A Lesson in Ageless Thinking From James Bond

There’s a scene in the James Bond movie Skyfall where 007 is introduced to his new quartermaster — a man significantly younger than he is. “You must be joking,” he says when the younger man identifies himself.

“Age is no guarantee of efficiency,” the quartermaster says. “And youth is no guarantee of innovation,” Bond replies.

Quite true. This exchange reminds me of how we tend to get locked into the notion that certain ways of thinking belong to certain age categories. This is a common fallacy. I know a lot of fairly young dentists who, by virtue of their dedication to their clinical development, have more real experience and practical wisdom than some colleagues twice their age. At the same time, I could introduce you to dentists in their 70s and beyond who could run circles around some recent graduates when it comes to embracing new technology.

There’s no such thing as being “not ready” to be the best clinician you can be! There’s no such thing as being too old to reinvent yourself as a dentist, and this is a truth that is truly ageless.