An ounce of prevention

I started my day at the dentist. Probably not the best way to ease into the work day, I know, but I try to get the unpleasant tasks out of the way early each day. No cavities, thanks for asking.
Of course, the trip got me thinking. Going to the dentist every six months is one of those things you don’t really like to do but in so doing you prevent bigger, even more unpleasant things from occurring. Sort of like business.
How often do you step back and do a check up? Probably once a year at budget time or when employee reviews are due. But like going to the dentist, bad stuff can start happening slowly in between visits, and if your business “visit” isn’t often enough you might find something has gotten totally away from you in that year.
The one thing about being a public company is that those firms have to report results every quarter. You’d hope that those check-ups would surface any abnormalities. Of course, the management team has to be open to looking and honest in reporting. Kind of like going to the dentist and saying you floss nightly and so you can’t understand why your gums are bleeding when you chew gum. Who’s kidding whom?  Non-public companies should be behaving the same way – regular exams and reporting of results.
Regular check-ups are important. For your teeth, the dentist will tell you if every six months is enough or, based on your medical history, life style, and overall condition of your teeth, you need to come more often. I think CEO’s and their teams need to pass the same sort of judgment about the check-up frequency required to keep their business healthy. While routine cleanings may be fine, taking deeper looks via x-rays every so often is imperative as well.
Has your business been to the dentist lately?