What the Dentist Chair Taught Me About Business

The Reward Is Worth the Process

I found myself in the dentist’s chair the other day, mouth agape, the familiar whir and hum of the tools all around me.

And it struck me…

I had just told someone, quite confidently, that I like going to the dentist.

But sitting there, enduring the process, I realized a deeper truth.

It’s not the drills or the suction I enjoy.

It’s the feeling afterward.

That undeniably clean, smooth, sparkling result.

That’s what I love.

It’s the reward — not the road itself — that makes me say I “like” the experience.

And honestly?

Isn’t that true of so much in business and leadership too?

We may dread creating content, but we crave the connections and clients it brings.

We may shrink from difficult conversations or sales calls, but we celebrate the transformed lives, impact, and opportunities they create.

We may resist the uncomfortable process… while deeply desiring the fruit that comes from faithfully walking through it.

What if we started looking at the hard parts differently?

What if understanding the why behind the work made the what feel more purposeful?

Not easier necessarily…

…but meaningful.

This kind of reframing isn’t about pretending the process feels good.

It’s about remembering the impact of our obedience, consistency, and grit.

Sometimes the harvest only comes because we stayed in the chair long enough for the work to be done.

A Reminder for the Journey

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

 

Your Action This Week

Grab a piece of paper or open a note on your phone.

Think about the parts of your business that feel like “the dentist’s chair” — necessary, but not inherently enjoyable.

Maybe it’s:

• Sales outreach
• Content creation
• Following up
• Networking
• Bookkeeping
• Having hard conversations
• Staying consistent when results feel slow

Now next to each item, write down the result you truly love that comes from enduring that process.

What’s the deeper outcome?

• More impact?
• Financial stability?
• Freedom?
• Confidence?
• Clarity?
• Serving people well?
• Building the vision God gave you?

Take just 15 minutes to identify the reward connected to the resistance.

Because clarity creates confidence.

And remembering your why can reignite your willingness to keep showing up for the what.

The harvest is still worth it.

Here’s Your Next Step:

If this blog stirred something in you — that whisper that maybe you’re called to more — don’t ignore it.

At NACWE, we help Christian women entrepreneurs build businesses that honor God, grow income, and nurture real friendships.

💡 Want support from a community of faith-driven entrepreneurs?

➡️ Join NACWE today and step into your calling with clarity and courage.

Because leadership isn’t just for someday.

It’s for such a time as now.