Did you know?
A meeting between an entrepreneur and an investor is quite similar to the encounter between a dentist and a patient. Think about it: both are filled with stress, excitement, and the looming question,
"What will be the outcome?" The relationship between a dentist and a patient is no different.
The First Encounter: "Am I Going to Lose My Tooth?"
Here’s how the story begins: The patient walks into my office, trying to look cool and composed, but I can tell—they’re nervous. On one hand, their tooth is hurting; on the other hand, they’re thinking, "How much is this going to cost me?" Just like an entrepreneur preparing to pitch their idea to an investor.
The patient sits down, blinks a little nervously, and here comes the classic line:
“Doctor, I’ve got a problem with my tooth, but it won’t hurt too much, right?”
As the dentist, I give them a reassuring smile, one that says, "Don’t worry, we’ve got this." This moment is like the entrepreneur’s opening pitch. The investor listens closely, and just like me in that moment, the entrepreneur thinks, "Did I make a good impression?"
The Treatment Plan: "We’ve Got a Problem, But We Also Have a Solution!"
Once the patient is in the chair, the fun part begins. After a thorough exam, the diagnosis is made. “Yes,” I say, “You need a root canal. But don’t worry, we can save this tooth!”
Similarly, the investor thinks, "Yes, there’s potential here, but it’s going to take some work and investment." The key at this point is how you present the plan. As a dentist, I need to inspire confidence in my patient—just like the entrepreneur pitching their project, without exaggeration but with a realistic solution.
“You don’t have to be scared,” I say, “We’re experts at this!”
The Cost Question: "How Much Is This Going to Be?"
After laying out the treatment plan, the patient slowly asks the real question: “So, doc, how much is this going to cost?”
Ah, this is just like the crucial moment in the entrepreneur-investor meeting: "What’s the return on this investment?" The patient, like the investor, starts doing the math in their head. The goal is clear: to get the best outcome at the most reasonable cost.
And I, like the entrepreneur, have a strategy. I explain how the treatment will improve their life in the long run, how it’ll free them from pain and discomfort. In other words, I sell the return on their investment. “This treatment will keep you pain-free for years.” The entrepreneur thinks the same while pitching: "This investment will pay off big time in the future!"
Trust and Results: "We’re Good to Go!"
Once the trust is established, the treatment can begin smoothly. “Doc, I trust you. Let’s do whatever needs to be done,” says the patient. This moment mirrors the critical sentence from the investor: “Alright, I’m in. Let’s go with this!”
From here, everything becomes easier. The treatment starts, and the results begin to show. The patient finally gets rid of their pain and smiles again. Just like an investor smiles when a project turns out to be a success.
"Smile, You’ve Won!"
A dentist-patient encounter is truly like an entrepreneur-investor meeting. At first, there’s a bit of stress and anxiety. But with the right steps, trust is built, problems are solved, and in the end, everyone smiles.
We dentists are entrepreneurs too, aren’t we? When the patient sits in the chair and says, "Doc, I trust you," that’s the moment we feel like we’ve just closed the perfect deal.
In conclusion: both dentistry and entrepreneurship are about trust and long-term solutions. So smile, because the winner is you!
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