What’s 2022 look like to you? How will it significantly differ from your 2021 or even the previous years? Have you envisioned a radical transformation for your dental practice, or you’ll default to old habits, old belief systems, old strategies, and old routines? How about you as an individual? Have you started stacking up new skill sets to help you execute the visual you’ve set for yourself and your practice?

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/survival-skill-2022.

Have you ever experienced something that you thought was bad but turned out to be for your own good? Or have you ever stepped in and made a bad situation better? Either way, you can feel that great power is at play in every situation.

You can be powerful and use that power as leverage to multiply your gains in your practice. As the famous line goes — “with great power comes great responsibility.” Just make sure that you use your power in influencing others to discover their potential.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/power-sources-in-practice

As we wind down 2021 and tee up for an epic 2022, let’s pause and draft down some action items on how to make your team more confident to ensure a recognizable and upgraded experience for your patients. While you’re at it, think of yourself as Richard Branson, the CEO of the Virgin Group, and ask, “what would a billionaire like me do with my practice?”.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/patient-driven-leadership.

What type of leader are you? Do you inspire your staff, or do you always throw your weight around? Is your leadership style leans toward passiveness, aggressiveness, or assertiveness? Do you treat your team with respect to demand the same?

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/do-not-be-a-jerk.

Did you do your best? At a glance, it’s a simple question that seems answerable by a “yes” or a “no.” Yet, if you ponder deeply, and once the complexities come into play, it can either boost your confidence or highlight your insecurities resulting in purposeless action and inferior habits.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/inferiority-habit.

November is a big deal for me. Apart from the obvious Thanksgiving celebration, which I totally love, by the way, I always set aside this month as my year-end review — What went well this year? What didn’t go so well, where were the disappointments, and how can we do better next year?

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/tactics-and-strategy.

In medicine, research shows that 30% of patients leave the doctor’s office because of long wait times. Unfortunately, the number is higher when it comes to dental offices. The long wait times can make a patient believe that you’re in a poorly run business. And if it’s a poorly run business, you have subpar clinical standards.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/patient-breakup-mistakes.

Pride in your work increases with freedom of choice. According to statistics, less than 1% of employees feel proud to tell others they work for an organization when the boss rarely gives them freedom of choice. However, 78% of employees feel proud to tell others about their work when the boss allows them the freedom to choose frequently.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/power-to-empower.

I’ll share with you my favorite story on overcoming self-doubt. This story involved my son Bennett when I felt that he was ready and decided to send him down the black run. He was scared, no doubt. But my confidence in him fueled his confidence, and after uttering a few “I can do it” mantras, he took off. We celebrated his victory over some hot chocolate, and he came up with another mantra that I use every time I need to boost my confidence. Listen in to find out.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/darkness-of-doubt.

Statistically, 91% of consumers say they will switch to a brand that supports a good cause given similar price and quality.

How can we be generous with giving as we grow?

Back when I was still active with my dental practice in Vail, I created the “Monthly Give,” wherein we give a portion of the collection to our chosen nonprofit organization every month. We started in 2012 with a 1.2% allocation for charity and slowly ratcheted it up every year as our profit grew bigger and bigger.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/make-more-money-by-giving-it-away.

What are we doing to ensure that we’re not presenting treatment in a skeptical environment and inadvertently generating negative marketing for ourselves and our businesses?

The way your patients perceive your practice impacts every decision and action they take. This perception has a rippling effect on your confidence, staff, potential customers, and business security.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/high-trust-case-acceptance.

"Honour may not win power, but it wins respect. And respect earns power." — Ishida Mitsunari

Apparently, even though a large number of dental practice owners believe that team success is essential, they also admit that only 1 to 2 members of the team are effective -- a brutal truth that most practice owners have to face. Every business aims to foster an atmosphere that brings out the best in everyone because it will translate into a positive experience for both the team and the patients. The big question is, is your company built on honor, or is it built on hubris?

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/business-built-on-hubris

I can greatly identify with the Rocky series’ story of resilience and perseverance, both onscreen and the underlying story on how Sylvester Stallone fought all adversity to have the movie get its screen time. It’s been my go-to movie whenever I’m confronted with roadblocks.

All of us went through one of the worst times last year, and it has tested our character and faith. But, it has also been a period of discovery that we’re far stronger than we thought we were.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/dealing-with-adversity

5% of people are hard-wired for integrity, while 5% are hard-wired to lie, cheat, and steal even if it doesn’t benefit them. Interestingly, 90% of people will lie, cheat, and steal given three things. Listen in to find out.

We always attribute “stealing” to something tangible, not realizing that there are some abstract constructs that directly affect the practice’s finances.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/thieves-like-us-podcast

How's your relationship with yourself, your profession, and with people? Are they standing in the way of enjoying the abundance of the dental profession? Or is it your thinking that's killing the cash flow?

Money is not meant to be chased; you need to attract them. And learning from experience, it's not all about skills and work ethics. Of course, it is essential, but what's blocking the flow lives within your psyche, and a little re-wiring will help attune your practice to the cash flow.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/killing-cashflow

Yes, Disney’s taking our money — money that we gladly give. In fact, we work our fingers to the bone just for us, and our loved ones enjoy a moment of pleasure in the happiest place on earth.

But what is so great about Disney that we’re willing to do prodigal spending to the extent of cutting costs on essential expenditures like dental care? Can we adapt and make the Disney magic work in our practice?

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/disney-taking-money.

Kid you not — firing someone is never easy. It’s not only the investment in training, tools, and all things to help them grow, but more importantly, the emotional investment not just by you but by the whole team. And if letting go of your people becomes frequent, it makes you question your hiring process, the work culture, and even yourself. There’s nothing worse than having to fire someone. It’s agonizing but necessary, especially if already ill-affecting the workplace. So the question is, what’s the nicest way to let go of an employee?

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/firing-with-kindness

I’m not being political, religious, or whatnot, but Paul’s strong message in his 1965 broadcast has proven to be prophetic — how elements of good and evil are at play in constant dynamic throughout global history. You might think these are inevitable in the grand scheme of things, but these are more imminent in our practice. One thing is clear — an organization is created or destroyed from the inside out. Hence, the critical question right now is, “Where do we go from here?”.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/if-i-were-devil

Money is necessary to put up and run a practice — we can’t argue with that. But, it is not the be-all and end-all. The money supports our basic needs, goals, and security, but it cannot create a purpose in and of itself — and that’s what I want to talk about today.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/more-than-the-money

Ok, sit down and hold your horses (or cup?); I'm not suggesting that you commit a crime (pretty far from that). But, while I had your attention, let's talk about Starbucks. Did you ever wonder how Starbucks redefined the coffee experience? Can you provide a similar experience in your dental practice?

Starbucks has brought in disruptive innovation. It was so phenomenal that it created a niche market and cult following — and of course, competitors. Yet, despite the competition, it has remained steadfast and continues to expand immensely, offering the same consistent products and services wherever you are in the world.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/steal-from-starbucks.

What does it mean to create a team of leaders?

We all know that great leaders don’t create more followers but inspire followers to become leaders. As practice owners, we aspire to have a self-managing team to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, however, it is pretty standard in the dental practice that staff functions based solely on the dentist’s command. Therefore, it defaults to an extra layer of policy and bureaucracy, creating a toxic environment for the staff, the owner, and even the patients.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/create-leaders.

A confident team is a by-product of a confident leader.

Trust is one of the core values of a coherent team. A leader that exhibits confidence is easier to trust, and team members generally feel positive around leaders who exude confidence. I struggled with my confidence early in my practice, and it took a toll on me, my team, and my patients.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link:

https://bit.ly/confidence-killer

Transformational leadership is a process and a complex one at that. It involves not just you but is composed of interconnected cogs that dynamically work in synchrony and harmony. Your role, as the leader, is to keep it well oiled to run smoothly and accomplish its objectives.

Whether big or small, any organization has an established mission and vision to define its objectives and approach to reach its goal. However, the most crucial aspect of building an organization is the founding principles for which they stand.

Core values are what bind the company, its employees, and the people they wish to serve. It may be uncommon in dental practice, but having a solid foundation of fundamental principles that integrates naturally with the personal values of everyone in the team is crucial to the practice’s growth and success.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/disney-or-enron

Can you pick out the dominant need in your team, patients, family, and friends? This exercise is very challenging, especially to dental practice owners wearing multiple hats -- juggling the demands of the business, the employees, and the clients.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/needy-team

Many people find gossiping fun, enjoyable, and addictive until they become the focus of the idle talk. However, in a professional setup like the workplace, gossipmongering is an enormous time and productivity waster, not to mention unprofessional. In addition, it increases anxiety among employees, puts a strain on teamwork, erodes trust,  and crushes morale.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/gossip-mill

Results are going to come from taking action. And all action starts with a decision.

Having to decide on something is naturally hard, most especially if the decision is transformative. However, decisive leadership is vital to effectively execute the plan of action toward achieving the organization’s goals. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/decide-to-dominate

Money won’t make you happy, but happiness will make you money.

At this point in your life, you must be able to distinguish pleasure from happiness. Although both bring joy and good feelings, they produce contrasting outcomes. Pleasure is momentary and visceral, while happiness is long-lasting and transcendental.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/prioritizing-happiness

More than ever, dentists need to have a well-defined mission and a compelling vision to reinforce their practice, not only for themselves but also for their staff and patients. It provides a clear and consistent direction as to where the practice is going.

Faced with many challenges aggravated by these uncertain times, dentists need to run a successful business to avoid plateaus. One key aspect of strengthening the business is value-creation among the team steered by a well-executed vision. It has to be big enough to fit all of the employees' dreams and hopes in it.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/6visionmistakes

Mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSD) can lead to a wide variety of health risks. Yet, more than 80% of people with OSD are utterly unaware that they are suffering from this condition.

Recently, Vivos launched VivoScore Diagnostic Technology. It is a comprehensive home sleep apnea test for children and adults. It includes a proprietary ring-like device that you can slide into your finger overnight while you’re sleeping in the comfort of your home. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/kirkhuntsman

Listening is the single most essential skill in business. Poor listening skills may lead to assumptions and misunderstanding that will eventually result in ineffective decisions and costly mistakes. It further deteriorates team cohesion and causes a lot of tension and stress.

Effective listening should be attentive, responsive, and active. Pay close attention to non-verbal expressions to understand and decode the messages correctly. Effective listening promotes healthy organizational relationships, encourages creativity and innovation, and fosters a positive culture among employees and the organization.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/rd-active-listening

Where in your relationships, your health, your financial situation, your clinical dentistry, can the realism of progress take precedence over the fantasy of perfection?

At one point in our life, we have been in a situation wherein we strive to be perfect, only to realize that it is only an illusion that we put upon ourselves out of fear of criticism and rejection.

The key to perfection is acknowledging that it doesn't exist.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/perfectionism-vs-progress

Have you been scouring the internet trying to look for the best reward system for your employees? Let me tell you a secret; there's none! I've tried different approaches, many times myself, and they didn't work.

The bonus system aims to give out incentives (monetary or otherwise) to motivate employees to bring out their best and be productive. However, this kind of approach is counterproductive and not to mention expensive.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/bonuses-fail

Stephen Covey was spot on when he said, “The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule but to schedule your priorities.”

If you want to make more with less work, you need to leverage the principles of ruthless prioritization, that is, eliminating anything that does not add value toward achieving your goal. Sometimes, you need to get rid of the good to focus on the great.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/ruthless-prioritization

How do we secure a productive environment in our practices? One that doesn’t get disrupted by the increasing tension in society and result in a toxic culture that could compromise your livelihood? 

Let’s engineer a work environment that brings out the best in you and your team!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/depolarizing-practice

This week’s guest, Stuart Faught of Praze, is a well-known figure in the dental sphere as his expertise in reputation management has assisted thousands of dental practices grow exponentially by helping them develop and enhance long-term trust.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/Stuart-Faught

I am re-releasing one of the more popular and the No. 1 most downloaded episode of all my podcasts. It features the incredibly insightful Dr. Thomas Grass as he recounts the story of how he found dentistry and the path that led him to this career. This is one of the most powerful conversations I have ever had on the show, as Tom delves deep into the importance of being present and how to avoid always looking to the future or your next achievement.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/dr-tom-grass

Two of my favorite people in this profession, Dr. Molly Karmazin and Dr. Corey Karmazin, join me on this week's podcast to unpack their secrets to success. Drs. Corey and Molly are among those featured in my "Dentist On A Mission" book. They practice in a gorgeous, state-of-the-art facility in Sioux Falls, SD alongside a very enthusiastic high-performance team.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/drs-karmazin

It feels great to reconnect with a good friend, Dr. Peter Bowman, whom I guested in my podcast 5 years back talking about The Art of Believing and Achieving. Fast forward to the present, Peter now owns a world-ranked 9-hole golf course and his dental practice is currently focused on implant cases in varying degrees of complexity, sedation dentistry, and Invisalign.

Listen in as Peter gives us a glimpse of what his work week looks like, his undertaking outside the practice, how he adapted his practice model to his other ventures, biohacking, and a trip down memory lane on how luck played a role in why he got into dentistry.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link:

http://bit.ly/dr-peter-bowman

Dr. Jordan Brown reminds me of what’s good about the profession of dentistry. His “Why not me?” attitude is truly admirable. He may be a resident, but don’t let his youth fool you — he is wise beyond his years. His robust story, compelling bio, and positive disposition will surely inspire many in our profession.

Listen in as Dr. Jordan talks about skyrocketing dental tuition, becoming a lifelong student of clinical and communication skills, the importance of access to care of the underserved, and leveraging Instagram as a force for good.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link:

http://bit.ly/dr-jordan-brown

Hiring is complicated. You don't want to be working with a team who doesn't embrace and support your goals. Good thing Laura Nelson is there to guide us throughout the process. She recently released a new book, "Hiring without Hesitation: A How-To for Small Business Success" which I am excited to share. I've known Laura for a long time, and I admire the honest value she's bringing to the dental industry.

Listen in as Laura talks about best practices in hiring the right people for your practice and how to quickly spot a potential rockstar. She also touches on office culture and why you should involve the whole team in the hiring process.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/laura-nelson

I have a confession to make. My journey to business was not a piece of cake. You see, I’m an introvert posing to be an extroverted guy trying to connect with the community where I was building my practice. Then came Matthew Pollard, the person that I can relate to. He is the author of the well-received book “The Introvert's Edge. How the Quiet and Shy Can Outsell Anyone”. He’s also a confessed introvert. Yet, instead of making his introversion a handicap, he successfully transformed it into an asset and made it work to his advantage.

Listen in as Matthew talks about how to find systems that will allow you to fill those skills gaps and leverage on your natural introverted strengths.  Find a strategy as an introvert that will work for you.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link:

http://bit.ly/matthew-pollard

In 2009, in this dusty space in Avon, Colorado, I spent all my cash on learning for a six-month Ortho, Sedation, and Invisalign because I wanted to be this marketable person. One thing I could say, it is much harder than it looks -- but not for Grace Rizza. She’s been growing businesses at the age of 22, and her approach to business is both commendable and inspiring. It’s no wonder she was a 2019 Honoree at the Daily Herald Business Ledger’s Influential Women in Business Awards.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/grace-rizza

Over my years as a podcaster, some of my very favorite interviews have been when I’ve brought friends onto the show, and this episode will definitely fall into that category. Dr. Pete McClellan is a dentist with multiple practices in Kansas City, a visionary, and a fantastic leader who was named a top dentist in Hawaii for two years in a row. Listen in as we talk about the importance of creating a workplace where people actually want to work, as well as how a mission statement can help to weed out those who don’t fit within the culture of the practice.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/3aULRQw

The single most important decision I made in my dental practice was the moment I stopped trying to create followers with this broken, top-down management style and started a leadership development program for everyone on my team. Today’s guest, Chuck Blakeman, is a world-renowned expert on this topic. He is a successful entrepreneur, best-selling business author, and TEDx speaker who has built 12 businesses around the world and now uses his experience to advise others.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/37vw3Bk

After a significant family loss, Dr. Meghna Dassani was driven to find solutions and treatments for breathing disorders. She joins the show today to share her key findings and processes that she implemented in order to solve disordered breathing for patients of all ages. You will be inspired by her passion and incredible story of problem-solving and growth.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2Zkq1z6

Tim McNeely is the CEO of LifeStone Companies and the host of the Dental Wealth Nation podcast. His modus operandi is to teach small business owners how they can harness the powers of the super rich so they can build wealth, live amazing lives, and make a real impact in the world. Listen in as Tim shares his insights into how the guilt mindset gets the better of so many of us and the difference between knowledge and implementation (including where many of us fall short!). 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2Om09Rj

Del Denney is a keynote speaker, performance coach, and leadership consultant. Having consulted for the top personal development training organizations in the U.S., Del has addressed thousands of people in toxin seminars. He joins the show today to help distill the complex topic of leadership down to a simple framework that you can apply in your practice immediately.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2LePSFq

Michael Thomas joins the show today to talk about the Special Care Dental Association and share why special care dentistry is so close to his heart and such an important part of his dentistry career. He also offers insight into the unique mental, physical, and emotional needs that crop up in special care dentistry.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2NscanD

Are you looking for more success and happiness? Dr. Paul Goodman is the creator of Dental Nachos, a Facebook group that is 28,000+ members strong and aims to increase both of those things among dentists. Part dentist, part stand-up comedian, part clinical mentor, part practice transition specialist, and one of the funniest people you may ever meet, Paul joins the show today to share his awesome insight.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/3bS8bLA

Are you a high-achiever? If you answered yes, you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode. Dr. CK Lin is an executive mentor for high-achievers who supports them to be the leaders they’ve always wanted to be—and to achieve success beyond the material things. CK is also a master interviewer with a podcast called Noble Warrior, where he goes right to the heart of things and dives into what really matters.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2XgOYKP

Jason Linett is a hypnotic influence expert who works with entrepreneurs and business owners. As a certified professional hypnotist, he’s dedicated nearly two decades to helping clients harness the science of positive persuasion. In this episode, we’ll be talking about how this applies to you as a leader, your patients, and your team in a way that will help your business prosper.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/3pP5QVf