I’ve always said that being an entrepreneur takes courage, and for us, obedience is the opposite of courage. Obedience means that there are already rules to follow and someone else’s expectations to be met. (Leave the BS for the franchise owners).

So, I have been struggling with an issue in my gum that started with a popcorn kernel being impaled into it. I’m now seeing a periodontist. He prescribed prescription strength sensitive toothpaste. Then he set an appointment well down the road to measure the results. I returned for the follow-up appointment to report that there was no improvement. This is where the situation got a little unusual. When I told him his prescribed cure was not giving me the results in the time period allotted he said, “If is wasn’t working, why didn’t you use it twice a day instead of only once.”

“Because I’m not a Neanderthal,” I retorted! What the hell? If it doesn’t work, just use more? He was so shocked by my reaction that he put his hand on my shoulder as if a friendship gesture was needed.

Here’s the deal. I don’t need to obey him if he’s not giving me what I need. He needs to obey what I’m asking for. I am his client.

For the entrepreneur, obedience comes with the client-to-provider relationship, and you’d better be listening. And beyond listening you’d better be searching for what your clients and customers are really asking for. If you have a strong business model, with multiple platforms, as you grow, you can best understand what you’re clients are gravitating towards. There’ll be no need to spin your wheels in guessing games or trying to give them what you think they should have.

BTW, Any recos on a great periodontist?