In this festive and refreshingly honest episode of The Making Of Podcast, Dr. Ashley and Collin take a step back from startup playbooks to talk life, business, and the chaos in between. What starts as a lighthearted holiday check-in quickly turns into an episode full of laughter, vulnerability, and lessons for every practice owner—especially as the year winds down.

From decluttering your closets to decluttering your team, Ashley and Collin cover what it really looks like to simplify, to set boundaries, and to stay focused on what matters most. Whether you’re running a lean startup team or managing the emotional weight of leadership, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

00:00 – Kicking off with a “This or That”
 14:00 – Minimalism, Materialism, and the Bonus Room Dilemma
 20:00 – Decluttering the Home…and the Office
 25:00 – How Letting Go Can Be a Business Strategy
 28:00 – Why You Need to Show Up Before Your Practice Opens
 34:00 – Ashley’s OG grassroots marketing
 39:00 – Creating a VIP Patient List Before Your Startup Launches
 42:00 – Why In-Person Visibility Still Matters 
 46:00 – Building Practice Culture Without Losing Yourself
 52:00 – Navigating Team Transitions Without Guilt
 57:00 – “Give yourself permission to be brutal in business”
 1:02:00 – Boundaries, Burnout, and Letting Go of the Fairytale
 1:08:00 – People are replaceable—but your business isn’t
 1:12:00 – Personality tests, People Analyzers, and Leadership Books Worth Reading

Quote of the Episode:
“You have to give yourself permission to be brutal in business. That doesn’t mean you’re not a good person. It just means you’re the owner. And nobody else is going to lose sleep over this like you will.”

Ashley’s Reflection:
This episode is full of the things we don’t talk about enough—team transitions, misplaced loyalty, letting go, boundaries, leadership decisions, and the reality that not every relationship in business lasts forever. If you’re wrestling with any of that right now, let this episode remind you: you’re not alone.

Ask to the Audience:
What are the unspoken truths of practice ownership that you wish more people talked about? Drop them in the comments—we’re all ears.

Connect with Ashley:
@ashleyjovesdds | @themaking.of

Sponsors:
 This episode is made possible by:

Studio 8E8 — Dentistry’s story-driven growth agency for startups. Learn more at https://s8e8.com/vsl

Net32 — Your one-stop marketplace for comparing dental supply brands, vendors, and pricing: www.net32.com/themakingof

Thanks for listening to The Making Of Podcast. We’re closing out 2025 with intention, honesty, and a whole lot of gratitude.

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