ASP Retreat I

For me, the overall A.S.P. Series was a process that was long overdue for the USA Section. As I stated at Retreat II, this planning technique was entirely different from the others I was involved with. With our continued diligence, I have great faith that this will be of enormous benefit to the Section. In addition, it was a great learning experience for me personally. I believe this will make a difference to me in my practice and in the way I conduct my life.

My involvement in the Environmental Scan was most meaningful part from the retreats. Such work! However, what I learned about everything that will have an effect on the College, the profession of dentistry, and me personally was incredible. That and working with such an energetic, professional committee was a great reward.

For the College, this process set an agenda with a mission and goals for us to proceed in a productive and efficient manner. As we proceed, the Section should gradually strengthen and rise in prestige and influence. For me personally, it helped me to align and realign my life’s priorities. Professionally, it became a method of reexamining the way I conduct my practice and my professional goals.

The first retreat was a great intro to the ASP process and how it differed from other SP processes. It tied together the books we had read by Covey and Sinek, as well as the Organizational Health Survey and other resources you provided us to make sense of what we were going to do and to inspire us to exert the energy to get it done. The Values audit helped us define our core values and how to create a new Mission for the Section.

As we proceeded from the first retreat forward, it was exciting to take all our work and formulate a strategic business model, and then the integrated action plans to give us an actual roadmap and timetable for achieving our goals.

Thanks, Bob, for a wonderful life experience. I believe it will be valuable for the Section and for me personally.

Your insights have helped shepherd me on my "journey" to a practice of continual excellence. Your Strategic Planning Series was outstanding in providing tools to create and attain the vision that I have had in the back of my mind for several years.

As I think back on your ASP Series that I was involved with several years ago, I realize it was the beginning of a process that has allowed me to grow in the direction of my dreams. The thought progression and introspection gained through the series allowed me to clarify what I actually wanted in my journey. The methods you taught have proven invaluable not only in my practice, but other aspects of my life as well. I am thankful for your mentoring and friendship in my continuing pursuit of growth.

I was extremely pleased with the quality and appropriateness of your course. The New Patient Experience Practicum has had a dramatic impact on us already in terms of how we see each other and how we are beginning to see our responsibilities and obligations to our patients. Over the last few months of intensely studying Bob Barkley's and now your work, I have begun to feel that it is my moral obligation to do this type of examination process, because it is truly the only way that I can adequately begin to understand the complexities of my patients' needs, wants and desires. The course has been clarifying and affirming to us all and has become one more critical step towards creating a truly values-driven practice. The Saturday clinical in-office session was particularly helpful; it allowed us to see how all the pieces fit together. We look forward to working with you and your staff in the years ahead.

The great thing about this workshop is that what I learned about EI will not only make me a much more effective team member, it will make me a better wife, mother, and whole person.

Linda and I are enjoying some of the fruits of Applied Strategic Planning. I would pass on to your new students that my office has been on fire since the retreats.It is occasionally three steps forward and one step backwards, but we are definitely heading in the right direction and my team is still practicing the lessons you taught us. Can't recommend any planning course I've heard of more than what you took us through.

Bob you have assembled the most extraordinary group of people for the NSC. They genuinely care about one another and are generous in their support and willingness to share.

That was one of the best, most complete presentations I've ever heard on how to build an exceptional practice.

Since Retreat I, we have had four staff meetings and the word dentistry has yet to be mentioned! Very powerful meetings! Tears, hugs, the whole nine yards. This Wednesday, I hope to progress to writing our personal mission statements. I can tell that when dentistry is approached by the team, it will have a different angle. They have already, almost unconsciously, begun to see answers to questions through the prism of their closely held values. This path is more difficult than I had imagined. And, I'm not referring to how we practice dentistry. I feel like an ancient sailor who has sailed from port not really understanding what will happen, but sure of our direction!

Written the first year after taking the Applied Strategic Planning Series: Bob, the changes here are truly phenomenal! We are now in our beautiful new office, production and collection has risen over 50% and I swear we are not working as hard. I just stopped to listen the other day, and it is simply wonderful to hear and feel this new energy. People should be standing in line for this experience. Thank you my friend!