The Decision That Changes Everything: From Dental Imposter to Authentic Leader

How one Olympic weightlifter's story reveals the secret to overcoming imposter syndrome and finding your authentic voice in dentistry

The Moment Everything Changed

What if the difference between being a good dentist and being a truly authentic dental leader isn't about acquiring more skills, taking more courses, or waiting for external validation? What if it's about making a single, powerful decision about who you are?

This is the profound question that emerged from a recent episode of The Authentic Dentist Podcast, where Dr. Allison House shared a story that has the potential to revolutionize how dental professionals think about authentic leadership and professional identity.

The World-Class Athlete Who Changed Everything

The story centers on Jessica Lucero, an Olympic weightlifter who was invited to train at the prestigious Colorado Olympic Training Center—a privilege reserved only for world-class athletes. Yet despite being surrounded by elite performers, Jessica found herself stuck in the role of an observer, in awe of everyone around her rather than seeing herself as their equal.

Then came the pivotal moment. Someone approached Jessica and delivered a message that would transform her career: "You need to stop being an OB (observer) of all of us, and step up and be the world-class athletes that we all are."

But here's what makes this story remarkable for dental professionals: Jessica didn't become world-class after achieving success. She made the decision first, and then everything aligned.

"It took a year for her to decide," Dr. House explains. "And then one day she decided that she was a world class athlete, she just made the decision. And when she made that decision, everything she did was in alignment with that."

The Authentic Dentist Parallel: Stop Being a Fan, Start Being a Peer

How often do dental professionals find themselves in Jessica's original position? Looking at colleagues who seem to have it all figured out, admiring their practices, their patient relationships, their clinical skills—while secretly believing "I could never do that. That's not who I am."

This mindset, while appearing humble, actually represents a fundamental misattribution of identity that keeps talented dentists stuck in limiting beliefs rather than stepping into their authentic brilliance.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Dentistry

The conversation between Dr. House and Shawn Zajas reveals a crucial insight about overcoming imposter syndrome in dentistry: You don't wait for external circumstances to tell you who you are. You decide who you are and then align your actions accordingly.

"You need to see yourself as an equal," Dr. House emphasizes. "You are an equal. You deserve to be there. You had earned your spot. Absolutely."

This isn't about arrogance or putting others down. It's about recognizing that authentic dental leadership requires owning your place at the table of dental excellence while maintaining the humility to continue growing.

Finding Your Authentic Voice in Dentistry

The story of Jessica Lucero provides a powerful framework for finding your authentic voice as a dental professional:

1. Make the Internal Decision First

Before you can practice dentistry authentically, you must decide internally who you are as a practitioner. Are you someone who:

• Provides comprehensive, patient-centered care?

• Builds meaningful relationships with patients and team members?

• Stays current with best practices and continuing education?

• Leads with integrity even when it's challenging?

2. Align Every Action with That Identity

Once you've made the decision about who you are as a dentist, every choice becomes an opportunity to reinforce that identity:

• What you eat for breakfast (because you want to be at your best for your first patient)

• How you communicate with patients (with competence and confidence)

• What continuing education you pursue (because world-class dentists never stop learning)

• How you treat your team (because authentic leaders develop others)

3. Embrace the Risk of Excellence

As Dr. House notes, "Because there's risk, all of a sudden there's a lot more risk." When you decide you're a world-class dentist, you can no longer hide behind excuses. You must show up consistently, make decisions for the long term, and accept the vulnerability that comes with authentic leadership.

Authentic Leadership in Dental Practice

Dr. House's own journey exemplifies this principle. When she became the youngest president of the Arizona Dental Association, she admits, "I was terrified." But she understood that "Courage isn't the absence of fear. Courage is when you just look fear in the eye, and you just do it."

Her approach demonstrates several key aspects of authentic dental leadership:

Professional Growth Beyond Clinical Skills

• Hired a coach before becoming president

• Invested in learning parliamentary procedure

• Recognized her unique perspective as a young leader

Ethical Practice and Decision-Making

• Made decisions aligned with her identity as a leader

• Accepted that mistakes are part of growth

• Continued moving forward despite setbacks

Building Dental Team Culture

• Understood that world-class dentists develop world-class teams

• Made decisions that support long-term practice sustainability

• Aligned business strategies with personal values

The Inside-Out Philosophy for Dental Success

The conversation reveals what Shawn calls "this whole inside-out philosophy"—the understanding that lasting transformation in dental practice begins internally, not externally.

"It's not about waiting for the external to tell you who you are," Shawn explains. "It's about owning it and knowing that."

This philosophy addresses several common challenges in dental practice:

Dental Practice Authenticity Challenges

• Comparing yourself to other practices rather than focusing on your unique strengths

• Waiting for patients to validate your expertise instead of speaking with confidence

• Avoiding challenging cases because "that's not who you are"

Sustainable Dental Practice Models

When you make decisions from an authentic place, you naturally create sustainable systems:

• You invest in proper nutrition and rest because that's what a world-class dentist does

• You continue learning because growth is part of your identity

• You make long-term decisions because you're building something lasting

Practical Steps for Dental Practice Transformation

1. Conduct an Identity Audit

Ask yourself: Where am I being a fan of others instead of seeing myself as a peer? What decisions am I avoiding because I don't think "that's who I am"?

2. Make the Decision

Choose who you want to be as a dental professional. Not who you'll become after achieving certain milestones, but who you are right now.

3. Align Your Actions

Look at every aspect of your practice through the lens of your chosen identity:

• Patient communication

• Team development

• Continuing education

• Practice management decisions

• Personal health and wellness

4. Embrace the Growth Mindset

Remember that world-class athletes make mistakes and have setbacks. The difference is they learn, adjust, and keep moving forward.

The Challenge for 2025 and Beyond

As we move further into an era where dental practice success requires more than technical skills, the question becomes: What decisions do you need to make about your professional identity?

Dr. House issues this challenge: "If you want to be this dentist that does all these things. Be that person and start going. If you want to be this world class business owner, do it. Maybe there's something else in your life but you have to decide, and then every decision has to support that decision. And then it will happen."

Conclusion: Your Authentic Brilliance is Waiting

The story of Jessica Lucero and its application to dental practice reveals a profound truth: Your authentic brilliance isn't something you develop after achieving success. It's something you decide to own, and then success follows.

The dental profession needs authentic leaders who have the courage to own their expertise, speak with confidence, and make decisions aligned with their values. The question isn't whether you have the skills or the credentials—if you're a licensed dentist, you've already proven your competence.

The question is: Are you ready to make the decision that changes everything?

Your patients need you to see yourself as the world-class dentist you already are. Your team needs you to lead with authentic confidence. The profession needs you to stop being a fan from the sidelines and step onto the field.

The decision is yours. And once you make it, everything else will align.

Ready to discover your authentic voice in dentistry? Listen to The Authentic Dentist Podcast for more conversations about ethical practice, authentic leadership, and sustainable success in dental practice.