“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run…”

Words of wisdom from Kenny Rogers.

He went on to say:

“Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away
And knowin’ what to keep
‘Cause every hand’s a winner
And every hand’s a loser…..”

A very wise friend of mine, Rocket Rod Sercombe, rang me this week from Mackay.

He’s excited!! Really excited, and rightly so.

But it was Rod, who told me these words, seventeen years ago.

And Rod IS NOT a dentist.

But he’s a sage. And sometimes I wish I had his street smarts.

I’ve been watching a couple of colleagues of mine this week for want of a better term, “arguing” over the right of being right.

But for what?

One of these colleagues was alerted by a friend that one of her employees was, unbeknown to my friend, seen out looking for employment.

Looking for another job.

Well my friend saw red.

She felt betrayed, and violated.

As you do.

But sadly, that’s the way employment law stands.

The pendulum has been swung so far toward the employee and away from the employer.

And if that’s how it is.

Fair or NOT fair, really doesn’t come into being a factor.

If you want to sky dive, there’s no point complaining that the wind is going to mess your hair.

That’s just how it is and that’s just how it’s going to be.

And although I’ve never jumped out of an aeroplane, I imagine it’s much like doing a flying-fox, or zip line, which I have done.

I did my flying–fox ride across Telstra stadium, which was the main arena for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

And when I did it, when I was finally over the railing and in position ready to go, I realised, that to “back out” and to climb back over the rail, was going to take far more effort and stomach muscle than simply “stepping off”, and taking that one step, and flying….

And this was the advice to my colleague, who felt slighted by the departing employee.

You see the employee firstly said no, she was not leaving, however soon after, tendered a two weeks notice of resignation to my friend.

And then the following day, called in sick, and said that she would be on paid sick leave for those two weeks.

Now my dentist friend was outraged. As we all would be.

But that’s the tide in the river. That’s the rapids we have to be dealing with.

My friend does not want to pay the sick leave, which she believes to be fallacious.

And neither would I.

Want to pay it.

But pay it I will.

Because I wouldn’t want to fight the battle of being “right”.

You see, sometimes winning the battle, but losing the war, is not worth it.

My advice to my friend?

Pay the employee what she wants, and consider it money well spent in the Lessons of Life.

And it may be an overpriced, expensive lesson?

But a year from now, two years from now, it will be money well spent.

Kenny said it: “the secret to surviving is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep.

Because every hand’s a winner. And every hand’s a loser…..”

The Ultimate Patient Experience is a simple to build complete Customer Service system in itself that I developed that allowed me to create an extraordinary dental office in an ordinary Sydney suburb. If you’d like to know more, ask me about my free special report.

Email me at david@theupe.com

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