S4, Ep4 – In conversation with Asif Syed
29 February 2024
In this episode of Life & Smile, Dr Reena wanted to link a little closer to home towards the world of dentistry, an industry of course where business clearly remains at the forefront. In this episode we are joined in conversation with Asif Syed, a dentist turned full-time business consultant based in London.
After qualifying from Liverpool Dental School, Asif spent the first ten years working his way up through FD, SHO, Associate GDP, Managing Partner, Principal, and running several multi-surgery practices before quitting clinical dentistry for good.
He has devoted the last ten years to helping both dentists and dental practices in his capacity as a full-time business consultant. Be prepared to take notes – this episode is essential listening for all if you’re wanting to take your career to the next level and be the most successful version of yourself in the modern day.
Conversation Show Notes – The Recap
Dr Reena starts the podcast episode by highlighting the career path Asif has successfully navigated, going against the grain when required and now defining himself as a dental business coach. Many people tend to question how, as a dental surgeon, Asif wanted to go down this route. While actively practising dentistry, he was constantly trying to improve the environment for himself and the team to ensure they had the best setup on a business level. This side project grew naturally from creating such successful outcomes and results.
It was not long before Asif began receiving requests from other practices, through word of mouth, to use the same formula externally. Soon, he was earning more revenue from explaining his systems and ideas than from dentistry itself. This put him in the position to choose which path he enjoyed most—an accidental challenge.
Dr Reena is keen to explore the differences between a business consultant and a coach. A coach is someone who sees and recognises your talent and is able to bring out the best in you, someone you spend time with and feel good about. A consultant, on the other hand, assesses situations, makes enquiries, and provides solutions—someone you trust to give you the answer to your problem. Asif confirms he identifies more as a consultant than a coach.
The dental industry is discussed, with the point made that to be the most successful professional, it is often less about the clinical side. Without also having the skillset to communicate, manage a team, build a brand, and plan the patient journey, you are unlikely to become the most fulfilled version of yourself. Communication is the backbone of everything.
When it comes to social media and Instagram, Asif aims to remain low-key while staying highly in demand. He adds that he started before these platforms became as popular as they are now. For marketing, it’s important to stick to what works—there are many ways to do it, but his focus is on improving what he has and generating more referrals through recommendations.
Organisation is absolutely crucial for success, and coordinating and planning your calendar is vital to being as highly successful as possible. Colour coding and scheduling time to recharge first, before planning all other commitments around this, is a highly recommended way to ensure your energy remains consistent.
Have you heard of circadian rhythm? It’s about getting to know your own energy patterns so you can plan to complete tasks at your optimum energy peaks. People often make the mistake of treating every slot in their calendar as having equal energy, when they should be taking this into consideration.
As Asif confirms, if you successfully manage this, it will make you happier.
Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas
Scheduling time to recharge is essential. Using colour-coded calendars can help ensure you stay fully energised and focused.
In dentistry, communication is the foundation of everything.
To succeed in today’s career landscape, your organisation must be exceptionally good—unbelievably good.
Successful people get things done. Consistently ticking off tasks and planning ahead is a hallmark of high achievers.
Self-awareness is crucial—understand your natural tendencies.
As you enter the workplace, you’ll learn more about who you are and what matters to you, allowing you to make necessary adjustments for balance.
Everyone has a natural circadian rhythm. Discovering yours and aligning your schedule accordingly can significantly boost stamina and performance.
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