We all know the pressure to stay the course once we have made a huge commitment to something. Changing is hard work, and it’s inconvenient and uncomfortable. Plus, the unknown makes it scary. It is always easier to do nothing, and sometimes that little extra bit of inspiration is all we need to get us going. Over the years, I have had a few guest bloggers that shared their own stories of change on Lolabees. People loved reading about others’ experiences. Some of the remarks were: It is very refreshing to hear that you have done something else with your...
Welcome to the new Lolabees! In 2011 when I started this blog, it was simply a distraction, a way to open up my world. I was stuck in my career, without any idea how on earth I was going to change anything. I knew I needed to stop practicing dentistry, and for many reasons I was too afraid to take action. This blog was merely a step, an attempt to do something different and to bring more creativity into my life. There were no expectations or pressure. I just needed something new to shift my stagnant energy, and that’s exactly...
Tell me there has been a time in your life when you desperately wanted change, but doing it wasn’t so easy. It actually happens to me quite often. As much as I love change, sometimes it’s hard for me to get it going. I was recently reminded of my habit to resist change, as my gym membership ran out this week. It’s not just any gym membership. I’ve been going to this gym for 16 years, and it’s time. I’ve wanted to make this change for months, actually years, but it wasn’t until recently that I became committed to taking...
What is your #1 barrier to creating the change you really want? People often place money at the top of that list. I’d agree that I believed it to be my biggest obstacle when I was stuck in dentistry. But I wonder… is that really what’s holding us back? While it seems obvious that money is a major reason that people stay stuck, I’m not so sure it is the money as much as it is the mindset around money. Did you ever think it possible to be living in scarcity, even if you have a lot of something? It...
Life loves to test us with different challenges, doesn’t it? It happens every day. Sometimes we roll with it and don’t even notice, and other times it really throws us for a loop. Recently I got caught up in one of life’s little tests. A few weeks ago, I was at a stop sign turning left. The driver behind me felt entitled to ram past me because he was turning right. There was not room, so he deliberately sideswiped the right rear of my car. Then, as he passed, he had the audacity to give me the stink-eye, as if...
I recently had very similar discussions with a current client and a prospective client. They both know they need to change something in their careers. One has a strong sense of what she’d like to do next, and the other just knows she doesn’t want to continue in her field anymore. What they share in common is a desire to change from within, as opposed to looking externally for the magic pill that will make all their challenges go away. They recognize that this is the key to making lasting and positive change. One expressed that she knew she could...
How do you know when it’s time to throw in the towel? As football season is back upon us, I’m going to talk about some old news. It was 8 months ago that we watched the Patriots pull out the ultimate comeback. It was so inspiring. They were so far behind, a win seemed impossible. At this point they could have easily given up. But they didn’t. And they won. It was a beautiful reminder that we should always keep fighting, no matter what. It’s true. In fact, it’s one of the most true things we know. Journeys can be...
There’s an interesting cultural phenomenon that happens in dentistry, and I wonder if it happens in other fields. There is an unspoken rule that we all have to love our jobs and have to constantly show the rest of the world how happy and successful we are. It’s a lot of pressure, especially when some of it feels like a lie. Many dentists spend their whole lives hiding the real struggles we experience. Sure, we can bitch and make jokes with our colleagues about some of our annoying challenges, but we can’t be real about just how much we may...
If you’re looking for more inspiration to create what you want out of your career, here is a fantastic article about women who have changed careers after age 30. Okay, I may be a little biased because I’m one of those women featured in this article, but check it out for yourself! I’m honored to share a moment with an organization that celebrates and champions women. Want to know a little more about SWAAY? Here is an excerpt from their online magazine: SWAAY is a ground-breaking digital publication that harnesses the style and glamour of today’s business-minded woman. At SWAAY...
Woody Allen once said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” I guess God was laughing at me last weekend because my big plan didn’t work out. I’m very lucky that I live in a place where I can hop in the car and arrive at some of the most beautiful spots on earth within an hour. Last weekend we had a plan to wake up early and drive to a beautiful hike in the Rocky Mountains. When we arrived at our destination, we quickly learned that the only remaining parking was a good 2...
