The infamous “THEY” say that counting your Blessings and expressing Gratitude is good. Thus, So Blessed is my theme as I reflect on beginnings and endings.
So Blessed, in 1966, to start my first job as a dental assistant with a Pankey Institute instructor and nationally known lecturer, Dr. John O. Wilson. He blessed me as a mentor and gave me a foundation for excellence. In Dr. Wilson’s Atlanta, GA practice, he told me, again and again, to never settle for average.
Gratitude to my bosses as I made my progression from dental assistant to a dental hygienist to dental hygiene consultant to dental practice management consultant and dental practice administrator.
So BLESSED to get fired from that practice administrator job. It kicked my butt and nudged me to take the leap and open Drevenstedt Consulting in 1992 while working part-time as a dental hygienist.
I extend great Gratitude to Jackie Dorst, who lovingly took me in to train me on the new OSHA compliance duties needed to re-enter dental hygiene. Dr. Bill Williams a blessing when he hired me as a part-time RDH and taught me SOO much that I later used as a consultant.
So Blessed by my good friend, Bud, who not only helped me set up my first business computer but loaned me the money to buy that computer. That computer helped me build The Drevenstedt Group, an Atlanta, GA firm, to become a southeastern training center for dental practice management and practice management consulting. I am Grateful for ALL who attended classes, helped decorate, or served as instructors, consultants, and office staff.
And then, and then, 9/11 happened! People stopped traveling and attending classes to cocoon at home and heal from the trauma of that infamous event.
Sadly, I closed the training center and shrunk my consulting firm to just me and an office manager. So Blessed by my dear friend, Dave, a minister, and a dentist, who took me to lunch to help me find the blessings in that travesty. With his wise words and my faith connection, I found the blessing. After grieving my loss, the following years were less stressful, and I became personally healthier. I gratefully served dental clients and spoke at dental meetings throughout the US and Canada. To all of my clients and colleagues, I send immense Gratitude.
Along the path, I met Ted, another Blessing. Now into our 31st year of marriage, together we traveled to over forty countries. We visited our children who were either stationed overseas in the military or had wonder lust or to places that tickled our fancy. Life in Stone Mountain, GA, then St. Augustine, FL, and now Ventura, CA is still an adventure.
2017 brought another life path transition. After moving to Ventura in 2014, I began to study along two paths. I acquired Master Success and Life Coaching Credentials AND became a licensed spiritual coach with Centers for Spiritual Living. Serving coaching clients and my faith along new avenues is a delight and a blessing.
After closing the Atlanta training center, I created a dental consultant mentoring and licensing program. That program gave me the blessed opportunity to mentor new consultants. In 2017, I sold my consulting firm to four capable consultants. Each continues today with their consulting firms in Texas, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.
So Blessed by the coaches who guided me with wisdom and, yes, some tears along my path. Patrick, Barbara, Michael, Brenda, Ryan, Shelly, Sylvia, Dean, and Bill helped me step by step to take full responsibility for my life, my happiness, and my healing. I learned to look for the blessings as life constantly gives us opportunities to become a victim OR to pick ourselves up and start all over again, as the old song goes.
Now, the time has come. With Covid sequestering and my age progression, I am now seventy-five; life is ever-changing. Retirement, for me, has come in phases, including denial, fighting back, as well as health challenges physically slowing me down. All led to reinventing my vocation and diving deep into the process of how to create fulfillment and significance in the 20 or more years after “retiring.”
Blessings come in beginnings and in endings. It is time to put Drevenstedt Consulting to rest. My Gratitude abounds for the over three hundred clients I served to help each reach their own practice goals.
My life path is now coaching, writing, and teaching. After publishing three books, another is emerging named Elder Quest for now. Stay tuned.
Excellence is still the mantra as I navigate, study, write and coach others along their life path. I invite you to stay in touch on my two Facebook pages.
Facebook: 
Savvy Retirees: https://bit.ly/3raewb6
Facebook: Life Path: www.bit.ly/2Wf2fV4
I’ll be posting blogs along with new material. I’m currently writing for those entering the “Elder Quest” phase of life. Either way, let’s stay in touch. I wish you blessings along your path.
Let me hear from you [email protected] – 800.242.7648
PS: Thank You to all of my former clients; you are a blessing. I continue to coach practice administrators and dental practice owners on LEADERSHIP. Contact me at [email protected]
