“The reality of doing the right thing matters more than the perception of doing the right thing.” -Elon Musk
Yesterday, my favorite entrepreneur laid down this dime of a quote at the CodeCon Conference.
That’s how much of a nerd I am. Listening to coding conference interviews.
Anyways. I wanted to dive deeper to what Mr. Musk had to say here. It was his defense to the difficult task his company is attempting to solve autonomous vehicles. Even if a self-driving car resulted in a 90% reduction of car accidents, the unfortunate 10% who either died or were seriously hurt would still pursue lawsuits and reparations.
But the reality with the 90% who don’t die from this safer technology would never know their life was spared.
How many patients know their inferior alveolar nerve was spared being severed when it was discovered on a CBCT intersecting the perfect alignment of a soon to be placed implant?
How many patients know they avoided a hypochlorite incident because you use a side venting irrigation needle?
But those unfortunate enough to have an incident, you know very well a lawsuit likely follows even with a safer technology in use.
It is so powerful to know we live in the reality of doing the right thing for the patient, ultimately we provided the best possible care at that moment. Practicing in the perception of doing the right thing for patients, ultimately puts us at more risk of headaches, heartaches and patients who are pain in the abcesses.
Doing the right thing means knowing how to use the tools at your fingertips in the most efficient manner to get you and your patient the most effective treatment. Doing the right thing can sometimes mean referring to a specialist because they’re just too difficult… their case is too difficult.
And as a bonus to doing it right, do it with a smile and because you enjoy the procedure. If you hate baking cakes, why would you become a baker? So instead of cracking some eggs, crack yourself over the head and think about what it is you’re doing and if it brings a little joy to you upon completion.
To my thrivers, do the right thing, because it matters more for yourself and your patients.
Lam