Getting better

When you have won Irish Dental Practice of the Year for 2013, what do you do next?

You ask your business coach to come over and spend the day discussing your strategic planning for the next 3 years.

That’s what I’ll be doing today at the home of James and Sonya Hamill of Blueapple Dental and Implant Team in the beautiful Fermanagh countryside.

We enjoyed an informal celebration dinner with most of the team last night – and I had a chance to try a small sample of James’s famous whiskey collection (no run this morning).

Today, over breakfast, we get down to business – reviewing all of their business opportunities with the objective of reaching clarity by the time James drives me back to Belfast City this afternoon.

It has been 5 years since we began working together as coach, clients and, ultimately, good friends.

In that time I have seen them grow from strength to strength and James emerge as a leading clinician and entrepreneur – not bad for a 36-year old.

What James and Sonya successfully recognise is that even at the top of your game, you need a plan, a coach to hold you accountable and a mentor to help you avoid the pitfalls.