How long did it take you to get into dentistry?

I mean, really… think back all the way to the beginning. You may have been like me and chose it when you were just a kid. That’s a pretty early start! I developed a crush on dentistry before my teen years, but I never actually dated dentistry before marrying it. Instead, it was as if I created an ideal image of dentistry just from studying it’s Bumble profile. I thought dentistry would be a certain way, but when reality didn’t match my hopes, I obsessed about the quickest way to plan my dental career change.

If that sounds like you, you’ve invested so much time, energy, and money to get into dentistry. And you probably don’t want to do that again only to find out the next career isn’t a fit either. So, you’re also looking for the quickest way out. If you’re going to change, this time you want it to be fast and efficient, and you don’t want to waste the time and money on the wrong thing– again!

Your strategy is to spend all of your efforts searching the internet for the perfect plan B. When that perfect alternative career to dentistry never pops up on Google, it’s easy to give up and believe that finding a dental career change is an impossible feat.

Which brings me back to that question… how long did it take you to get into dentistry?

Whether you intentionally focused on becoming a dentist throughout your many years of education, or you spent your school years indirectly working toward this career goal, you invested YEARS to get here– at least 8. Then add in 4 years of dental school and possibly even a residency, and we’re now coming up over a decade of planning and working to get where you are now.

If you’re in the UK or Australia, sure, you could subtract 4 years from your timeline, but it’s still a long time.

Becoming a practicing dentist took a ton of effort. You know firsthand all the effort and planning that goes into a great career, so why are you expecting to find a new dream career instantly without the same level of effort?

If you’re simply waiting and hoping for that perfect job to find you, then you’re doing it wrong.

You’re assuming that this will be a quick, magical answer. A dental career change is almost never that but not because it’s different from any other career. Instead it’s because you’re creating a unicorn expectation that you wouldn’t put on any of your other life goals.

This may be exactly what’s keeping you stuck.

You are putting unrealistic expectations on the process and, therefore, making zero progress.

I see this all the time. People who invested 12+ years to get into their highly paid and highly respected career expect to find a new and equally “amazing” career simply by writing an anonymous post on social media asking what are the typical jobs that dentists or hygienists can do! Plus, they’re asking where they can find part-time, flexible, remote work that pays the same as their clinical dental career pays.

Then, when it doesn’t work, they give up, believing it’s impossible to create a dental career change.

Don’t get me wrong. I believe this dream job exists somewhere, but putting a post in a Facebook group to a bunch of people you’ve never built a relationship with is not the way to find it.

I’m all about asking for what you want and believing that the sky is the limit, but you also have to be realistic in order to allow yourself to get into action. You often need to make some sacrifices to get the change you want.

You might need to give up some of your free time, earn less money initially knowing you’ll eventually build your income back up, or have to start “from the bottom” again. It took you at least 10 years to even be able to be a dentist, so why do you think you’ll find a new dream career without investing even a tenth of the effort that got you here?

If you’re really serious about designing a life you love, listen up. Getting into any worthwhile career is a process, not a quick leap into instantaneous success.

When you surrender to a process, it’s more than just changing jobs. It’s shifting into a better you.

Yes, there actually is a process that works to successfully create a dental career change. Just like we had a system to get into dentistry, I’ve created one to either get out completely or design your dental career on your unique terms.

It all starts from the inside out and utilizes the side gig as a safe transition tool. Here is my 3-pillar approach to starting a side gig:

• Pillar 1: Mindset. Identify your limiting beliefs that are keeping you stuck. These beliefs are creating your reality. You can create a new reality by re-writing new beliefs that will support your success.
• Pillar 2: Self-Exploration. Who are you and what do you want? When you know yourself, then you can create a life that is congruent to what’s important to you. Without that, you’re just grasping at straws.
• Pillar 3: Getting into Action. While completing pillars 1 and 2, you’ll give yourself permission to do something about it. You’ll more confidently identify your unique, non-negotiable career/side gig qualities and brainstorm tangible side gig ideas. You’ll create a personalized strategy to explore at least one side gig option and break that into small, achievable steps.

And that’s how it’s done!

Are you ready to let go of this illusion that is holding you back?

If you’re ready to let go of magically finding a quick answer and committing to a real life process that works, here is your answer. When you decide to finally give yourself permission to become a better you, you’ll expand your world and everything will change for you.

Ready to proactively expand your world and take care of YOU at the same time? I can help you do that. Join me at Safari N Side Gigs. While you free yourself from your daily stressors, I’ll personally walk you through the 3 pillars, so you can stop talking and start acting.

You do not want to miss this! Click here for more information.