Golden hands – Pirjo Friedman

By Diane Feen
Special to the News

If you want to know about the limits of human fortitude, then look no further than Dr. Pirjo Friedman. This Finnish native went to dental school, practiced dentistry in Finland, Israel and Toronto and found time to raise three children. She was also involved in civic and professional organizations and practiced Reiki (a form of guided relaxation) on her patients.

Did I tell you she’s also written two books?

If it sounds like a science fiction novel, it’s not. Friedman enjoys pushing the limits of accomplishment and ends up achieving what most people would consider impossible. She contemplates goals and then charts a pathway to attain them.  Friedman also knows that positive thoughts and a can-do attitude are gasoline for the engine of success.

"The key to success is keeping good thoughts and intentions flowing. Negative thoughts create chaos and blockages that can hinder positive outcomes. Instead of worrying about my dental practice at the beginning, I kept a mental picture of a successful practice and looked forward to that success. My thoughts were upbeat at all times, even when things were difficult,” said the Boca Raton snowbird.

And these are not idle words. Friedman started three different dental practices and commuted across the country (and the world) as if she were a Manhattanite driving out to the Hampton’s. She started a practice in Finland and commuted to Israel in five week
Increments. When she started a practice in Toronto she took to the airways once again spending time with her patients in Israel and commuting to Toronto.

As Usual

But that’s business as usual for this overachiever. “I believe you have to aim high, know what your dreams are and constantly move towards them. I review my list daily. If you focus on your goals daily, you are far more likely to realize them.”

Sometimes meeting her goals required not only transatlantic flights, but 18-hour work days. But that didn’t stop Friedman from exceeding the norm. She was the President of the North Toronto Dental Society and President of Women Entrepreneurs of Canada. She also taught dentistry at the University of Toronto and Temple University in Philadelphia (her resume and accomplishments are weightier than the Sunday paper).

Friedman is also known as a pioneer in the art of “painless dentistry.” “I helped my patients overcome their fears by becoming a certified Reiki Master and using those powers to relax them while I worked on their teeth. Some patients actually fell asleep in my chair during their dental procedures.”

Friedman also rose to another challenge. She started a dental practice in Toronto and after a few years there were 2,000 patients and a staff of 14. But it isn’t a typical dental practice. “My practice is multi-lingual and diverse representing eight different religions and 22 different languages,” said Friedman, who speaks English, Finnish, Hebrew and Swedish.  

Because Friedman thrives on knowledge (and the unknown) she took up holistic and alternative therapies with the masters. She studied mind-body medicine with Deepak Chopra, hypnosis with futurist Dr. Al Molyneaux (who predicted 9/11 and the euro and now predicts one world currency), acupuncture, yoga and Kabbalah.

New Life

The result was not only a thriving practice, but a new life. “After 33 years in private dental practice I sold my business and founded a new one, Motivational Networks. The purpose is to share my experience and knowledge through public speaking, lectures and seminars on subjects like, “Meaningful Coincidences” and “Feminine Principle in Business.”

If the past is any indication of the future, there’s a lot of excitement ahead for Motivational Networks, and for Friedman. “Pirjo is a unique individual, she has a magnetic personality and everyone she meets has blessings come their way,” said Dr. Molyneaux. Marketing Consultant Ken Burgin also sees Friedman’s gifts. “Pirjo is one of the most energetic dynamic entrepreneurs I’ve ever met. She has a wealth of experience and willingly shares it with others.”

Friedman is also a master networker and storyteller. That’s what motivated her to share her metaphysical and business experiences in print. Her first book, “Awakening the Entrepreneurial Spirit in You – Embracing Synchronicity,” takes readers on a journey of success by way of intuitive clues (that Friedman says are everywhere). In “Pushing Your Boundaries – the Feminine Principle in Business,” she explores success through the eyes of 12 people who achieved success in their personal and professional lives.

Aside from being the mother of Tamar (a political science student), Kinneret (a medical student and Shirrah (a masters student in international business), Friedman has found time to become an accomplished skier, horseback rider, sailor, Kung Fu pro and Reiki master.

While never one to sit still Friedman is still reaching for new plateaus. “Right now I’m sharing my knowledge with others and teaching self-healing techniques. It’s important to discover who you are and to do something out of your comfort zone every day.”

There’s no doubt that Friedman practices what she preaches.