Author: Chris Barrow

Chris Barrow has been active as a consultant, trainer and coach to the UK dental profession for over 20 years. As a writer, his blog enjoys a strong following and he is a regular contributor to the dental press. Naturally direct, assertive and determined, he has the ability to reach conclusions quickly, as well as the sharp reflexes and lightness of touch to innovate, change tack and push boundaries. In 2014 he appeared as a “castaway” in the first season of the popular reality TV show “The Island with Bear Grylls”. His main professional focus is as Coach Barrow, providing coaching and mentorship to independent dentistry.

Change

I was asked to speak to the 50-strong national sales team at Henry Schein yesterday – my “surprise” attendance at their full-day meeting prior to BDA. The brief from Patrick Allen was to talk about the changes taking place in the business and delivery of dentistry – so as to challenge the team with two
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How much should I invest in digital marketing?

My concern is that the more practices that invest, the more they are bidding against each other – and against bigger players with deeper pockets. This post will not win me any friends amongst the digital marketing agencies (some of whom are really close friends) – but I find myself asking a simple question: “As
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7 days

7 straight days of work ahead: Glasgow today for a strategic planning meeting on cloud-based practice management software Client visits Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday BDA conference Thursday, Friday, Saturday 4 nights in hotels, 6 train journeys Home Saturday evening Greater Manchester Marathon Sunday Gatwick a week Monday Greece a week Tuesday for a week An in-tray
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Apple wizardry

I’m sure I’m not the only reader who will have had this experience. Yesterday I popped in to the Apple Store in Liverpool to buy a My Passport 1TB portable hard drive and USB 3.0 cable. In the past, I have had my debit card swiped in the Apple machine and receipt emailed. This time:
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What am I bid?

It started with a question at our Mastermind meeting on Saturday. “Chris – we always send a patient who refers a friend a £25 M&S gift voucher – do you think that’s a good idea?” To answer – I decided to hold an auction. Lot 1 is a new private patient. If I can guarantee
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Bar stool coaching

Recipe Take a group of less than 20 people (17 today) made up of Principals, spouses and senior managers. Invite them to a good quality hotel for Friday night dinner and Saturday. At 09:00 on Saturday morning, sit on your bar stool at the front of the room, with laptop and projector at the ready.
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7 weeks

7 weeks ago to the day, 6 people met in a Bristol hotel. At that meeting, I was able to confirm that we had secured a 7th team member – a financial backer who had agreed to support us on the back of a hastily adapted business plan, one good conversation and 10 years of
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Snakes and Ladders

The Board is your business and your life. The Dice are the choices you make – and how hard you try (high score/low score). The Squares are the progress you make by showing up every day – one day at a time, one square at a time. The Ladders are the moments of truth, the
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Style isn't transferable

Reviewing web site content for a dental client at the moment – unusual because of the sheer volume of information that the Principal wants to include on every page. I’ve learned a lot about dentistry in the process. This client should run his own lecture series and write books. The questions he keeps asking me
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