The Dental Business Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

Brad believes that everyone at any level should be focused on achieving multiple sources of income to create diversity and balance in life. He feels passionate about helping dentists work towards freedom by building wealth in different areas and helping to develop a mindset to improve one’s ability to handle the stresses of clinical life.

Still a practising dentist, Brad has implemented strategies to create a practice to allow him to carry out the dentistry he wants whilst continually expanding with loyal staff and patients. These strategies can be adapted to any dentist, whether you are an associate or the practice owner, to help bring back your passion for dentistry.

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

How To Build And Sell A Practice - with Grant McAree

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 23:00:00 -0000

Brad returns with special guest, Dr Grant McAree, the founder of one of the internet’s most valuable resources for dentistry professionals, and one of the most successful operators of business and marketing courses for dentists.

Grant has just sold his own dental practice for a multiple figure sum, and joins Brad to share his inspiring story, talks you through the mechanics of buying and selling a practice, and discusses why selling a practice should not be considered to be a one-time event in your own dental career.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Many believe that the culmination of a dental career comes with the sale of a practice, but as Grant has proved, selling a practice can be a regular occurrence, allowing us to achieve financial freedom and the ability to pursue other interests.
A squat dental practice is essentially a practice started from scratch, usually with a single surgery to begin with and aspirations to be a highly profitable business.
Open Day advertising should never cease The important thing is to get customers interested, and coming through the door. It should not be limited to one day per period.
Running a practice for profit is entirely different to the model you need to adopt if you wish to exit through sale. There are ways of increasing the potential value of your practice for sale that must be considered in order to make the proposition more attractive to potential buyers.

BEST MOMENTS

'In dentistry there isn't enough truth about building a practice'

'This is a golden time for the financial aspect of dentistry'

'What cheapens your profession is doing bad work'

'This doesn't have to be complicated'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Grant McAree LInkedIn -
https://dentalbusinessmentor.co.uk/business-coach-for-dentists/

Advertising And Marketing Tips By Dentists For Dentists (Facebook) - https://www.facebook.com/events/d41d8cd9/advertising-and-marketing-tips-for-dentists-by-dentists/311842172803750/

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Authority Marketing

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0000

Much of marketing is focussed around building relationships and sharing resources and information in order to build a relationship with potential clients remotely. In this week's show, Brad talks about how this overlaps with the concept of authority marketing - marketing that presents the perception that you are an authority in your field.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Authority marketing is built upon the idea that you present yourself as the best person in your field - that you know everything to know - via means such as blogs, articles, YouTube videos, podcasts etc.
Qualifications and positions of authority in dentistry, are remembered by patients, and are held up as a badge of honour by their clients
We need to strike a good balance between being approachable and affable, and the image of us also being a towering authority on our subject.
If you have a platform used to engage with people, then through consistency, we naturally become an authority in our field.

BEST MOMENTS

'Make them perceive that dentist as an authority'

'You do things that enable people to find you'

'We need to give out information in a way that makes people perceive us as an authority'

'We need to be producing better quality resources for our patients'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

CONTACT METHOD

How Relationship Marketing Can Help Your Practice - with Michelle Tayler

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0000

In this week's show, Brad talk to marketing expert, Michelle Tayler, about the fascinating concept of relationship marketing, and how it can help to not just grow your client base, but nurture relationships with the base you already have.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The first step is to create a marketing mind-set, to understand the basics of marketing itself. Building relationships with people is the best way to attract and retain patients.
Establish who your ideal patient avatar is. Make sure you know exactly what their needs and pain points are. People buy and make decisions on emotion.
The patient journey map begins with mapping out a patient and the process they go through from "completely unaware" to "consideration" and "conversion"
It's worth applying the "Rule Of 7" when it comes to our messaging. This doesn't mean seven emails, but seven forms of communicating a single message, as the average person does not absorb a message until they receive it seven times

BEST MOMENTS

'It helps to take away the overwhelm of marketing for dental practitioners'

'It's not easy to turn on a camera and start recording for social media'

'The biggest secret to marketing is consistency'

'A person needs to see a message seven times before they take it on board'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.marketingpractices.com.au

Facebook: @marketingpractices

info@marketingpractices.com.au

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Why Data Protection Matters - with Adrian Dray

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0000

In this week's show, Brad talks to Adrian Dray, a data protection expert and consultant, about why data protection matters, the role of GDPR in every dental business practice, and how we can better maintain the security of our client base.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

GDPR was the biggest data protection shake-up in a generation, and before it was implemented, not many business owners took client security seriously.
When looking to take over a new practice, or acquire a business, the GDPR compliance must be thoroughly considered. We must make sure that we're not acquiring a business filled with breaches and problems.
We must make sure that we are keeping client information in the most secure way, and crucially, disposing of it when the correct time arrives. This is an issue that many businesses slip up on.
It is a criminal offence to block or deliberately disrupt the legal process when it comes to the information process, and perpetrators of this violation are now being publicly called out.

BEST MOMENTS

'As dentists, we understand the importance of what we do'

'One of the things that's really important is how's it going to interact the value of my business?'

'I don't want to pick up a "data lemon"'

'Those records could be your bulletproof vest...'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Dental Business Podcast

GDPR - https://gdpr-info.eu

dental.consulthere.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

How Clubhouse Can Help Your Business

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0000

Clubhouse is the new social media network that's taking the world by storm right now. In this episode, Brad talks about his experience in using it, and how it can positively benefit your business journey.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Clubhouse allows users to focus in on groups or rooms dedicated to your specific area or niche. This allows you to network swiftly with likeminded individuals and rapidly grow your knowledge.
It's an ideal landscape for business owners and entrepreneurs, who can instantly network. The potential for the future is huge.
Apps like Clubhouse allow you to build a rapport and relationship with curious minds. It allows you, as a business owner, to connect with potential clients like never before.

BEST MOMENTS

'I think it's potentially going to be one of the next big things'

'You've got quite a motivated patient there, if they've sat in your chair for a consultation'

'All they want is a bit of unobtrusive, non-committal information - where they can just hear about a topic and learn'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and developmen of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Looking Ahead To 2021

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0000

Brad's here in this short, sharp episode, to wish you a Happy New Year, and to lay out the exciting plans for the year ahead, as well as some of the ways in which we can set goals and challenges for ourselves.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Interviews and topics this year will focus primarily on those who aid dental businesses in becoming better and achieving more.
When challenges arise, such as the lockdowns of 2020, it always seems to be those with a long-term plan who push through and emerge victorious.
There are always elements of business that force us to re-evaluate our goals in a positive way. Finding those markers in our future is the first challenge of the year.

BEST MOMENTS

'When you look back at everything that's happened they're going to find moments that were very positive'

'I'm looking into 2021 very positively'

'We often need to relate goals to something tangible'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Build Trust And Your Client Base With Enquiry Bot - with Nin Gandhi-Patel

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0000

Brad talks to Nin Gandhi-Patel, the creator of Enquiry Bot, a revolutionary service designed to turn your website visitors into patients by providing a 24/7 concierge service that deals with and greets your potential new customers on your behalf, saving you time and money

KEY TAKEAWAYS

With more demand on dental practices, the enquiry process has had to adapt. This has meant later opening hours plus weekends and holidays. The cost of this enquiry process has slowly crept up. This is where Enquiry Bot can help, and also save costs.
Many perceive marketing to be the practice of simply attracting new customer. But Dental Marketing is about the entire process, from entry, to ensuring our clients feel well taken care of throughout their entire experience.
We must seek to not just inform, but exchange information with our patients. When we do this, we provide education. This leads to trust, which draws more patients to you.
Websites must evolve. The world has transformed from simple forms on sites, to encompass many new and more convenient ways to communicate, including apps and messaging services. It is incumbent upon us to embrace these advancements and provide convenience.

BEST MOMENTS

'Interestingly enough, we had our best conversions on a Sunday...'

'The whole practice forms part of that marketing process'

'When you exchange information, you educate the patient'

'Enquiries went up, cost per lead came down, but also revenue went up'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Nin Gandhi-Patel - https://ningandhipatel.com/

Enquiry Bot - https://www.enquirybot.dental

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Making Your Practice Stand Out - with Shaz Memon

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0000

Brad is joined by award-winning digital and dental marketing expert, Shaz Memon, the founder of Digimax Dental, specialists in dental marketing and making practices stand out from the rest. Shaz talks about the ways in which he's helped numerous practices to achieve this, as well as the top strategies that you can employ today!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Many practices get the basics wrong. Displaying an address and phone number up front can hook potential clients immediately. By only attracting one lifetime client, you've already made this strategy work.
The customer journey cannot be overstated. It is the art of turning strangers into clients. We must welcome and then gently convince people to remain.
Many people still think that if they are busy, then a website is not necessary, but this is a false economy. By not encouraging new enquiries we can never be sure of the types of clients we may be passing over.
Influencers are useful in attracting leads, but they must be a fit. Look at the demographic of their fan base and decide for yourself if their followers are the people you are hoping to appeal to.

BEST MOMENTS

'One thing I'm passionate about is design and adding value to businesses'

'We're leading them through based on what issue they have, and what they'd like to rectify'

'You don't know what types of patients you're losing...

'Our goal is not to get more followers. Our goal is to get more of the right followers'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Digimax Dental - https://digimax.dental

Shaz Memon - https://shaz.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Buying And Selling A Practice – What You need To Know – with Andy Acton

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0000

Brad is joined by entrepreneur and public speaker, Andy Acton, and the director of Frank Taylor Associates, specialists in the sales and evaluation of dental practices.

Andy discusses the wide range of services that Frank Taylor Associates can offer, as well as some of the more surprising challenges and issues that many practice owners, or aspiring practice owners, must make sure they’re aware of when it comes to buying or selling a dental business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A sale or transfer of ownership will always lead to a form of disruption, small or large, among the team there. Recruitment at this time is not something that many consider, and yet access to staff when needed can be vital to a smooth transition.
When evaluating a dental practice, its worth is calculated on the transactional income or the recurring income. This tends to come from three areas: NHS, plan-based income and private-based income.
The caps on NHS income saw a dramatic upturn in the number of associates, now vulnerable due to loss of income, investing in their own practices. This was a paradigm shift in the sector.
Many practitioners become far too distracted by seeking a larger multiple, but if this multiple is being applied to a smaller adjusted profit, then it becomes a false variable.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You’re paying for an element of security for your investment’

’Inevitably, when there’s a change of ownership, there can be some switching around of the team’

’Owning a business through. The pandemic has not been an easy ride’

’For me, it’s about the money that end up in your bank account. It’s about vanity vs business’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Andy Acton at Frank Taylor Associates - https://www.ft-associates.com/article/proud-to-be-an-ambassador/andy-acton/

Andy Acton LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/andy-acton-a0836b22

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Going Into Partnerships With Influencers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0000

This week, Brad talks about the recent surge in dental business owners being approached by influencers, who hope to cross-promote practice owner’s work in exchange for publicity. Brad discusses the things you need to consider, and how best to use these approaches to your advantage.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Always endeavour to become the influencer if you can. Building a social media following is tough, but by controlling your own public image, you retain the authority over how your public image is used.
Remember that these are business transactions. Influencers should be allowing you to understand their analytics, and whether or not their audience is right for you.
Consider the locality of the influencer’s reach and how it will benefit you. If your influencer’s audience is global but not local, then it may not be beneficial to your practice.

BEST MOMENTS

‘A personal brand these days goes further than a corporate brand’

‘People buy into people’

‘It’s far better if the influencer approaches you. The dynamic is far better'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Protecting Your Money And Yourself - with Vinay Rathod

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0000

After discussing the importance of protecting your downsides, and trying to implement strategies in order to reduce your risk of losing money, Brad is in conversation with Vinay Rathod, a specialist in financial services for dentists and doctors, about the many ways that you can make your money work harder for you, and protect against the negative times.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Dental practitioners are not generally seen as having much business or financial acumen, but in Vinay’s experience, the intelligence level required to gain good financial grounding is definitely present in the industry.
Income protection is a vital component in any professional’s business. It has no exclusions and can protect against a sudden drop-off in income, meaning that business can go on as normal.
It is not enough to install the proper insurances and protections against a downturn. We must also ensure that they are set up correctly, taking into account our very own personal circumstances and relationship to the business.
Financial advice is always best taken from an experienced advisor. One solution for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Seek the best advice possible and be honest.

BEST MOMENTS

’To do good work you need to research often’

’The illusion that a lot of young people have is that they are invincible’

‘Humans are naturally biased towards the thought that nothing will happen to them’

’Don’t put all your eggs in one basket - but also, don’t be scared'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Dental Business Podcast

Vinay Rathod LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinay-rathod-bab5a663/?originalSubdomain=uk

Vinay Rathod Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vrfinancial/?hl=en

VR Financial Solutions - http://www.vrfs.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Make Your Money Work For You

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 23:00:00 -0000

In this week’s show, Brad discusses the subject of investment, and tells you how he structures his finances, as well as some of the strategies he employs to make sure that his money works for him!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Always try to have a reasonable level of liquid cash in a current account. Make sure your zero point is never actually zero.
Try to keep money in tracker and index funds that track the UK market as a whole instead of any individual company. This can be managed if you wish.
Try to invest in income-generating property that will serve as an asset. There are creative ways of acquiring these properties through using little-to-none of your own money. Education is key.

BEST MOMENTS

’Try and diversify as much as you can within different asset classes and markets'

‘It’s always worth being tax efficient’

‘Protecting the downside is really important'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Planning For The Downside

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Many business owners wait until they receive negative feedback before they fix a problem. But as Brad discusses in this week’s show, there is a way to prepare ahead of time for these moments, by evaluating negative outcomes as well as positives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Whenever we set goals for ourselves, it is worth taking time to think and evaluate the mirrored negative consequence of these goals. How do the downsides look?
Negative voices are part and parcel of putting ourselves out there. We cannot hope to appeal to everyone, so always aim to keep the negative percentage in mind.
When we learn new skills, the chances are that we will encounter inevitable failure. It is about managing the negatives, and striving for a higher number of positive experiences.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It is inevitable that we will get negative comments’

’The first time you get a hater comment, it’s almost as though you’ve achieved a part of your goal’

’Plan to avoid failure - strive for perfection, but know that it is not always possible'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Revolution vs Evolution When Taking Over a Practice

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 23:00:00 -0000

When taking over a dental practice, the new owner will have two options - to evolve it slowly over time into something resembling their vision, or to revolutionise completely with a fresh start. But which is the best path?

In this week’s show, Brad talks you through the benefits of both methods, and tells you which way might be even better...

KEY TAKEAWAYS

New owners are often reticent in making sweeping changes to a new practice, for fear of the impact it will have upon patients and their viewpoint. Remember though, that people like change.
By adopting a more evolutionary, slow attitude towards change, we risk assimilating and adopting the habits already in place.
Restricting our business growth out of fear or anxiety will only cause it to retract in the long term. This can also lead to laziness and a lack of will to think creatively.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You’ll lose the opportunity to make changes that are essential’

‘Practices often need new blood and that injection of energy’

‘Patients are little but more doglike than catlike'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

A Property Update

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 23:00:00 -0000

After the recent interview with Anne Houlton, Brad is in a reflective mood when it comes to his own property investments. In this week’s show, he offers an update on how his property interests are growing, and his plans for property in the future.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

It is not enough to simply buy and sell property. The aim should always be to acquire property, achieve a revenue from it that removes its cost, acquire more, and build a portfolio.
The road to building a property portfolio is a long one, but is always worth starting. Keep your eyes on the goals ahead, and take each investment one at a time.
Investing in property gives us the opportunity to turn the finances we accrue into a legacy for our children. These investments will last for generations.

BEST MOMENTS

’Time is the one factor that benefits us all’

‘Look into property, look into assets. Look in to something that’ll turn the money that we earn into wealth-building assets'

’Try and think like the wealthy'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Future Self

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 23:00:00 -0000

We often assume that some future version of ourselves will be the one to finally take on the tasks we keep putting off. But as Brad discusses in this week’s show, it’s time to stop the procrastination, and take hold of the present!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

By putting off the tasks that face us today, we do not simplify our lives. We only make life more difficult, as the task grows ever larger in the meantime.
Motivation and willpower only fades over time. There’s no time like the present to take hold of a job and give it your all. Your future self will thank you!

BEST MOMENTS

‘You don’t make life easier. If anything, you make life harder’

‘Every day, do two or three things that your future self will thank you for'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Dealing with A One Star Review

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 23:00:00 -0000

It’s never a good thing to get a one-star review for your business, but when the initial emotional response has passed, how can we take positives from this negative experience?

In this week’s shows, Brad talks you through the ways in which you can spin a bad situation into a good one.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

One-star reviews are certainly eye-catching, but often it is the response from the business itself to that review. A professional, measured reply can instantly restore confidence in a reader.
Responses to reviews are actually a wonderful way of highlighting the many benefits and positives that your practice can offer.
We must consider the circumstances that led this client to take time out to complain in this way. Try to empathise with their complaint, and look for the lesson that can possibly be taken from it.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Our response is incredibly important’

‘Unless you’re handling your inbound enquiries effectively, the momentum that pushes us forward will start to dry up’

’This provided me with a public forum to respond in a professional manner'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Achieving Financial Freedom Through Property – with Anne Houlton

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Brad talks to Anne Houlton, who has successfully diversified her dentistry career into one of property investment, building an enviable portfolio over many years.

Anne discusses the importance of diversifying in order to create separate incomes streams, something that has especially helped during the lockdown situation, and why property is an excellent way for others in the profession to achieve financial freedom.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Many of us do not realise that our lives are generally spent with colleagues and acquaintances, rather than the people who mean the most to us. By achieving a level of financial freedom, we also achieve the freedom to spend precious time with those we love.
One of the most effective ways in which you grow your portfolio is the Buy-Refurbish-Rent-Refinance method, otherwise known as BRRR. Buy a property and look to improve it in ways that will instantly add value.
You do not necessarily need a pot of money with which to begin your property journey. There are multiple ways of using other people’s money in order to get started, or to grow your portfolio. Education is key.
When using sourcing agents, the best practice is to use an agent who lives or works in the area of interest. Ultimately, it’s always best to source for yourself, as sourcers will always keep the best deals for themselves.
Education in how to best achieve financial freedom through property is crucial for those who are serious about their future. Progressive property are the finest purveyors of this knowledge, and have the most respected network.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You’re creating an income that isn’t dependent on the GDC registration’

‘Do you really want to spend your whole life with people that aren’t necessarily the people you love most in the world’

‘You’ve got to be in the game to make the money’

‘It didn’t occur to me to try and get any training in property, and I made a lot of mistakes!'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Dental Business Podcast

Anne Houlton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annehoulton/?originalSubdomain=uk

Anne Houlton at Progressive Property - https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/progressive-property-trainers/

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Mental Wellbeing in the Dental Profession - Ritesh Aggarwall

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 23:00:00 -0000

In this week’s show, Brad talks to dentist, Ritesh Aggarwal, the founder of Psynergy Mental Health, about the issue of mental wellbeing in the dental profession, and how we can not only spot the tell-tale symptoms, but administer the treatment necessary to get us back on our feet.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Having a mental health strategy is not just about encountering and dealing with issues when they arise, but providing a safe enough space that people feel comfortable enough to talk about issues when they surface.
Pain is all subjective. By bringing in a level of objectivity, we gain a more robust perspective and outside analysis.
Perfectionism is a real mental health issue. It leads to overthinking, and concentrating on the minutiae of detail. which is incredibly important in dentistry work, but can lead to mental health issues later.
The UK economy loses over £45 billion per year through mental health issues. £7 billion is lost through absenteeism. £29 billion is lost through presenteeism. It’s very clear that investing in mental wellbeing should be at the top of the agenda for all businesses.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It’s absolutely critical to understand how an individual feels’

‘Dental professionals tend to be perfectionists’

‘Do your work to the best of your ability. Don’t worry about time. That’ll come’

’There’s a huge benefit to having a really good mental health strategy within any organisation'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Dental Business Podcast

Ritesh Aggarwal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritesh-aggarwal-3b8a0b32/?originalSubdomain=uk

Psynergy Mental Health - https://psynergymentalhealth.com

ritesh@psynergymentalhealth.com

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Achieving True Leadership

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 23:00:00 -0000

After reflecting recently on the concept of leadership, Brad has been inspired to talk this week about what it means to be a leader, and how, by focussing on two key areas, you can rapidly mark yourself out as the person who sets the purpose and vision of your business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The best way of setting a vision for your business is to create a sense of purpose. Your vision is the solution to a problem.
Communication is a vital component in providing true leadership. If messages aren’t being interpreted correctly, look at the systems being used, and think about whether your own style is the cause.
Be a facilitator of dreams and aspirations. Figure out what drives people onwards, and what they envision for themselves. Helping them to reach those goals is the hallmark of a true leader.

BEST MOMENTS

‘A leader is a person who sets the vision’

‘You market a solution to a problem’

‘By working for you, they are heading towards some of their own goals and aspirations'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

CONTACT METHOD

Google Marketing with Max Roberts

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 23:00:00 -0000

In continuing the conversation around marketing and how to use it to its full potential to help you grow your business, Brad talks to Max Roberts of Bouncecrunch, known as “The Google Guru", about how you can use Google to its full potential to powerfully distribute your message and brand effectively.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Google Marketing is split into two areas; Google Ads and SEO. Google Ads tend to occupy the first ten or so places in a search. SEO are the results of the search that Google has matched as equivalent to your query.
If you’re a dentist, and you have a Google Ads account, you must ensure that you have full control of it, and that you own it. Many pass this responsibility to ad agencies, but this is a flawed idea.
Data is everything. The more you accumulate, the better Google will be able to efficiently define and target the customers you need.
Conversion is an ever-evolving process and requires constant tweaking and analysis. A great marketer will constantly revise and enhance an ad in order to maximise its potential reach.
Sometimes we need an outside expert opinion. Ideas we think are valuable ones may not be the best in terms of marketing appeal.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It’s the evolution of Google in the world of social media’

‘I love seeing data. I love seeing information’

’The aim is to build the clickthrough rate and get that as high as possible’

‘If you haven’t spent time learning the industry, you’re going to end up wasting the ad’

‘If you’re in expertmode, and you can refine it a bit more, that makes a huge difference'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Dental Business Podcast

Max Roberts At Bouncecrunch - https://bouncecrunch.com/author/max/

Max Roberts LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxtroberts/?originalSubdomain=uk

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

https://www.ignitegrowth.io/welcome

brad@bradthedentist.com

Instant Strategies To Market Your Practice - with Derek Uittenbrook

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Derek Uittenbrook is a marketer working effectively through channels such as Facebook and Instagram, and helping dentists and their practices to establish their name through clever strategies and modern techniques.

In this episode, Derek talks about the ways in which you can leverage social media to raise awareness of your brand, and some invaluable tips to help you growth see dynamic results immediately!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Word-of-mouth and referrals will always be the best sources of patients. Marketing should be used as a way to increase both, and should be used once you have exhausted your own internal efforts.
The method of communication is equally as important as the message itself. Phone calls require long, unbroken periods, and people prefer to respond in their own time these days.
On average, we see around 5,000 ads a day, and yet very few of them stick. We have become exceptional at filtering them out of our lives. The key is to make things more natural and authentic.
Advertising on Facebook requires special attention, as the parameters you set must be calibrated for relevance. Consider each one carefully in terms of geography and ideal demographic.

BEST MOMENTS

‘As a business owner I think it’s important to understand the different types of marketing you can do’

‘Context is the single most important thing’

’The further you go, the more friction it is to get someone to your practice’

‘Look at the reason why people would come to see you, and market that!'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Dental Business Podcast

Instagram: @derekignite

Derek Uittenbrook LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-uittenbroek-b598a9166/?originalSubdomain=uk

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Video Consultations

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Coronavirus has forced us to pivot and adapt when it comes to certain measures we’re taking as business owners. One of the most useful by-products of lockdown has become the ability to consult with patients over video.

In this show, Brad shares some of his best thoughts and ideas about how you can maintain and improve your video consultation practices.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

It’s useful to try to ascertain as much information as you can before your consultation via a form. This can help to speed up the actual appointment, and allow you to get to the heart of the problem.
Video calling can be a more relaxing way to interact for your clients, as they feel the security and comfort of their own environment. It’s almost as if you, the practitioner, are the guest in their home.
Video consultations and other technological ways of engaging should never be the only avenue we embrace. They should be used as a way of getting people into your practice.

BEST MOMENTS

’It’s getting easier to build rapport and chat and be relaxed, because people are far more used to video calls’

’The jump from video consult to clinical consult is a small one’

‘Add it to the arsenal of what your marketing does'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Dental Business Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Grant McAree

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Brad’s guest this week is Dr Grant McAree, the founder of one of the internet’s most valuable resources for dentistry professionals, the ‘Advertising And Marketing Tips By Dentists For Dentists’ group on Facebook, a treasure trove of knowledge and guidance on how best to maximise your marketing techniques and empower yourself.

Grant talks to Brad this week about the passion that drives him, the strategies that have seen him through the coronavirus crisis, and the many marketing opportunities that most practice owners might be missing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Business practices need to be unique and tested. Strategies need to be water-tested and monitored according to predefined metrics so that we can see what’s working, and adjust as needed.
Waiting rooms are criminally underused as a selling point. You have a captive audience, pre-appointment, so endeavour to use that waiting period to make sure they’re familiar with other services and products you provide.
Partnerships require caution, especially when spread geographically. It is better to acquire a practice than to go into a partnership with someone who may not share your values.
When conducting open days, it’s always better to make them as specialist as possible. Each treatment should have its own time. If we make them too general, it can lead to disinterest.
When selecting a name for your practice, give special consideration to what people will be searching for online in your area. It can increase your visibility exponentially.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You have to stand out. That’s the biggest thing’

‘You’ve got to keep on the money. You’ve got to keep on the button’

‘Dentists aren't interested in bounce rates. They just want to know how many patients rang up and how many booked in’

‘You evolve through hardship' '

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Dental Business Podcast

Grant McAree LInkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-grant-mcaree-69700653/?originalSubdomain=uk

Advertising And Marketing Tips By Dentists For Dentists (Facebook) - https://www.facebook.com/events/d41d8cd9/advertising-and-marketing-tips-for-dentists-by-dentists/311842172803750/

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Avoiding Conflict

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Brad looks at why people avoid conflict, the impact this can have and how any postponement can, in reality, make the situation worse. Conflict should be understood as a part of any professional working relationship and the ways in which you engage and resolve the conflict are the measure of your skillset. Many people will hide from conflict but the truth is it won’t go away so finding a way to constructively deal with it is key.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

We would all prefer to not to have to deal with conflict and often avoid it.
Conflict can only be postponed not avoided.
It’s vital to understand that conflict is a part of a professional working relationship
People spend time avoiding conflict because it makes them feel uncomfortable.
Don’t try and avoid conflict because postponing it can often make the situation worse
When you are involved in any conflict being truthful is key to finding a resolution.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Don’t try and avoid conflict because postponing it can often make the situation worse’

‘Everyone is trying to do what’s best for them at the moment’

‘Conflict avoidance doesn’t exist’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Collective Facebook Group

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Collective Facebook Group

How to Manage With Personal Circumstances (a Personal Episode)

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 23:00:00 -0000

In this frank, and very personal episode, Brad talks about his personal outlook upon dealing with the challenges and obstacles that life can throw at us.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Now more than ever, our goals for the future are being disrupted by the chaos of life in general, and can derail the plans we have for ourselves.
While many in business see freedom from the actual work as their endgame, dentists in general have very different outcomes planned, as their very profession requires them to be ever-present.
All negatives must be seen as lessons. By applying a positive narrative, we can turn obstacles into positives.
Too much disruption can create huge benefits, but for those in seek of equilibrium, it can seem like an imbalance, and can lead to disenchantment.

BEST MOMENTS

’There’s a real balance between doing things for your business and doing things in your business’

‘We must always view things through the prism of opportunity'

‘When life is tough, when times are hard, we can at least fall back upon the skill of being a dentist'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Awkward Conversations

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 23:00:00 -0000

How often are we having awkward conversations at the moment? It seems like each day brings with it another difficult discussion, whether it’s fee increases or practical procedures.

In this week’s show, Brad talks you through a few simple steps that’ll help you approach these conversations in a different way, and help to reduce that feeling of difficulty with your clients.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Awkward conversations are often the result of our perceptions of the discussion. In many instances, the conversations are expected, and aren’t considered that difficult by the client.
Make sure you believe that your proposed changes are honestly needed, and that you are implementing them with honesty, integrity and transparency.
Don’t be afraid to make changes that will make your life better. Remember that you are the captain of your own ship, and you ultimately need to make the changes that will benefit you.
Don’t take a silence as a sign of antagonism. Remember that you need to let people process the information you’re giving to them. They may need time to consider what you’re saying. Use empathy.

BEST MOMENTS

’Not many people are comfortable in these situations’

‘You can’t push through changes that you don’t honestly believe in’

‘We all want to create a business that fuels the life we want’

‘You’ve got to have understanding of their situation'

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and developmentof business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Dr. Barry Oulton!

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 23:00:00 -0000

After a journey through dentistry of over 25 years, there aren’t many people who are more qualified to inspire the next generation of professionals as Dr Barry Oulton, otherwise known as The Confident Dentist. His academy serves to mentor and train dental professionals in the art of communicating with confidence and selling with integrity, as well as becoming the best they can be.

Barry joins Brad to discuss the incredible business boost that we can achieve by changing the way we communicate, and the importance of excellence in the dentistry profession.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Effective communication is about tailoring our approach to each person on an individual basis, and altering our language, if need be, to maximise the impact of what we are saying.
All dentistry work is centred around a deeper need within a client that is generally more complicated than tooth work, such as self-esteem issues, or a simple desire to make eating easier. All dentistry is a choice.
Productivity is easy. True success comes from providing excellence for each client. If done properly, then they will market on your behalf.
It is incumbent upon us to be the best that we can possibly be, through constant and ever-evolving self-development. The rewards of doing so are lasting and exponential.
Through careful selection of language, we can change the mood in a room by altering the physiological response of those around us.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You can 6X your profit if you’re doing extra work’

‘My marketing force are the people I already love and look after’

‘If you’re not at your best then can’t serve at your best'

‘Everybody deserves to receive you at your best'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.theconfidentdentist.info

The Confident Dentist - https://www.theconfidentdentist.com

Dr Barry Oulton Twitter - https://twitter.com/drbarryoulton

Dental Injection - www.dentalinjection.com

One Minute Mindset - www.oneminutemindset.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Super Charge Your Practice; With Dr. Lincoln Harris

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 23:00:00 -0000

As we move out of the COVID lockdown situation, there will undoubtedly be an impulse to chase the short-term rewards in favour of playing the longer-term strategies.

Brad’s special guest this week is Dr Lincoln Harris, a specialist dental mentor and practice owner from Australia, and a man who is a fierce proponent of long-term thinking. Dr Harris joins Brad today to discuss the importance of these more far-reaching strategies in today’s world, as well as guidance for younger practitioners that can quickly supercharge your mind-set and business planning.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Focus upon doing the very best for each and every patient, and the rest takes care of itself. The patient should always be at the heart of every decision. If they’re not, they will sense that.
Dentists have a significant advantage once qualified, in that they are generally in their early twenties, and do not feel that sense of authority that comes with age.
The hardest lessons we learn as dentists and business owners, come in the wake of failures. Be prepared to fail, be also be prepared to grow from that failure.
By slowing down and focusing upon quality, you will find that your appointment schedules become fuller. This leads to longer waits for future treatments, but it also enables you to feel more relaxed and more sure about the care you are taking.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I’ve taken the short-term view in generating revenue, and it can put you in a long-term hole’

‘Even training doesn’t get you there’

‘You need the patience and self-discipline to slow down’

‘You have to fit your dentistry to the fee'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Harris Dental Boutique - https://harrisdentalboutique.com.au

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Meditation and Affirmation

Thu, 28 May 2020 23:00:00 -0000

In this episode of The Dental Business Podcast, Brad explores the benefits of implementing meditation and affirmation into your lifestyle. There is so much focus on improving our physical health and work performance, but not so many people focus on their mental performance and wellbeing. Meditation is a way of consolidating and resting the mind whilst affirmation revolves around positive mental attitude and self-love. Brad gives some tips on how you can easily implement these activities into your life and show you how it can positively change your behaviours and attitudes.

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Guest Paul's Email Address: ridgewaydentalltd@hotmail.co.uk

Coming Back From The Edge

Thu, 21 May 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Please Note: This episode deals with themes of suicide.

The recent world events have led to a dramatic rise in mental health issues. Across all professions, and all classes, people are wondering how we’re going to make our way back to normality after such a disruption to our lives.

Brad’s special guest this week is Paul, a man with a message of hope, and who knows what it’s like to come back from the darkest of places. Paul talks to Brad about the ways in which he has turned his life around, and the reasons we should all hold on to when hope seems lost.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Even those who may appear to be fine on the surface, can be hiding heartache and pain. It’s vitally important that we vocalise our issues to those around us.
Honesty is the most important step in beating suicidal impulses. Seeking help, and being completely transparent at all times will allow those who can help to reach you effectively.
Alcohol is never the answer to depression. It can accelerate the effects of depression, and strip away the inhibitions that may be preventing us from self-harming.
The coronavirus has caused us all to re-evaluate the important things in our lives. Money, wealth and assets are suddenly becoming less important than more intangible positives, such as love and connection.
Conversations around suicide are stimulating others to vocalise their own challenges. Those who have lived through it seem to be the most supportive, but official channels need to do much more.

BEST MOMENTS

‘No matter where you end up, you will always find a way back’

‘Alcohol causes depression. Depression causes alcoholism. It’s a vicious circle’

‘Everything happens for you, not to you’

’Reframing a situation can make it seem very positive or devastatingly negative'

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

brad@bradthedentist.com

Guest Paul's Email Address: ridgewaydentalltd@hotmail.co.uk

Should You Put Your Prices Up?

Thu, 14 May 2020 23:00:00 -0000

With a loss of earnings, and mounting costs on the horizon, many dentist practice owners are asking the question: should we be raising our prices?

In this week’s show, Brad talks about why raising your prices might very well be the strategy you need to adopt.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

We need to stop commoditising our services. We are providing value not just in terms of a product, but also through the care we supply. This is worth far more than we sometimes credit.
Your target market are the people who recognise your value, and don’t mind paying for it. If people don’t want to stick with you after a fair price rise, they are not your target market.
If you’ve been building your business correctly, then losing the customers who don’t stick with you when you do raise prices, shouldn’t impact your bottom line as harshly as you believe.

BEST MOMENTS

’The question isn’t “Should I be raising my prices?”. The question is “Can I afford not to?”'

‘We need to be maximising the value that we give to our patients’

‘It isn’t wrong to earn a profit!'

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Brand and Marketing Message

Thu, 07 May 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Brad is here this week to discuss the importance of the message behind your practice's branding, and how it can be used not just to market your business, but to unify and invigorate your workforce, as well as drive you ever more swiftly towards your goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Building your brand message, and living up to it, builds trust between you, your staff, and your customer base.
Effective messages for your brand should always centre on the problems you can solve for your customers. How will the patient feel when that problem has been solved?
Visibility of your brand message is key. Staff should be able to recite it, and your clients should not just be able to understand it, but share it readily.

BEST MOMENTS

’Trust helps to bring everything together’

‘A brand message provides purpose and structure’

’In order to get your messaging right, think about things as a challenge'

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

My Morning Routine For A Productive Day

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Now more than ever, it’s vital that we install a sense of routine into our days. By structuring our daily schedules around a framework, we instinctively compel ourselves to remain productive and positive.

In this week’s show, Brad shares his own morning routine, and discusses the effect it has upon his daily ambitions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

We all have a certain time of day in which we feel the highest sense of energy and creativity. By recognising that, we can plan our tasks accordingly.
Exercise first thing in the morning can get the energy levels flowing immediately. It also helps to focus the mind-set for the day ahead.
We spend much of our time in a negative state of mind, no matter how subtle. Affirmations are a great way of combatting this, and reprogramming our subconscious.
Develop the will to get moving as soon as you can. Begin your days with input, inspiration, and creative thinking.

BEST MOMENTS

’The morning dictates the day’

‘You are confident. You are strong. You can get through this’

’The promises we keep to ourselves are the things that develop our confidence’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Strategy 4 Steps

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Many dentists are currently trying to figure out the best way to use their downtime right now, but instead of taking our foot off the pedal, Brad is here this week to shine a light on four areas that you can work on, and in which you can keep the flame thriving in your dental business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Control - Finances, staff and patients, these are the essential elements you need to be in control of in order to identify the business areas that need work.
Marketing - Effective marketing can help you to increase revenue, position and cash-flow, allowing you more resources with which to invest.
Systemisation - Maximising efficiency through automation can greatly impact time management. We need to keep the human touch, but systems should enhance that.
Growth - Bring the right staff in to help your practice flourish. Build capacity and think big. What does your future look like?

BEST MOMENTS

‘You need to get to a place where the business is working for you, and you’re not working for the business’

‘Marketing is a whole umbrella’

‘You can create an extremely valuable product to sell to potential purchasers’

’There needs to be a balance between the stress and life'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Productivity and Time Management

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 23:00:00 -0000

For many dental business owners, the main challenge of today is how to ensure we spend our days productively, and manage our time effectively.

In this week’s show, Brad offers some practical ways in which you can keep busy, keep those energy levels high, and ensure that you come out of this stronger, and with renewed purpose.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Recognise when your peak time is during the day. If you’re a morning person then get out of bed and attack the day. If you’re an afternoon person then plan for that.

Creating a structure gives your day a shape. You’ll be far more likely to feel a sense of satisfaction and achievement, especially if you get the troubling jobs out of the way first.

It’s especially important to care for plan patients at this time. Those paying monthly fees deserve attention and open, transparent communication about dentistry in general.

An inventory at the end of each day will allow you to see your achievements, and will inspire you to do well the following day.

BEST MOMENTS

‘If you want something done, give it to a busy person to do’

‘Make sure that your customers are still getting some value’

‘It’s about building goodwill. It’s about building the brand’

‘Be present. Stay in front of people’s minds. Be there for your patients'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Rant! What Went Wrong With The CDO Webinar?

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Dentists across the UK last week came together to watch a webinar hosted by Sara Hurley, in the hopes that guidance, compassion, and most importantly answers could be provided by the Chief Dental Officer.

However, many were dismayed to find their concerns ignored, their guidance still missing, and their questions left unanswered.

Brad talks today about this missed opportunity for clarity, about the current state of affairs in UK dentistry, and the many ways in which the CDO could well have brought relief to the disharmony in the industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

With over 10,000 dentistry professionals assembled for the webinar, the CDO had an incredible opportunity to offer guidance and clarity in this unprecedented moment in time.
Dentists need a swifter response and less red-tape. The main frustration at the moment is that any process currently needs to filter through far too many channels.
This is a once in a generation crisis. All the stops should be pulled out in order to keep practices funded, and to relieve the stress, worry and uncertainty.
The webinar should have acted as a concise bringing-together of clarity and information designed to guide practices, instead of creating fracture lines throughout the industry.
There’s never been a better opportunity to unify the profession than now. The need for guidance has caused many to open lines of communication, to come together, and to work alongside each other in the search for solutions.

BEST MOMENTS

’There’s a definite improvement in the community spirit among the dentist profession’

‘We need somebody with a level of authority to take action!’

’This should be a time for unity, not divisiveness’

‘We find everything muddied by complexity'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Dentists Respond To The CDO’s Coronavirus Webinar - https://www.dentistry.co.uk/2020/04/06/dentists-respond-cdos-coronavirus-webinar/

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Your Marketing Message

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0000

With how the Covid-19 pandemic is progressing right now and how it’s threatening the global economy, should your business still continue with its marketing efforts? Well, yes. But this time, be more pensive and careful than ever.

In this episode of The Dental Business Podcast, Brad talks about how you can tweak your marketing strategies amid this global pandemic. There are still ways on how you can do it responsibly without compromising your brand. Just remember that it is the people right now who should be at the very center of your marketing message. Start tuning in to know more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

When producing content, put the customer at the very forefront. This means it’s their needs you’ll prioritize, not selling your products and services. Focus on how you can help them so your brand stays relevant.
Produce more (quality) content such as social media posts, since you’ll most be cutting down on paid advertising. There’s a high traffic right now in the Web. It’s now up to you how to divert them to your website.
People are most likely to turn their heads to a brand that understands what’s going on, who are sympathetic right now to their plights. When all this is over, they’ll remember who lent a helping hand.
Before you cut off the budget in your marketing efforts, think again. You can choose to branch out, diversify your strategies to still get your marketing message across. There might be less competition after this, so you might want to stand by first when it comes to paid advertising.

BEST MOMENTS

“Whenever you look back, events always have a positive impact somehow to the way we live our lives, regardless of what the event is.”
“Market in a way that makes the customer, the patient, the center of the marketing message.”

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

CONTACT METHOD

What COVID 19 Means For Your Dental Business

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0000

In today's episode, Brad is expressing the surreal nature of current affairs. This is the first time in Brad's career where there is so much disruption and discussion on whether Dental Businesses (and as an industry); How we are being affected, what we should do and what the future holds (not just next week or next month but tomorrow)?.

Brad’s opinion has fluctuated back and forth between concern and hopefulness but he has come to the conclusion that we need to think of true priorities, not just as dental businesses but also as dental practitioners and human beings; where do we stand with our responsibilities?

Do we close?

Brad says we have a choice whether we close our practices or soldier on until otherwise advised to do so. Brad is carrying on with stricter protocols for patients, customers and staff to protect everyone and keep going and offering service to those who want and need it.

When you reflect back on any event; no matter how hard or how challenging & testing it was to overcome at the time, you will see how it benefitted you in the long run. Having the ability to look forwards in the present, with this experience you can see it with positivity as an opportunity to grow, evolve and streamline your business (if necessary).

Brads closing point is accepting this is here to stay for the foreseeable future; to plan for what is happening and take some control of the situation. Don’t sit on your hands, find others who you can lean on and who can help you. Help each other in this time of need.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Denplan - https://www.denplan.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

CONTACT METHOD

Are Membership Plans Good For Business

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0000

Membership plans in dental practices are a large part of the industry now. Patients sign up to a monthly membership scheme and receive contract levels of treatment. But what are the pros and cons of this style of operating? Who benefits from it the most? And what should you endeavour to include as part of the membership schemes you provide?

In this week’s show, Brad discusses this topic at length, and provides some invaluable insights about membership, from a dental practice owner’s perspective.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A plan patient is someone who pays a certain amount per month to receive a certain level of dental treatment.
If the patient is on a plan with the practice itself, then their contract is in-house. The most important thing to consider is that your scheme is being run properly and managed effectively.
As a potential practice owner looking to buy, a guaranteed membership base is an attractive way of letting you know how much income you can expect at a base level.
Denplan, one of the most popular plans on the market, has a ‘Comprehensive Care’ component, which can cover patients for almost all the procedures they need.
It’s important to make sure patients are on the correct banding. Patients who require large amounts of treatment need to be on the higher levels, to make sure their care is covered.
Another benefit of membership is that patients tend not to miss appointments, as they feel that it will cost them monetarily. This means a lower rate of FTAs.
There can sometimes be a tendency to think of Plan Patients as somehow lesser by practice owners. We must remember to treat all patients equally, and guarantee equal amounts of attention.
There’s a remarkably little churn in terms of membership cancellations. Once people have signed up, as long as you’re providing value, you can expect the vast majority to keep their membership.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Is a plan a good idea? I think in principle it is’

’There’s more value in a practice that’s got a decent plan’

‘It’s a sign that you’re not managing your plan effectively’

‘It’s all about balancing the value’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Denplan - https://www.denplan.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Finding Your Next Level

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0000

‘What you should be doing in dentistry to move yourself forward?’

Brad shares the reasons why whatever level you are currently at you should be looking towards the next level.

In dentistry, the focus on mentorship is usually around clinical work but developing your business knowledge and understanding is what will give you ultimately the most re-occurring, passive long-term income.

Where ever you are in your career, learning is a positive move forward listen in and find out how in this episode.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

You really need a clinical mentor if you are undertaking complex procedures but the development of business understanding is vital for anyone within the profession.
Self-development

Listen to business podcasts and read business books.

Marketing, brand development, customer service and targeting customers are elements applicable to any business

Build a network

Reach out and talk to other dentists and business owners

This can be done for free and is hugely beneficial for anyone – you can help others and they can help you.

Complete courses

These might be dental-specific or related to business development in areas such as ethical sales, marketing, treatment coordination, planning. You need to invest money on the business side of dentistry with people who are knowledgeable.

Mastermind groups

There are different mastermind groups. Although the cost is relatively high the value is also very high.

You may have to travel and the mastermind group could be healthcare specific or be a wider business-focused mastermind.

In masterminds, you bring your challenges to the group so there is more personalised support.

Small mentoring groups

The individual guidance is higher and you can also gain value and knowledge from hearing about other’s questions and challenges.

1:1 mentoring

This is an individual focus on you and your business and will accelerate your progress because it provides both individual challenge and solutions from someone who has already taken the journey.

It’s the development of the business side of your dental practice that will give you the biggest payoff.

The money spent on business development will give you the most re-occurring, passive, long term income.

BEST MOMENTS

Acknowledge that you need to develop and learn more

‘Aim to spend 5% of your CPD hours on business learning’

‘Get yourself out there and go on courses’

‘You benefit massively from stepping up to each level’

ABOUT THEHOST

Brad believes that everyone at any level should be focused on achieving multiple sources of income to create diversity and balance in life. He feels passionate about helping dentists work towards freedom by building wealth in different areas and helping to develop a mind-set to improve one’s ability to handle the stresses of clinical life.

Inaddition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He ischair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due tohis track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mind-set and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Are You Proactive About Mental Health?

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0000

‘We need to understand ourselves better and recognise we can all struggle with mental health’

Brad discusses what people can do to help others and help themselves when the challenges of life threaten mental well-being.

For some, the challenges of life can become overwhelming and it’s vital that we act together for ourselves and for those around us to make things better. There is something for everyone in this thought-provoking episode.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

It’s about finding the right direction for your strengths, a direction that is pushing forward not back.
We all have things every day that if they went further or were more prolonged would be challenging to cope with.
Being able to be proactive rather than reactive is vital.
You need to be in a position to recognise when darkness is pushing in.
Finding a trusted individual is important in the process and begins communication that will be supportive.
It’s what you do regularly that will help combat the things that may drag you to the darker side.
Therapy is great and useful whatever point you are in your life
Day to day do things that promote a healthy mindset.
There is a link between physical and mental state and regular exercise makes a significant positive impact on mental well-being.
Practising gratitude makes a difference, everyday review what you are thankful for in your life.
You can’t be thankful and negative at the same time so the negative thoughts are pushed aside when you are thinking about what you are grateful for in your life.
Repeating affirmations will help reset your thinking.
At first, you won’t believe what you are saying but in time after many repetitions, you will begin to believe the positive affirmations you are saying to yourself.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We can’t have these situations where young people feel the only way out is to take their own lives’

‘The earlier we talk about it and are proactive in dealing with it the stronger our positive mindset will become’

‘Practising gratitude makes a difference’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

How to Discuss Prices Comfortably!

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Brad explores and offers practical advice on how to talk to patients about money – the cost and payments.

There will always be a patient that you will feel uncomfortable talking about money with and it can make you feel awkward – you may be concerned that the patient won’t accept the cost. It’s important to develop an understanding of your value, as a professional you will have invested in yourself and its vital to recognise and acknowledge this is a part of your true value. Dentistry is both a business and the opportunity to change people’s lives for the better and when you generate value, develop trust and establish great communication then the cost becomes less important because it’s all about the relationship and meeting the expectations of the patient.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

You need to develop individual communication skills that you are comfortable using and are successful with your clients.
If you know the costs and are able to discuss them, there and then it gives the patient confidence in you.
You’ve generated value, created a plan that meets their needs, expectations and solves their problem. The cost of the treatment becomes less important as the relationship develops with the patient.
When it comes to money the issue is usually with the clinician it is very rarely with the patient.
People usually have some idea of the cost of treatment because of easy access to information online.
Review how much you have invested in educating yourself If you are the principal review the cost of your fixed assets. How much does it cost to open the door in the morning? It will help you to realise the importance of earning money.
Dental practices are businesses that also transform the quality of people’s lives through the work that is done.
If you are doing wonderful things you should be re-numerated for it.
Knowing the figures can help quieten the internal voice that may question what you should charge.
With the evolution of skills and more complex procedures the issue of cost will need to be considered regularly.
Engaging all members of the practice team means that when you are discussing cost with a patient you are only sharing the agreed price.
Through your discussions, you can prepare the patient with the possibilities of work in the future.
A continuing dialogue helps build the relationship with the patient and prepare the way for discussions around possible treatments and cost.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Quantify how much you have spent on being a dentist’

‘Charging at a rate that is matched to my worth means I am able to do more with my family’

‘It’s amazing how many patients say ’I’d been thinking about that’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Taking Over an Existing Patient List

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Brad explains the realities of taking over an existing patient list and shares practical advice on how you can work towards achieving successful long-term relationships with ‘new to you’ patients.

There is a careful balance to be achieved when you are taking over an existing list and research clearly shows that introducing a fear factor about what hasn’t been done previously will not help in developing a positive and productive long-term relationship with the patient.

Brad explains the steps you can take and why being patient can ultimately be the best way to build a positive relationship with your dental patient and achieve the long-term outcomes you want for their dental health.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

You must think about what your purpose is as a dentist. We want to improve peoples’ dental health for the better and give them better long-term prospects.
Better outcomes can only be achieved through having long term relationships with patients.
The priority is building rapport as this will make patients you are taking over more receptive to advice and information on treatments they need.
As a dentist, the end goal is to get the patient engaged and proactive in their own self-management with you, as the dentist, part of their long-term dental management.
Linking to something the patient is familiar with and then steering them towards the idea of doing something new is an effective approach.
You are seeking to change behaviours and research shows that the fear factor is not effective in changing behaviours.
Its more effective to change behaviours over time, rather than alienate the client and lose them as a patient from your practice.
Each patient will require a personalised approach having a ‘prepared speech’ will put off patients.
The long-term relationships built with patients are the most important – if patients aren’t coming to the practice they can’t be treated in any way.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The initial appointments should be about building rapport’

‘Be a little bit more patient and don’t take it personally’

‘You can’t hide information but there are better ways to deliver it to patients’

‘The majority of our patients are engaged and proactive in their own care’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Moving From NHS to Private Dentistry

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0000

‘You need to work towards being the dentist you aspire to be wherever you are working’

Brad is looking at the transition from NHS into private dentistry and although this is a UK centric topic, with listeners around the globe Brad offers advice that can be used by anyone who wants to scale up and move to the next level.

Buying your own practice is a high-risk venture and Brad explains both the challenges and the successes he has experienced and what he has learnt on his journey.

This is an episode packed with content and has lots of actionable advice for anyone wanting to move up to the next level, listen in now.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

When you make the move into private practice, you will have to build the book, develop the business and build rapport with patients.

You will need to settle in before you can begin to talk to patients about more complicated treatments.
You may see a dip in your pay prior to you making the impact and doing the work to bring the practice to where you want it to be.
You don’t get paid well for being a private dentist you get paid well for being a good dentist.
As a good dentist, you can charge more when you are providing the clinical outcome that justifies the amount the patient pays.
The market controls and will determine your value.

You may aim to go into private practice and develop your skills and become a better dentist and with that earn more money.
You need to work towards being  the dentist you aspire to be wherever you are working.
Build a portfolio, invest in self-development and start doing the work now to become the dentist you want to be.
It’s important to check your expectations and focus on patient care and patient outcome.
The finance follows good patient outcomes and care.

The practice provides an environment that enables you to become the dentist you want to be, but it is you who treats the patients the way you think they should be treated.

BEST MOMENTS

‘If you want to become a private dentist then you should be trying to move in that direction before you purchase your own private dentist practice’

‘There is often a misconception that you are going to make loads of money really quickly in private practice, but it shouldn’t be the main motivator’

‘You haven’t reached some nirvana when you get a private associate position’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.  

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.  

CONTACT METHOD

How to Successfully Purchase a Dental Practice -  Interview with Martyn Bradshaw, Director PFM Dental

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0000

‘If practice ownership is for you and you can find the right practice then there is no reason to delay’

Brad and his guest Martyn Bradshaw from PFM Dental discuss in depth what happens all the way from when someone first thinks about purchasing a dental practice through the purchase process and onwards after the sale.

If you are potentially looking at buying a dental practice then this podcast episode is a must. The discussion is packed full of information about not only what you need to know but also what you should know to make the purchase process successful and to ensure you are purchasing a viable practice based on what you want to do with it.

Martyn shares a comprehensive insight into how valuations are made along with the viability calculations and much more, you will want to listen to this in-depth interview more than once.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The buyers need to understand what they want to buy

When we look at potential purchasers we are interested in their financial profile
If someone’s profile indicates they are asset focused then this will be seen as a positive.
Other than a deposit you don’t need to have prepared anything else.
It’s about finding the right practice and there are 2 very different types of practice.
Principle led practice - Where a principle is actively involved in working in the practice, usually alongside an associate. they between them generate the income.

Associate led - In this scenario, if there are 2 associates working in the business and an owner, there is the additional cost of the second associate.
The choices for bank lending are extensive and the rates purchasers are able to achieve are very low.
The Enterprise finance scheme set up by the Government supports purchasers with a lack of security. The buyer does have to offer everything they can but if the bank feel the practice is financially viable they can offer the scheme. It does mean you pay an extra 2% premium but can be a useful short-term solution.
In reality, the majority of NHS dentists are sole traders.
An NHS contract must be held by an individual and stipulates the transfer must be to another individual so we transfer NHS contracts using the partnership route.

In private practice, there is far more choice and not the same restrictions on NHS contracts.
People buying private practices usually incorporate before the purchase because this allows them to finance through the limited company.
No buyer should go in with a preconceived idea it’s about putting everything on the table and looking at it to find the best solution. it may not be a result that the buyer has considered but could offer a better solution.
The minimum process time is 5 months not including the legal work and assuming you complete and return all documentation on the same day.

BEST MOMENTS

‘There can be a lack of understanding about what a principle does’

‘Often it can be the property that can hold up the process’

‘Profit dentistry is rife at the moment’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

PFM Dental website

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Goals!

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Brad is looking in-depth at the purpose and role goal setting plays in helping you achieve your vision.

We are at a point in the year when the goals set on the first day of the new year seem to be receding quickly into past but how and why should goals be set to achieve progress, self-development and success?

Brad looks at why we set goals, the different types of goals, the difference between long and short term and the benefits of sticking to your goals and getting accountable.

If you want to know how to set goals correctly and achieve both the short term and long-term goals you set yourself listen in now.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Short term goals

These are usually set for the year and look at more general aspects of life and business and could include the amount of money you want to earn or losing weight

Make the goals as specific as possible

You need to be able to check and measure your progress

Writing goals down increases your chance of achieving the goal

The most important thing is to get accountable to someone else

Getting accountable to others will increase the likelihood of you making it happen

Long term goals

These need to be part of your vision, your dream for the achievement of your ultimate destination in life.

What we perceive as not being possible now, may well be possible in the future.

You have to make sure you are not being limited by your current set of beliefs, skills and experience

You need to set a vision that the ‘you’ at the moment would be ill-prepared to achieve because this is declaring that you will grow and improve on the journey.

We set goals that are not ours – our goals need to be in alignment with the things we care about.

The environment is an influencing factor - Look at the people around you and make sure there are people around you who don’t accept you for who you are.

When you want to progress and test yourself it’s vital to have people who challenge you, who hold you accountable to your higher purpose.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Short term goals are the ones you get the most advice about’

‘Goals need to be as granular as possible’

‘If you are ready for these goals then they are not ambitious enough you are saying that you will not grow and develop further’

‘We often find ourselves slipping into the jet stream of other things, following what others expect of us’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Multitasking Vs. Singletasking

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0000

‘If you can be a singletasker in the world of distraction then you’ve got a super power’

Brad explains why it’s so important to be a singletasker and discusses the pro’s to becoming one. He also covers how you can start practising this so listen to this episode to find out more!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

If you ask anyone whether they can multitask, most people would confidently say yes. However, with so many distractions these days it’s so difficult to do.
The real thing you need to master is the art of single tasking rather than multitasking. Doing something and focusing on just that one thing rather than lots of things at once can be hugely impactful.
Focusing on one thing enables you to get things done that need doing to a good standard. Thus achieving more.
Make sure you’re prioritising the right tasks that are aligned with your values and goals that you want to achieve.
Focus on solutions rather than problems, don’t obsess about problems.
If you don’t focus on moving towards your goal, you’ll be helping someone else achieve theirs. So learn to say no to people and say yes to you.

BEST MOMENTS

‘There’s always a reason to be distracted’

‘Commit 100% energy on 1 task to be more effective’

‘Take action’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Dr Bethany Rushworth Instagram

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Focus on Problems or Solutions

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode Brad asks the question;

Do you focus your time and energy on the problem or the solution?

When people have a problem at home or at work the majority of people spend far too much time focusing on the problem but a better way is to focus the right amount of time and energy on the solution so the problem is less likely to reoccur.

This is a fascinating look at the ways in which we respond emotionally and then spend too much time and energy worrying about the problem when it should be the solution that takes our time and energy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The vast majority of people focus too much on the problem and spend too much time doing this.

You need to check your emotions and your response because it can result in you not having any energy left to deal with the problem and find a solution.

Make sure things longer term are better by spending more time and energy now finding a solution that works.

Every area of your life is impacted by the way you perceive and manage problems.

Inside each of us is the emotional chimp – which responds first in any situation, or to external stimulus.

The measured response is the one we want to give and its vital to give yourself the time to think logically and control the response.

Understanding we all have an immediate emotional response means we can calm the initial response.

The best way to get things done and deal with problems is to realise they are there, reduce the emotional response and focus on the solution to make sure the problem doesn’t reoccur.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Use the right amount of energy on finding a solution first time’

‘Are you managing staff correctly? if you are not spending your time and energy finding a solution then the problem will keep reoccurring’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

How to Positively Manage Criticism, Negative Feedback & Reviews

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0000

Brad tackles the issue of criticism in this episode providing great advice on how to get criticism and negative feedback in perspective and the steps you can go through to manage any criticism and negative feedback in an efficient and positive way.

If you can get to a point where you are asking yourself - can I use this as an opportunity to learn and evolve? then you have created the right mindset for dealing with negative feedback and criticism.

As you scale up your business and your profile grows you will meet more people and there will be people who dislike you. If you can move your mindset and get in control of criticism then it can become an effective learning experience.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

It’s easy to react emotionally but it’s important in business and life to be able to get in control of your emotion and the narrative.
Once your emotions are in check and you have clarity
You need to ask;
Is this criticism true?
Where is it coming from?
Is it valid?
Is this an opportunity for me to grow?
Can this process benefit me in any way?
By default, the more well-known you become the more people you will meet who will like you and there will also be those who dislike you and are critical.
With the passage of time and as you evolve, you will eventually transcend the criticism managing it better and effectively keeping your emotions in check.
The most important thing for a dental practice and business is how you respond to it.
When anyone looks at feedback on line what they look for is the response.
Has the company given something to the negative customer to help them change their mind and perception?
When responding to negative feedback or a complaint you need to be calm, look at it as a way to improve yourself and the practice, act and respond appropriately and decide whether to offer something that will potentially help them to change their mind.
When you look back you will be able to see that there are very few things that have impact long term it’s how you experience and perceive what’s going on and your response that makes the difference.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Focus on the positive feedback and reviews’

‘With the passage of time and as you evolve you will eventually transcend the criticism’

‘The reality is the majority of what we learn comes from negative feedback because we only evolve through this’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Dr Bethany Rushworth Instagram

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

How to manage your Stress Effectively & Achieve More - Interview with Dr. Beth Rushworth Speaker, Editor, Writer & Award-Winning Dentist

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Brad’s guest is Beth Rushworth, Editor of the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Dentistry due in 2020, speaker, writer and award-winning Associate at the Ivory Dental Practice.

The list of what Beth has already achieved is extensive and broad-ranging and she discusses with Brad the pressures and challenges that face young dentists as they begin to carve their careers and make their mark in the profession. Stress is a reality in any profession and Brad and Beth discuss in depth the ways stress can be recognised and effectively managed for dentists on their professional journey and in the achievement of goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Dentistry is a stressful profession and working within it is stressful for anyone whatever their role.
I identified early on at university that the ways in which I was rationalising and coping with stress meant I needed to take action. I had no ability to separate home and life and it became all-consuming.
The physical symptoms of stress were becoming overwhelming and I immersed myself in different strategies to work out what was best for me to cope with the stress.
Training myself early on in my career with strategies for coping means it is now more organic.
I identified that it was my initial reaction that I needed to work on to manage my stress.
With a patient complaint your initial thought can be panic, someone’s not happy, my careers over, everyone is going to hate me but the rational response is what’s happened? What can be done? What’s the worst-case scenario?
It’s common in high-stress jobs for your perceived risk to be different from the actual risk. The perceived consequence is different from the actual consequence.
Guided Meditations help me be structured and think about the right things.
I have become better at scheduling my time to make sure there is time for me.
I’ve worked hard to be in a situation where I can be more selective about what I do.
20% of what you do will lead to something else and be recognised you just don’t know which20%, I give 100% always.
It’s never too late to change your direction and improve on where you are at and the situation you are in.
Taking a step back and looking at what’s important to you creating structured steps to get you to where you want to be can be very effective in minimising stress and anxiety.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I make a consistent effort with everything’

‘I really believe that when you give things will come back’

‘I wrote to 100 different magazines asking, ‘can I write an article for you?’ and only 1 replied and said yes’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Dr Bethany Rushworth Instagram

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

What is your Vision, Values & Culture?

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0000

Brad shares the easiest and quickest ways to shift the vision, values and culture of any dental practice in this episode.

If you are an associate listen into this and talk to your principal so that you can work on these strategies together as a practice, if you are the practice owner implement these strategies as see your staff quickly move to working in a more cohesive way with purpose and intent.

No matter where you are or the dental environment you work in, this advice can really improve the way people work together.

It’s about setting your values and the vision of the business and making sure they are woven through everything you do.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Values

Your values are the way in which you want the practice to be represented ask yourself what do we stand for?

If each staff member knows that a key value is caring it checks the way you act and the words you use, it can help with interactions in difficult situations.

Vision

A vision maybe wanting everybody in your area to have heard about your practice.

Aligning everyone as they strive to achieve the vision is key in the journey to achieving it.

It may not be measurable but on a daily basis you are doing things pro-actively to move towards the vision and this will improve the business.

Staff need to understand them and know what the practice stands for.

When you have set the values and vision you will know what the goals are and what you want to achieve.

When you know what the goals are you can create a strategy and break the goals down in to an actionable plan. This can be granular but it all starts with the vision and values.

BEST MOMENTS

‘At every touch point and interaction, the patient can see, hear and feel the value you stand for

‘Your values need reinforcing continually at meetings and morning huddles’

‘Have the bigger picture in mind and work on the little details to achieve it’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

CPA LTV

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0000

There is always much discussion about free consultations and Brad explains the value of these consultations in the wider arena of marketing your dental business for long term growth and success. It’s a mindset shift and is about looking at things differently, looking at the view other businesses and industries have of their initial interaction with the customer and the metrics used to measure this.

To build a practice and have a long-term sustainable business you have to maximise the lifetime value of customers but to begin you have to understand how to market your business and what is required to acquire new customers. This is a great insight into the importance of effective marketing strategies and why any business needs multiple marketing streams to grow and be successful.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Cost per acquisition - The cost for the business to acquire the new customer
How much is being spent on marketing to get a customer to visit their store, buy their product?
You need to reduce this cost and this can be done through creating marketing strategies, testing your marketing and adapting the strategies.
As your business grows a shift in mindset is required because it becomes less about the initial transaction and more about the next transaction and the lifetime value of the customer.
The initial visit will be cost-neutral because your focus is on the long-term value of the customer.
As you move into 8 figures this mindset evolves further as you become even more focused on the lifetime value of the customer and what is required to realise the full potential of that lifetime value.
To build a practice and have a long-term sustainable business you have to maximise the lifetime value of customers, realising the potential for referrals and moving them into more expensive treatments when they are ready.
There are ways to create more patients if you are focusing on retaining patients because by default you will generate more enquiries through practice goodwill.
You have to undertake marketing because you should never rely on one stream to generate enquiries and sales for your business.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The common thread across people who are wealthy and have built their own wealth is that they don’t do anything that loses money’

‘We’re not big enough to lose money on every initial appointment’

‘You want the initial transaction to recoup your marketing cost and make a profit’

‘It has to be a continually ongoing process so you are spending the minimum amount of money needed to get a new customer to visit your business’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

How Can You Benefit from a Specialist Dental Accountant? with Alan Suggett - Head of  Dental Business & Partner at UNW LLP Chartered Accountants Pt.2

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0000

‘With a dental specialist Accountant, you have someone who understands how dental businesses operate and in particular dental NHS contracts’

This is the second part of the interview with Alan Suggett, Specialist Dental Accountant.

Brad and Alan continue to discuss tax, practice ownership and explore the value of `key performance indicators in this episode that has value for anyone who is a dental practice owner or is considering entering this arena.

There are many aspects to consider in any business and Alan shares his wealth of expertise in this informative episode, listen in now

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The self-assessment system can produce variation, resulting in a long-time period without paying any tax or national insurance this is followed by a catch-up period so it’s vital any associate puts away one-third of any earnings in preparation for this.
The payment of tax is now very case-specific and a series of changes brought in have resulted in incorporation being less attractive and more complicated
In the majority of cases, most young associates undertake NHS work and if you incorporate you cannot be a part of the NHS pension scheme.
Around 50% of private associates are incorporated, it gives you the ability to split your profits with your spouse or partner and can be an effective way of lowering your tax.
The best way of taking profits out of a company to date has been via dividends but now due to changes, there is more tax payable when you are taking money out of a company than when you are self-employed.

Practice ownership is still a good idea for the right people, there is more risk and stress but you can still buy a practice with a relatively modest deposit.
If you are looking at bigger and more profitable practices you will be competing with the conglomerates
It’s all about viability – you need to work out what money you could make from a practice.
When you begin as an owner you need to also be clinically and emotionally prepared for the work ahead.
A KPI system is the answer if the principles in the company understand them.

When you get the right KPI’s and work on them continually you can make improvements.
Most practices, even those larger in size don’t have dental accountancy professionals working within the practice this is in contrast to most other types of business.
With advances in technology, it is now easier to get information in a more manageable format but it still requires interpretation.
When you are considering exiting it is key to have maximised profits and gross income.
You need to take into account the varying factors – if you are selling to a corporate they will require you continue on for another 3 to 4 years after the sale and if it’s a smaller practice you need to factor in around a year to achieve a sale.

If you hire a professional it’s not just the financial value you gain but also the time you gain back.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It’s easy to be ambitious but not really realise the work involved’

‘What’s the magic number at the bottom of the page?’

‘If you are measuring financial performance then you can make it better’

‘You can’t have an expectation that the cost of savings will exceed the fees of the accountant and advice’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Alan Suggett

Alan is a Chartered Accountant and Partner in UNW LLP chartered accountants where he

is Head of the Dental Business Unit which looks after more than 500 dentist

clients throughout the UK. Alan writes regularly for the dental press, and presents at BDA seminars.

He is a member of the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants & Lawyers (NASDAL) and a member of the technical committee, and chair of the NHS

Superannuation committee.

He is also a member of the Association of Specialist Providers to Dentistry (ASPD). Alan is the editor of the quarterly NASDAL goodwill survey which analyses all member client practice sales, purchases, and valuations.

CONTACT METHOD

T: +44 (0)7860 246 718

E: alansuggett@unw.co.uk 

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.  

CONTACT METHOD

How Can You Benefit from a Specialist Dental Accountant? with Alan Suggett - Head of  Dental Business & Partner at UNW LLP Chartered Accountants Pt.1

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0000

Interview with Alan Suggett - Head of  Dental Business & Partner at UNW LLP Chartered Accountants - Part 1

‘He is someone who has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the dental industry’

In this first interview for ’The Dental Business’ Podcast Brad is in conversation with Alan Suggett head of the Dental Business Unit and Partner at UNW LLP chartered accountants.

He looks after more than 500 dentist clients throughout the UK and writes regularly for the dental press.

With extensive expertise and breadth of experience in the field of specialist dental accountancy, Alan is a guest who offers something for everyone working within the dental profession. Brad and Alan discuss the positives and challenges from the beginning of the journey – potentially purchasing a practice through to the steps to take to make exiting effective from a dental practice.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The market is evolving and for certain practices, the buyer will invariably be a corporate so a sales agent is not required.
The quarterly bulletin we produce includes a quarterly survey based on practice sales and valuations it is an indicator of movements in the market based purely on goodwill values as a percentage of gross.
Larger and more profitable practices are sold based on multiples of profits
There are practices that are not in hot areas – known as pauper practices they have low-value NHS contracts and are in challenging locations with low UDE rates.

These practices can not only have a low value but also be difficult to sell at any point.
Reviewing the differences between types of practices provides a useful insight into the challenges of only reviewing averages.
The valuation of benchmarking is a really good way to get an insight into how someone is running a practice.
For a first time, buyer to most likely potential lenders are Lloyds, Barclays and Wesleyan.
It’s still possible for dental associates to buy a high-ticket price dental practice.

Each lender has the ability to set their own levels of money when lending.
The criteria for Barclays and Wesleyan includes a 20% deposit but the unique selling point for Lloyds is their potential flexibility around the percentage of the deposit.
The NHS contracts provide a level of security with predictable returns.
In dental practices, even those which are scaling up, the owner is still usually carrying out dental treatments.
In private practice, it’s vital to be marketing aware, to have effective external marketing that is consistent and enables potential clients to see what you can offer.

People now have a different expectation of normal. They are now much more aware of other dental practices and can easily access marketing about other practices.
It’s an illusion that if you are a good dentist and do your job well you can progress to being the business owner.
It’s about being an entrepreneur, it is entrepreneurs who take risks and succeed.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Why would you target a business in the NHS when business returns are declining’

‘General erosion, the death by a thousand cuts is another problem’

‘The rate of NHS dental pay does not keep track with actual dental costs in an NHS practice’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Alan Suggett

Alan is a Chartered Accountant and Partner in UNW LLP chartered accountants where he is Head of the Dental Business Unit which looks after more than 500 dentist clients throughout the UK. Alan writes regularly for the dental press, and presents at BDA seminars.

He is a member of the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants & Lawyers (NASDAL) and a member of the technical committee, and chair of the NHS Superannuation committee.

CONTACT METHOD

T: +44 (0)7860 246 718

E: alansuggett@unw.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.  

CONTACT METHOD

Moving to a Positive Mindset

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0000

‘What you can do to improve your mindset and make a shift from negative to positive?’

Brad is sharing advice about how anyone can move from a negative to positive mindset through regular exercise.

We don’t really appreciate the effect exercise has on our mindset as well as the way it affects us physically. Listen in and find out how to shift your mindset through exercise creating a positive mindset that is beneficial to you, those around you and your business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

There is a physical element to any emotion
If asked to describe an emotion you would drop your shoulders you display physical actions that mark that mindset
If you are very happy you would display this through excited actions and movement.
By default, carrying out certain actions and physical moves that your mind associates with positive feelings will move you from a negative to a positive mindset.
The transfer of energy from a negative place to a positive place happens very quickly and efficiently if you are exercising
Exercising regularly will compound the positive effect and build a positive mindset.

BEST MOMENTS

‘The easiest thing is to do nothing but it’s important to keep going’

‘Mental mindset and mental health is a huge part of daily life’

‘The sooner we all realise we can fall victim to it at any point the better we will be able to help ourselves and each other’

ABOUT THE HOST

Still a practicing dentist, Brad has implemented strategies to create a practice to allow him to carry out the dentistry he wants whilst continually expanding with loyal staff and patients. These strategies can be adapted to any dentist, whether you are an associate or the practice owner, to help bring back your passion for dentistry.

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Getting Marketing Right

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:06:00 -0000

Brad looks at the key areas and key points that you can work on to improve the marketing for your dental practice in this episode.

Marketing is vital but it must be targeted you shouldn’t be marketing everything all of the time you should be targeting your marketing towards a specific ideal patient. If you’ve completed a good marketing campaign then the person has already bought in and the sales part of the process can be quite easy because they already want you to provide their treatment.

There are many different treatments offered by dentists and there are specific demographics for each of the services offered making it key to get marketing right, listen in and find out how.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Internal Marketing

The systems and processes you have within the practice that help you nurture and maintain existing patients and stimulates referrals.
Send a newsletter – this is a way for you to express your personality to your existing patients. You can put in an offer that calls people to action providing value for you.
Send birthday cards - The return in goodwill and the nurturing of existing patients is key
Try to cross-sell and up-sell existing patients it’s about building up the lifetime value of individual patients.

External Marketing

Brand marketing is about lifting your brand recognition to make sure that when people think about dental work they think about you.
Use social media and post regularly. You must make sure that the majority of posts are high-value information and maintain your presence across all platforms.
Response driven marketing is when you are seeking a specific response from the marketing you carry out.
There are multiple responses you might require such as a ‘Facebook-like’ or an email address.
You need to be segmenting your audiences and marketing to people individually solving their problems, adding value and allowing them to take a journey that leads to a consultation.
It’s key in external marketing to target the right people in the right place at the right time you are creating value that draws them in towards a consultation.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Make sure you have the right values and strategies in place and that everyone understands it’

‘You need to create value so they are happy to purchase at the end’

‘It’s important to measure the return on any investment made in marketing’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

Should Dentists Give Free Consultations?

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:05:00 -0000

‘If you’ve built rapport with them and you present them with a plan that meets their expectations they will be likely to sign up’

In this episode Brad is talking about free consultations, he shares what he does in his practice and advice on how to make free consultations a successful part of your dental business.

Whether to provide a free initial consultation or not is a decision that has to be taken by every dentist business owner and this episode provides great tips on how to make it work.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Who does the complimentary consultation?

It should be with the person carrying out the treatment. This is so a plan can be created and the prices involved shared

Be definitive

You need to be working towards a situation where you can give the patient a plan and the costs involved at the initial consultation along with the next steps.

Take a deposit

This is key to ensuring people attend the consultation. The money can be returned when they attend the next appointment or deducted from the overall treatment cost.

Provide a wonderful experience

Make sure that at every touchpoint, at every single point they are getting a great experience and your values are predominate in that experience.

Secure the treatment plan

Do the final thing that secures the treatment plan ask the patient the question ‘what do you want to do?’
It will sometimes bring up questions that you can answer and leads to the handshake that moves things to a formal arrangement of the payment plan.

Summarise the next steps

Tell them what will be done in the next appointment.
Often people go to book the next appointment but don’t know what they are coming in for.

Send a comprehensive treatment letter.

Provide a comprehensive treatment letter as soon as possible after the consultation.
This enables the patient to review each step of the treatment plan.

BEST MOMENTS

‘If people can’t afford the deposit how will they be able to afford the treatment’

‘People should be able to experience the true caring nature of your practice’

‘ We have been doing free consultations for around 10 years and we have a good conversion rate’

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

How to Get Systems implemented in your Dental Business Now

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:04:00 -0000

‘As a dental practitioner I didn’t initially count the hours spent working on the business only those spent working directly with patients but if you look at the non-clinical time are you spending this time effectively?’

As a dental surgeon and business owner, Brad knows exactly what it’s like trying to balance the time spent with patients whilst growing a business and in this episode he explains how systems put in effectively and used by those who’ve been trained can create a more fluid environment that is beneficial to everyone involved.

As an owner and dentist, you must take responsibility for how the business develops and effective systems can improve all areas allowing you to focus on the aspects that enrich your life the most.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Systems are there to improve all areas and allow you to focus on the areas that enrich your life the most.
The end goal is to create an operations handbook that covers in detail every area of your business.
This document should enable any new comer to the business to start work in their role in a relatively effective way.
Dialogue and vocabulary for every situation should be prepared and trained for, so that whoever the patient is interacting with they get the same caring message.
There must be both soft systems and hard systems. The hard systems are there to make sure the practice looks a particular way, the soft systems are the way people interact with patients.
The operations manual has to be personal to you, what is your practice ethos?
How do you want your practice to look? what sort of patients are you trying to attract?
The goal is to create a lasting impression with patients and attract the right sort of patients.
If all staff effectively work by your personal operations manual then you will have created a very packaged saleable product for a potential purchaser when you want to exit the business.
If you’ve created a very effective operations manual then it is easy to hold people accountable and achieve consistency.
It enables you to bring your personality and your vision through to all members of staff.
By increasing efficiency, you improve the experience of the patients coming through the door.
Systems make work smoother because patients are better informed when they arrive and all elements of the business are better organised and managed.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Early on you should create a blue print of how you want your business to run’

‘Walking through the practice and viewing it from the patient’s point of view is extremely worthwhile’

‘If you’ve created a very effective operations manual then it is easy to hold people accountable and achieve consistency’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown

several other dental businesses and as an investor is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development

of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

Due to his track record and down to earth advice, he has become sought after

as a mentor and spends part of his time dedicated to mentoring dental professionals about business, mindset and personal development.

CONTACT METHOD

How to Develop the Strong Personal Brand You Need to Succeed as a Dentist

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:03:00 -0000

Dentists who are harnessing social media and using their personal brand are those who are successful and in this episode, Brad shares detailed advice so that you can build your personal brand.

In a world where we are connected globally the power of social media is immense and as a dental professional or dental business owner its vital you have a strong personal brand.

A personal brand is a great way to create a strong online footprint showcasing you and acts as an online CV promoting your skillset.

People want to buy into people more than a corporate business and they will follow an individual because of their personal brand. Listen in and find out how to start developing your personal brand.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A personal brand is the marketing of one’s self.

It’s not a business you are marketing it’s yourself, expressing your personality and developing a relationship on a personal level with the audience, patients and clients

Things have shifted since the introduction of social media and the ways in which you can reach your potential clients are extensive

We are moving from the age of the corporation to the age of the influencer, the personal brand

It’s your asset - your opinion, your voice and it follows you everywhere, nobody can take it from you or copy it

To build a personal brand you must be patient

It’s about creating good content and value, this is an asset that will grow with time

You have to be yourself – even if it polarises your audience, it’s a 2-way thing you want to see your kind of people so express your views.

You need to showcase your skills sharing good content as this builds your credibility and

it provides social proof that you are the dentist who can solve their problem.

Your network is your net worth and you need to get out there and be involved with local businesses, charities and organisations

Ignore the critics – just get out there and share your message there will be critics, but they are there to test you and ultimately you benefit from it as it will help you evolve.

The bigger your personal brand the more critics you will attract but for every one critic, there are ten people who think the opposite.

BEST MOMENTS

‘In the palm of your hand, you’ve got the reach and ability to get yourself in front of billions’

‘You need as a dental associate to be building your own personal brand as this be what follows you through your career’

‘You can nurture, build and maintain patient relationships through the effective use of social media’

‘If you don’t get on board with your personal brand your competitors will’

ABOUT THE HOST

In addition to running a successful private dental practice, he has grown several other dental businesses and as an investor, is growing wealth outside of dentistry to help protect his legacy for his growing family.

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

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Developing the Right Mindset as a Dental Professional

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:02:00 -0000

In this episode, Brad is exploring mindset, identity and certainty. He shares a great analogy to help anyone navigate their way through the concept of identity and explains why it’s important to not only understand who you are but know who you want to be and how to get there.

Your mindset is woven through and affects everything you do as a dental professional your communication, the uptake of treatment plans, talking about treatment options and speaking about payment with patients.

It’s vital to develop the concept of identity and your belief in yourself and this is a great listen which will help any dental professionals get started on their journey to developing the right mindset.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Identity
If you are aware of your identity and seek to develop and understand what you are doing, then you are open to self-development and the progression of personal mindset.
Your identity is the values you hold true to yourself it’s how you view your inner self, how you fit in the world and how you interact with it.
It’s really important to be able to make the identity shift as it helps personally and professionally.
Self-development – go on the courses and start to realise your own self-worth it will help you to adjust your identity level.
Associate and network with other dental professionals who are doing what you want to do, completing the treatment plans you want to deliver.
Certainty
If you are trying to influence someone or make a sale you are trying to convince them that it is something you believe in.
You need to be certain about what you say, people need to see confidence in your body movements and believe in what you say.
They need to believe that you believe that what you are saying is true and accurate that you are certain about the treatment plan, their options and the price.
There are things we can do to improve our identity, they are ongoing, life long, daily, weekly self-development and having the confidence and certainty in ourselves to back up the plans we produce and the way we work, the dentistry we want to produce.

BEST MOMENTS

People live their lives in line with their identity

‘It’s about being around the kind of dentists that inspire’

‘If we know about our identity we can accept we are possibly not where we should be to do the work we want to do’

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

CONTACT METHOD

The Dental Business Podcast & Dental Business Collective - Starting Out

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:01:00 -0000

Welcome to ‘The Dental Business Podcast’ episode 1, the podcast any dental business owner and entrepreneur should be listening too!

Brad Thornton is an experienced dental surgeon practising in the UK and he is passionate about mindset and personal development.

He has been in his own private practice for the last 9 years and prior to this had his own practice within the NHS.

Brad has been involved in the start-up and scaling up of other dental practices and related businesses such as teeth whitening and consumables and is a sought after mentor.

He has learnt much in his diverse career and as a result, has evolved both professionally and personally. Now he is sharing his experience, expertise and journey as an entrepreneur to help others to develop the positive mindset that results in professional success and personal wealth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Peoples consumption of content is changing, we now seek content on our own terms to suit us and our lifestyles and podcasts are all about consuming things on your own terms.
We are all just a hybrid of the information we consume and this podcast is Brad’s unique personal perspective on strategies and ideas from other people, digested, understood and implemented by him in his own business.
In each episode, there will be actionable content and useful information.
You will find out how to develop personally and professionally, build your own personal brand and create more personal wealth.
Alongside a wealth of information for business owners who work within the profession of dental care there will be non-dental content focused on developing investment opportunities and increasing personal wealth.
Every episode will have key points, useful information and actionable content that are of immediate benefit to the listener.
Brad has created ‘The Dental Business Collective as a place where dentists can get together and share ideas in a supportive group framework.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I’m passionate about mindset and personal development’

‘There are things I’ve learnt that through sharing them as part of this podcast will be useful to others’

‘Tickle my ego if you want, positive feedback will be great but the reality is we only evolve with constructive criticism and things will evolve based on the feedback I get’

ABOUT THE HOST

He is chair of the Horsforth Town Team, dedicated to the promotion and development of business in his local area in North Leeds, UK.

CONTACT METHOD