It’s counterintuitive – do less, achieve more

The philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius believed in doing fewer things but doing them better.

“If you seek tranquility do less (or do what’s essential).”
–Marcus Aurelius

Without any doubt Marcus Aurelius was on to something. Please let me explain.

In inefficient dental offices I commonly see:

  • The dentist runs around like a mad thing.

  • The dentist does a lot of tasks that could easily be delegated.

  • The dentist constantly checks and monitors the team to catch mistakes.

In efficient dental offices I always see:

  • The dentist moves slowly and serenely.

  • The dentist focusses 100% on treating patients and delegates everything else.

  • The team take responsibility for their own performance.

An efficient dentist does fewer things but because they are free to focus totally on those things that matter they do them better and more efficiently.

A dentist generates no income while doing “support” tasks, only when they are diagnosing and treating patients.

That’s how you can do less and achieve more.


A practice that communicates well and runs efficiently is almost unstoppable. If either of those resonates, explore case acceptance or efficiency — or both.

Dr Mark Hassed

After 35 years in private practice and more than 20,000 crowns, Mark Hassed now helps dentists do what he spent decades figuring out himself — communicate better, work more efficiently and enjoy the job again. He teaches practical systems that increase case acceptance, reduce stress, and lift productivity across the whole team.

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