1. That's the way we've always done it. Dental practices thrive on routine, so it's easy to get entrenched in systems, and for team members to get locked into routine. But no one who has achieved greatness has ever been satisfied with success when there is greater success to be reached.

2. I don't want to look like I don't know. Once you have achieved a certain level of mastery in a job, it can be uncomfortable to step beyond that level. You don't want to look foolish in front of a patient, a team member, or the dentist. But here's a secret: Truly successful people love being “stupid” all over again – they know it means that they're growing.

3. I don't want to risk what I have. If you have any uncertainty about whether changing something will work, your mind will amplify the risk and you'll always be tempted to lean towards doing what you know you can do. The solution is to recognize the risks, feel the fear, but if you know it makes sense, do it anyway.

4. It's not the right time. Even if you know you want to make changes, sometime you just have a lot going on and it doesn't feel like the right time. Sadly, many people go through an entire life without ever finding the “right” time. If you're really determined to be great, the right time is always now.

5. It's too much to take on now. You can be really clear about what you want, and yet it can be so far from your current reality that you are hesitant about how and where to begin. The gap can seem so large that it becomes paralyzing. But just making the decision to leave the security of “good” behind and pursue “great” can create an inspiring momentum of its own. Pick a toehold and focus on that. Before long, you'll be thinking, “Why didn't I do this long ago?”