When you have your own practice, for example if you are a doctor or a dentist, there are certain things you need to remember, such as:

1. You don’t get paid sick days or disability leave. This is important to remember, because basically you are dependent on your own ability to work in order to make a good living for yourself. That is why own occupation disability insurance is so important for doctors and dentists: Physician disability insurance and dentist disability insurance protects you in case you are not able to work due to an illness or an accident.
2. It’s up to you to market your own practice. This is another thing that regular employees don’t have to do, because their employer basically takes care of it for them. But as a doctor or a dentist with your own practice, the only way you are getting patients is if you let them know you are out there.
3. You work for your patients, not for yourself. The temptation for many self-employed individuals is to think that they work for themselves. On the contrary, it’s like having lots of little bosses — each patient or customer who walks through your door. You can tell one off without it hurting you too much, but if you develop a reputation for having a poor bedside manner, you may find yourself with a dearth of patients!

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