Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Christianity and Business: Does it work?

In 2006, when Dr. Bryan Nelson began the process of buying out his orthodontic partner, he had the opportunity to re-name and re-structure his business. As he contemplated ideas and prayed for guidance, he was moved to take a bold step and name the practice Trinity Orthodontics; making a direct reference to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the essence of God. A risky move? Maybe. A good decision? Definitely.

Along with the name change, Dr. Nelson consciously redirected the focus of his thriving practice to always do what is best and safest for the patients, regardless of what everyone else was doing. He evaluated the benefits of doing early, or phase 1, orthodontics on primary aged kids and decided to recommend this widely used and accepted approach only when there is permanent risk to the teeth and gums, or if there is a significant cosmetic issue affecting the kids' self-esteem. Establishing Trinity as a Christian business moved him to stand by his decision to treat kids with one, cost-effective phase of treatment once the permanent teeth are in, even though it significantly reduced his cash flow. In his heart he knew it was the right thing to do. It was rough going for the first few years but he stood by his decision. He offers early phase treatment to those interested but is very clear in his criteria for recommending it.

When Dr. Nelson saw an increase in patients looking for relief from TMJ or craniofacial pain, and many looking for a treatment solution for sleep apnea, he realized that there were very few treatment options available. In line with doing what is "right and good" for patients, he decided to pursue further education so he could meet the needs of such patients. While running his busy, one doctor practice, he completed a fellowship program at the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and gained certification from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He loves being able to help those in constant pain and those suffering from sleep disorders. His mainstay is still creating great smiles using precision braces, but now he can help with most oral/facial issues, and expose more people to his overtly Christian practice.

The Trinity staff is very customer oriented and committed to patients having a "real" and different experience, and maybe "get a little God" along the way. The scripture "Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight." from Deuteronomy 6:18, is now the foundation of Trinity Orthodontics and that bold scripture is displayed visibly in the front of both Trinity offices. The scripture not only serves as a reminder to the staff, but also as a standard that patients can hold them to. Risky? Not so much. Posting the foundational standard helps Trinity stay committed and accountable in the process.

Now, Dr. Nelson starts out every day with a "prayer huddle" where the needs of patients, staff and the office are lifted to God, there is a prayer request basket at the front desk where patients can request prayers for themselves and their family, Bibles and Christian books are available in the waiting areas, and Dr. Nelson provides lunch so the staff can attend Bible study at work every other week. So, was it a risk, do God and business mix? No, it wasn't a risk to put God at the helm as much as it was a conviction, and YES, if you're a believer, bring God on as your COO (chief operating officer). He'll be in charge of prosperity and your work will be a blessing to many. To the best of their knowledge, no one has ever made a negative comment or chosen not to do business with Trinity because they are a Christian Business.

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