation, “The bedrock of the advisor/client relationship is honesty, openness and trust”. In his Deal-Busters David Lind’s opening sentence makes reference to what expertise is all about: “One of our main objectives is to ensure that transactions close”. Originally, states David Rosenthal, Dental Practice Names were pretty simple, using personal names only. Today it is much more complicated and David clearly outlines expert advice on how and where names can be selected that conform to required regulations.
There’s no doubt Dr. George Wood Clapp’s advice “Consult an Expert” was worthy at the time, and the continuous expertise within The Professional Advisory 100 years later only leads to a Profitable Practice.PA
