Guest

We love big numbers. And big things. Big hotels. Big airports. Big projects.

We watch shows about them. About how they are built. About how they are run.

If I say, name an airport, the universal ones that come to mind are probably Dubai, Heathrow, LAX and other huge international hubs.

Many huge hotels, such as the Bellagio and the Marina bay sands are global brands.

The size of the A380 is exciting.

However you soon learn that a large plane like the A380 just takes longer to get on and off. Your bags take longer to come out.

Last time I was at Dubai, it took 90 minutes to get from the aircraft, through security and back to the next gate. Helsinki, a much less famous and smaller hub takes about twenty minutes to get through.

In my tiny home airport of Bundaberg, which will never have a documentary made about it, after valet parking for $5 a day, I can walk in and Mark or Joe usually have my boarding pass printed. We chat about their kids and so on. 20 metres away I talk to Steve at security whom I've known since I was six.

The total time from parking to being through security is about four minutes.

In dentistry, we also get excited about big numbers. That lab with 200 technicians. That practice with 20 dentists, and 10 technicians in-house. The dentist that does 2000 implants a year. The corporate with 200 practices.

We want to learn about it. Want to be taught it. Perhaps emulate it.

But maybe it will come at an unexpected cost

Myself, I've stopped worrying about how many implants I do. How many veneers. How many crowns.

I like to take enjoyment from little things. Like when I get a perfect impression. When the crown margin disappears beside perfect gingiva. When I get a hug from the patient.

Take joy in small details. Worry less about big numbers.

What are your thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Please comment, share and like.