Dr. Sid Solomon is a dentist with well over a quarter-century of experience treating patients dealing with any number of neuromuscular and cosmetic dental issues. As the founder of the Center for Cosmetic, Implant & Neuromuscular Dentistry, Dr. Solomon’s focus is on utilizing the various procedures available through his practice to alleviate the physical and emotional pain patients experience before seeking dental care. A graduate of UCLA and the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, Dr. Solomon has continued to pursue educational opportunities throughout his lengthy career with the goal of ensuring his patients benefit from the most cutting-edge concepts and procedures available.
While Dr. Solomon’s cosmetic dentistry practice has created a significant demand on his time, he has still managed to engage in a variety of other professional pursuits as well. In addition to being an active member in a number of professional organizations and serving as a frequent guest lecturer, Dr. Solomon is also the inventor of Unitox, a specially designed syringe created specifically for use in administering BOTOX®. Dr. Solomon is also the president of Solomon Consulting and is the founder of the Facial Academy of Cosmetics and Esthetics, an academy where he continues to serve in a role as an instructor as well.
Where did the idea for the Center for Cosmetic, Implant & Neuromuscular Dentistry come from?
The idea began taking its initial shape right around the time I enrolled in dental school. I felt very strongly about starting my own private practice for cosmetic dentistry and making a significant change in the lives of my patients.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I have so many different professional responsibilities, so I typically begin each day planning out how to best organize my schedule so I can work as efficiently as possible. I typically do this before I head to the practice to care for the patients scheduled for that particular day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I keep my mind open at all times so that I am always considering whether a particular task could be made easier or more efficient in some way. As an inventor I have come to realize that a consistently open mind is a critical prerequisite for cultivating an idea.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
It seems to me that there are more and more opportunities for continuing education. I believe in the importance of lifelong learning, so having a wealth of opportunities is particularly exciting for me.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
While I do maintain a very busy professional schedule, I also understand the importance of achieving a balance between my personal and professional pursuits. I always take the time to step away to enjoy time with my family, which motivates me to be far more productive as an entrepreneur.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I spent a summer doing landscape work as a teenager that turned out to be an experience I would prefer not to repeat. The hours were extremely unpredictable because there was little advance planning for each workday. We ended up working from dawn to dusk on a number of occasions just to make up for all of the inefficient scheduling.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I invested in a lot of advanced equipment when the practice first began. What I would do differently is spend more money on my own education. I believe that dentists need to be the BEST clinicians they can be to treat their patients with precision and without any pain. I strive to achieve perfection every day with every single procedure.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I am always reading about new developments in dentistry and I have always made sure to go back and revisit everything I have learned over the years.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
We hired a social media marketing specialist to expand our brand’s reach. This has helped us develop a deeper relationship with our patients while also giving us the ability to provide important information regarding dental care in a convenient fashion.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I have a wonderfully supportive wife whose advice I should have listened to right from day one. She has been a critical part of my business success ever since I failed to follow her guidance when I first opened my practice.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
The sharing economy seems to be rife with the opportunity for rapid growth, so anything that falls into that concept seems to be a solid entrepreneurial pursuit. Figure out where there is a need and fill it with a brilliant answer.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I took my family on a nice little weekend road trip out of town. We simply relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company. With four kids, this was time very well spent.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
My staff uses a scheduling software to ensure our practice is operating efficiently and is using time in an optimal fashion, and I use a transcription software for my medical notes that has saved me a great deal of time.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
As a graduate of UCLA, I found John Wooden’s books to be particularly ideal for an entrepreneur. After reading “Wooden,” I was able to create a staff that functioned efficiently and worked as a team.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
I follow Steve Forbes, Mark Cuban and Richard Branson on Twitter, and all of them are incredibly interesting and insightful entrepreneurs.