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471: Startup Staffing Strategy: How Do You Solve the Opening Day Dilemma? | Michelle Affanato

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How can an artist's creativity and eye for detail translate to success in the dental industry? Today we're diving into the journey of Dr. Jessica Pushee, an aspiring artist turned respected dentist, who shares her path from student to practice owner. Listen as Jessica unravels her realities – the challenges of shared ownership, the unexpected upheavals, the bounce back from failures, and the rekindling of her passion for ownership. Gain a unique understanding of her perspective on what it's like to construct one's own practice, from securing loans to pinpointing the perfect location.

The episode continues with an emphasis on the powerful role of community engagement and specialist referrals in building a solid patient base. Not only can you sneak a peek into Jessica's secret, strategic playbook, but you can also get a personal perspective on the delicate art of maintaining work-life balance, creating something uniquely personal, and nurturing a business culture rooted in integrity. Jessica also shows her forward-looking aspirations for her practice, marking her place in a fascinating narrative, laced with fortitude, resilience, and tenacity.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:The unique journey of an artist turned respected dentistThe challenges and nuances of shared ownership in a dental practiceThe rigors and rewards of building a dental practice from scratchArtistic touches that set apart Jessica's practiceMaintaining work-life balance as a successful dentist and business ownerThe significant role of community engagements and referrals in building a patient baseThe importance of business culture and integrity in growing a practice
Let's get into this episode with Dr. Jessica Pushee and witness the perfect blend of art and dentistry on her journey!‍‍
Sponsors:
‍For high quality AND affordable dental supply options, visit The Dentists Supply Company(TDSC) website today! Our listeners get a special deal - 25% off on orders over $500 - Just type in the special code: TDM25 at checkout for your exclusive offer. AND if you're a member of your state's Dental Association, you may be eligible for additional savings upon providing your ADA number. Click or copy and paste the link here to save today! https://www.tdsc.com/Guest: Dr. Jessica PusheePractice Name: The Dentist at HopkintonCheck out Jessica's Media:Website: https://www.hopdent.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpushee/Email: Jessicapusheedmd@gmail.com‍
Other Mentions and Links:‍Software/Services:Google AdsIdeal PracticesCARRFacebook AdsLegalZoom‍Places/Establishments:Tufts University‍Banks:Bank of America‍Brands/Businesses:StarbucksSmoothie King‍Host: Michael Arias‍Website: The Dental Marketer Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society‍
Please don't forget to share with us on Instagram when you are listening to the podcast AND if you are really wanting to show us love, then please leave a 5 star review on iTunes! [Click here to leave a review on iTunes]‍p.s. Some links are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that we have experience with these products/ company, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money unless you feel you need them or that they will help you with your goals.‍

503: How to Navigate Partnership While Building Your Own Startup Vision | Dr. Jessica Pushee

MME: Is My Online Scheduling Working? An Inside Look at New Patient Data | Dr. Addison Killeen

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Do you have a passion for the entrepreneurial journey but don't know where to start? Dr. Ilona Casellini's exciting path from a budding veterinarian to a successful dentist might be the inspiration you need. Straying from the familiar path sparked by a chance encounter and mentorship from a prosthodontist, Ilona dives into details of starting her own dental practice right out of dental school. Amidst the numerous obstacles in her journey, the key to her success was the mentorship she received, her parents' support, and her pursuit of independence and entrepreneurship.

Ilona sheds light on an area often overlooked by entrepreneurs. She discusses the pivotal role of staffing in her groundbreaking success. Facing the challenges of integrating a retiring dentist's staff into her practice, she transformed hurdles into opportunities. She ends the episode by narrating her boutique-like patient-centric approach that fuels her professional satisfaction and success.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:How mentorship shaped Ilona's career in dentistry.Strategies and challenges of starting a dental practice immediately after school.The complexities of integrating staff in a dental practice.How Ilona's patient-centered approach leads to her fulfilling career and practice's success.The power of strong supportive outlets in the journey of entrepreneurship.
Ready to delve deeper into the strength behind mentorship, a patient-centric approach, and important staffing decisions for entrepreneurial success? Let's jump into this captivating episode with Dr. Ilona Casellini!
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Learn More About the Ground Marketing Course Here:Website: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/the-ground-marketing-course-open-enrollment/‍
Guest: Dr. Ilona CaselliniPractice Name: Swiss Quality SmileCheck out Ilona's Media:Website: https://www.swissqualitysmile.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swissqualitysmile/‍‍
Other Mentions and Links:‍Software/Services:Google AdwordsDarby (dental supplier)Dentrix (practice management software)Dexus (xray software)Sesame (texting/message software)‍Establishments:The University of VermontPenn State University‍Artists/Songs:Bill Withers - Just the Two of Us‍Communities:Dentaltown‍Sports:Pickle ball‍Host: Michael Arias‍Website: The Dental Marketer Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society‍
Please don't forget to share with us on Instagram when you are listening to the podcast AND if you are really wanting to show us love, then please leave a 5 star review on iTunes! [Click here to leave a review on iTunes]‍p.s. Some links are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that we have experience with these products/ company, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money unless you feel you need them or that they will help you with your goals.‍‍‍

502: Just the Two of Us | Nurturing 1-on-1 Patient Relationships in a Boutique-Style Practice | Dr. Ilona Casellini

How can you strategically grow your practice without the risk of losing everything? In this soul-stirring episode, our guest, Luke Infinger, provides the tools you need to stand tall in your field. He dives deep into the importance of mastering your existing practices, before even considering expansion, underlining the necessity of building a robust foundation and optimizing your operations for overall success. Luke's guidance will help you identify the right time to scale, steering you on a path of continuous and sustainable growth.

In the second leg of the journey, Luke uncovers the crucial role of profitability and planning in expanding your practice. His words serve as a wakeup call, reminding dentists and practice owners alike that profit isn't all about numbers - it's the lifeline of your growing business. His riveting advice and personal experiences will guide you into understanding the intricate relationship between strategic growth, profitability, and optimal planning.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:Importance of mastering your existing practices before planning expansionHow to build a strong foundation for your dental practiceThe role of optimizing your business operations for successIdentifying the perfect time to scale your practiceThe connection between strategic growth and profitabilityUnderstanding the value of proper planning in expanding your practice
Ready to skyrocket your dental practice to a whole new level of success? Tune in to this episode with Luke Infinger!‍‍
Learn More About the Ground Marketing Course Here:Website: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/the-ground-marketing-course-open-enrollment/‍You can reach out to Luke Infinger here:
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Website: https://hip.agency/HIP Resources: https://hip.agency/resources/‍Mentions and Links: 

Software/Tools:Organizational ChartAudibleApple Books‍Personality Tests:The Predictive IndexStrengthsFindersEnneagram‍Books/Publications:The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About ItThe New York Times‍If you want your questions answered on Monday Morning Episodes, ask me on these platforms:My Newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/The Dental Marketer Society Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2031814726927041‍Episode Transcript (Auto-Generated - Please Excuse Errors)‍Michael: Hey Luke. So talk to us. What's one piece of advice you can give us this Monday morning? Luke: So one piece of advice for dentists, orthodontists, or really a lot of business owners. Uh, I've had the pleasure of working with probably about a thousand dentists or orthodontists, uh, within the past 10 years.And I think a false belief and, it's probably taught or, you know, talked to, uh, amongst peers is you need to be able to scale your practice through acquiring locations and adding more doctors. And while that could be the case, I see people do this way too quickly. Absolutely. they'll have a low production practice.They'll also be carrying a lot of debt. and think I need more cash flow. I need to look for my second location. I need to look for another associate doctor. And I've actually seen a lot of practices go under this way because they become over leveraged. So I always tell people, focus on what you have.Grass is not always greener, build what you have, prove the concept, get your business to an A player, and then duplicate that. Nobody wants to duplicate a D player. You know what I mean? So if I have a business, it's not performing super well, it's probably not time to duplicate the model. Michael: Interesting. Okay.So then what's too quickly in your experience? If we're specifically talking about, let's go with like a general practice. Sure. And they're busy, too busy, right? So they're assuming, Oh my gosh, I need a doctor. I need an associate. I need a more hygienist. Right. Would that be too quickly? Luke: Well, it really depends on the specific situation.It could be time. But. Most of the time I've never met a dentist or orthodontist that's actually too busy. It's very rare and I'll explain why. The reason why we become too busy when running a business is we're doing the wrong things. Thanks. Very rarely do you talk to a dentist or orthodontist running the practice.I mean, again, this could be any other specialty within dentistry or maybe even any small business. And I've done this myself as a business owner. Well, who is, uh, looking at payroll? Who's looking at our credit card statements? maybe a security camera goes out. We need that. I mean, you get the idea.We carry all this stuff and there's a lot of things we don't delegate. So if you look at an org chart within a dental practice, typically it's the doctor, Maybe an office manager and everybody else. And the office manager probably also does other things. Maybe she has to be an assistant some days, or maybe she has to pick up the phone or things like that.And so I think if the doctor sets up an org chart to just be a doctor, which is going to produce the most amount for the practice. That's why they went to forever, you know, because they're, they are the only ones who can do what they do. So on your genius and delegate everything else. The doctor within a practice.In the day to day should be the technician. And I don't mean like a dental tech. I mean, if you read the book, the E myth, which is one of the most popular books in the world for small business, there's technician, the manager, and the visionary. A dentist can be the technician and the visionary. They never want to be the manager.everything else has to be delegated. They have to be the dentist and outside of 8 to 5 or maybe on breaks or specific planned meetings. They can float into the visionarybecause they're the owner. So their vision, their mission is going to set the practice apart and have a unique identity, but they should not be managing.And this is where most dentists, I would say 98 percent get stuck on the hamster wheel and they can't grow. The number one thing we hear, I don't know if you hear this, is we just need more new patients. Makes sense. But I asked them, well, how many people filled out a form on your website last year?Well, I don't know. Well, where do those people go? Well, I think they go to Cindy. Well, does Cindy have a list? Um, no, I think she just like calls them then and sees if they pick up. Okay, well, how do we track that? How many times did we call them? What did we say? So you don't necessarily need more patients.You need better systems, right? Because if I scale marketing and just bring you more of those types of leads and they're falling by the wayside, do you need more patients or should we first fix system and then you may already have. The leads that you need to scale to your goal. Michael: And I guess that's where that, it of comes in where the front office sometimes, do you get this sometimes Luke where like they tell you, patients you're sending me, the quality is not good.I need better quality patients. And you're like, the only job is to be getting you leads, right? It's up to you to, you're not converting it kind of Luke: And And this is any sales process. Yeah. I don't care what business you're in. Uh, people are guarded. I don't know about you, but I've opted in to a lot of things.I missed an appointment with my chiropractor. I've been for like three years. Totally forgot. Am I a bad patient? Well, probably not. but we have access to anything we want right here. We have a supercomputer in our pocket at all times. And so, you know, dentists and orthodontists, and I can appreciate this.Typically, there's a little bit of an ego there. Hey, I'm a very specialized person. I'm a smart person. I'm skilled. I can help you. Um, you should come to me, but we don't know that as the consumer, we look at dentistry now, largely as, a commodity. And so you have to put yourself in the shoes of the patient, the consumer, the client, If they don't know, if they opt into a lot of things and click on a lot of things and forget.Or it's not at the top of the priority list. If my tooth's not in pain, how do we nurture them and establish a relationship and bring their guard down and let them know that we are the practice of choice? that is a real holistic sales process that we've forgotten because we think people should just click on our stuff and then show up in our practice.Doesn't really work that way. would challenge a lot of people listening to look at how they behave. When's the last time you checked your voicemails? Do you respond to all text messages? Do you call every number back that's red on your phone? Because red is like, on my phone, that's the missed calls. I never check my voicemails.only when it says 95 percent full. And I never call the numbers back that are red. And my phone, I haven't looked into changing the settings. Thanks. But if I don't have your number saved in my phone, it won't even ring. it takes you straight to voicemail. So if a practice is calling me and I opted in, do I save their phone number?When I opt into the ad. No, of course not. That would be ridiculous. So don't have your number saved. You go straight to voicemail. I don't check my voicemail. Did you send me a text? What did the tech say? You know, was it personable? Did it sound like a robot? Cause that's another thing is like people are getting spam texts all the time.I probably get five, maybe 10 a day. So we have to look at ourselves, uh, and this is why the rest of the team in the practice is so important as people who genuinely want to help people and know that people probably most people, especially when it comes into digital opt ins, they're on step one. If step 10 is getting them in the practice, what do we have to do to bond with that person, get that person's trust.Make them realize they do want to come in to see us when it's time to fix X, Y, and Z. And the people doing that should love doing that. They should not be complaining about doing it. If they're complaining about doing it, they're not in the right role. Michael: Interesting. If they're not in the right role, what do we do then?Luke: We have to either move them to another seat, Or move them off the bus. This is why planning is so important. If you don't build an org chart, if you don't look at the different roles, if you don't plan, if youdon't, give uh, tests to your team, like, predictive index is a test that we use. There's others, maybe, uh, strength finders, Enneagram, maybe all of them see what their strengths are, see what what they like to do.Even if someone's not highly trained, you're going to know if they have a passion for something. Based on their giftings and what they're genuinely, uh, succeeding at, right. They may need a lot of help, but they have a natural inclination to do this thing. Um, Uh, and that was me on the phones. Like I, I sold, uh, New York times in a call center.So I was like cold calling people and have to turn it into a game. and you have to have fun with it. And if you can't have fun in whatever role you're in, even as a dentist, if you can't have fun doing it, maybe you shouldn't be doing it. Michael: Interesting. Okay. So then if we scale back a little bit or rewind back a little bit, you mentioned when you have an A practice, like an A practice, that's when it's okay, let's start scaling.So then how can we tell, all right, this is an A player practice Luke: profitability. So it's not about how much money you make. It's about what you keep. ThereThere is a an average, healthy business when you look at profitability and you know, within based, it's probably about 30 percent is the benchmark.Now dentistry and then specialties within dentistry like orthodontics could even be higher. You know, your average orthodontic practice on the low end is going to be 30 percent net. I know some people who are 60 percent net, which is kind of unheard of. But we should be shooting for somewhere in there.Now, certainly if there's lab fees and you're doing, um, more indirect bonding or things like that, profitability may be a little bit lower. but that's the benchmark you should look at. You should be working with a CFO, like fractional CFO, accounting firm, whatever, to define that. and I would also look at.total revenue profitability and your time, you know, if my time and I'm 30 percent net and you know, at a, at a good run rate. If I still could add a day in, well, would I go start another location? Because I can still maximize where I'm at. So, you know, maybe I open Fridays, maybe I open up a half day Saturday.Now, if I don't want to all the time, then I would bring in that associate to cover the Friday and half day Saturday. While I went out and spent that time looking for that satellite location. Then when I create the satellite location, they're already trained. They've been working with you in the main location.Now you can place them into the satellite. Once you ramp that up. Michael: Gotcha. Okay. So that's when the associate kind of comes right? That that's when you're like, okay, It's a super need Now bring them in while looking. Interesting. Okay. Interesting. Okay. Awesome. of advice for this? this? Luke: Not I think you have to look at the flip side.And, and what I mentioned early on was people do it way too fast. what are you taking home? Uh, how are you having to pay these other doctors? What loans do you already have? How much are you going to have to pay for that new location? And if all those things are going to put you in a bad financial place, don't do it.you can focus on what you have and grow what you have. And so, like I said, I mean, I've seen people go under, people are producing very little, maybe even half a million a year. And they're like, I got to bring in a doctor. I got to get another location. It's like, with what? Like, you don't have the resources to do it.This doesn't make any sense. So slow down, pump the brakes, take a deep breath, get strategic, grow the practice that you have. Get it to a good place, then look at scaling and you may not want to scale. That's the thing. Like you don't have to do this. You could create a lifestyle practice three days a week, and it could be what you want.And then you only have one practice in one building and one note to worry about instead of two or three or four. Michael: Yeah, you're right, man. Bigger isn't always better. Yeah. Awesome. Awesome. Luke, thank you so much for being with us. I appreciate your time. And if anyone has further questions, where can they find you?Luke: Uh, can find me at hip dot agency. You could also reach out to us on the contact form And we have all this stuff in books. So we have several books, that are applicable for any specialty within dentistry that go through all this stuff. This one really talks about the org chart scaling and how to grow the right way.Um, and then I even created one for the doctor's mindset, which I think is very key, but yeah, you could, you know, Hit us up there. Uh, we'll actually ship all these to you for free. If you don't want to wait for hard copies though, you could just go pick your copy up on audible iBooks. They're on e readers and, and all audio platforms as well for purchase.Michael: Nice. Awesome. that's going to be in the show notes below for you to check out. Awesome, man. And Luke, thank you so much for being with me on this Monday morning episode. Luke: Absolutely. Thanks for having me.

MME: Is It the Right Time to Expand My Practice? When Growth Meets Profitability | Luke Infinger

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Today we're navigating the complex world of dentistry with authenticity, resilience, and an open heart. But, what does it take to embody these key values? In this episode, Dr. Maggie Augustyn takes us on her transformative journey from graduating dental school to becoming a successful, compassionate dentist. Overcoming initial challenges that nearly derailed her early career, Maggie offers an intimate window into her personal evolution, unpacking the layers of self-reflection and mentorship that led her to shed false identities and fully commit to her passion.

Maggie dives deep into her professional trajectory, sharing her transition from working in less-than-ideal conditions to taking the formidable step of opening her own practice - a venture fraught with financial fears and management challenges. Throughout these enlightening windows into her growth, one element remains consistent: the dedication to becoming a better dentist and a better person. Exploring the internal tug-of-war of wanting to be liked and needing to deliver honest, sometimes hard-to-swallow treatment plans, Maggie emphasizes the supreme importance of empathy and genuine patient connections in her practice. Her reflections on battling cancer and the integral role of personal and professional integrity in managing her practice through these tough times offer an inspiring testament to her resilience.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:The early challenges and misunderstandings that young practitioners face in their medical journey.The importance of shedding false identities and embracing authenticity in the field of dentistry.How to navigate the financial and leadership aspects of launching and managing a private practice.The value of compassion, empathy, and honest communication in patient care.How personal turmoil and struggles can impact and shape professional growth and perspective.
Don't miss out on this insightful, heartwarming journey of transformation and growth in the world of dentistry! Tune in to share in Dr. Maggie's wisdom gathered from her diverse experiences.
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Sponsors:‍For high quality AND affordable dental supply options, visit The Dentists Supply Company(TDSC) website today! Our listeners get a special deal - 25% off on orders over $500 - Just type in the special code: TDM25 at checkout for your exclusive offer. AND if you're a member of your state's Dental Association, you may be eligible for additional savings upon providing your ADA number. Click or copy and paste the link here to save today! https://www.tdsc.com/‍
Guest: Dr. Maggie AugustynPractice Name: Happy ToothCheck out Maggie's Media:Practice Website: https://myhappytooth.com/Personal Website: https://maggieaugustyn.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.maggieaugustynInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.maggieaugustyn/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-maggie-augustyn-dds-faaip-ficoi-7a9502122/‍
Other Mentions and Links:‍Services:Productive Dentist Academy‍People:Dr. Talcott ParsonsDr. Bruce B. Baird & Dr. Victoria Peterson (Productive Dentist Academy)‍Dr. Augustyn Presentations:Lie to Me: The Destructive Nature of Self ComparisonBeyond The Drill: From Struggle to Success‍Host: Michael Arias‍Website: The Dental Marketer Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society‍
Please don't forget to share with us on Instagram when you are listening to the podcast AND if you are really wanting to show us love, then please leave a 5 star review on iTunes! [Click here to leave a review on iTunes]‍p.s. Some links are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that we have experience with these products/ company, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money unless you feel you need them or that they will help you with your goals.‍‍

471: Startup Staffing Strategy: How Do You Solve the Opening Day Dilemma? | Michelle Affanato

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