Two Reds are Better than One

After receiving incredible feedback from our listeners, we invited Steve Tangney back for Part Two! If you haven't listened to Part One yet, be sure to check it out here. There, Steve shared his valuable strategies on how to create a world-class team. The exciting news is that we have another inspiring interview for you. This time, Steve focuses on how his practice effectively attracts new patients. He shares numerous ideas that you can implement no matter where you are based. In this interview, you will discover: How doing the right thing by your patients and being authentic is key to growth. How Steve cements himself within his community, including sponsorship of sports teams. How Steve effectively asks for referrals and Google reviews, and how he overcomes the barriers to asking. Why daily engagement with professional content on social media is essential, rather than making random posts. How a simple four-word banner outside his practice brought in many new patients. How he is building a specialist practice and the incredible offers he makes to attract the very best dentists. Why focusing on "good enough" rather than perfection is Steve's winning philosophy Steve's philosophy on ensuring the patients keep coming back. Enjoy this enlightening conversation, there are so many take -aways that can be implemented in your Practice. Listen now below or via your favourite podcast player.

Steve Tangney qualified in 2008 and moved from his hometown of Cork to work in London. During a period of travelling, he met the love of his life – now his wife – on the Gold Coast, where he also worked for a while. While his time there was influential, it was his experience at Avenue Dental on the Sunshine Coast (Sunny Coast) that made the biggest impact on his professional outlook. The owner's focus on cultivating a superb team culture stood out to Steve as the secret to their success. In 2017, Steve seized the opportunity to purchase a dental practice in Batemans Bay, a short plane journey from Sydney. (It is well worth listening to this podcast to discover how this opportunity came about.) At the start of his venture in 2017, Steve's practice had just two chairs and a team of five. Fast forward to today, and he proudly owns three locations with a team of 36 dedicated professionals. Steve's expansion story is rooted in his commitment to fostering an environment where team members can truly flourish and grow. In this inspiring podcast, you'll learn about: Leadership and structure: Steve emphasises a flat organisational structure with no Practice Managers, which has resulted in high staff retention and remarkable employee satisfaction. Creating the right environment: Alongside his partner, Eoin, they have developed a workplace where people rarely leave, and even when they do, they often wish to return. Empowering team solutions: He has nurtured a culture where team members are empowered to solve the practice's challenges and issues independently. Cross-training benefits: Discover the advantages of cross-training and how it fosters a superb team spirit. Team bonding in Fiji: Steve and his team once travelled to Fiji for a team bonding experience, yielding lasting benefits for the practice. He reckons it was the best return on investment he ever made. Ongoing development: A strong focus on team training and continuous development is a cornerstone of their practice's ethos. This podcast is truly inspirational as you will discover Steve Tangney's remarkable journey and business philosophy. Listen below or via your favourite podcast player.

In this insightful interview, Chris and Ashley reconnect with Karl Walker Finch, the proud owner of a dental practice in the Kirklees area of Yorkshire. For the second time, we delve into Karl's remarkable journey. Setting an ambitious goal, Karl aimed to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of his practice. Astonishingly, he achieved a reduction of over 35% in just the first year! But that's not all—his practice is now proudly climate-positive. Karl speaks with such passion that you'll be motivated to bring similar changes to your own practice. Here's what you'll discover in this podcast: Engaging the team: Learn how Karl successfully involved his team in this project, boosting their motivation and commitment. Tree-planting for referrals: Discover the unique initiative of planting a tree for every new patient referral. The 'One Idea a Week' concept: Explore how ensuring accountability with weekly ideas has led to consistent progress. Focusing on key areas: Understand how concentrating on three main areas helps Karl maintain a carbon-neutral dental practice. Financial Benefits: See how striving for a carbon-neutral practice can actually enhance the bottom line. Patient appreciation: Find out why patients love what Karl is doing. And much more!

After graduating in 2012, Gareth Edwards spent the first 5 years of his dental career by treating patients in Middleton, North Manchester. He then embarked on an 18-month journey through Asia and South America, dedicating time not only to traveling but also to reading a diverse range of books. In 2019, Gareth returned to Bournemouth, his hometown, and formed a partnership with Zak Kara. Sharing similar philosophies about dentistry and business, they initially took over a three-surgery practice. However, they quickly outgrew it and moved into a larger, purpose-built clinic, giving birth to Smile Stories. Their philosophy was centered around creating an experience "nothing like your old dentist." Gareth generously shares here the secrets that make Smile Stories a success. In this podcast, you'll discover: How Smile Stories has become a unique dental practice by fostering lifelong patient relationships, incorporating innovative design, and utilising comprehensive digital dentistry. You'll also learn about their ideal client; Their inspiration from outside the dental field and various examples of where they gain this insight; The creation of a work environment where team members are eager to come to work, engaging every team member in each stage of the patient journey with their "Triangle formula"; Gareth and Zak's calculated approach to risk, enabling rapid growth and expansion; Their strategies for marketing, enhancing patient experiences, and cultivating a strong team culture that resulted in 571 five-star Google reviews. You'll learn their "Peak End Rule", identifying the optimal time and method for requesting reviews. Examples of how they surprise and delight patients, including team celebrations at the end of treatments; Personalised marketing approaches for each new patient, sending tailored marketing messages that cater to the individual needs and desires of the patient. And much more!

In this exciting episode of Two Reds Are Better Than One, Chris Barrow and Ashley Latter share their personal and professional aspirations for 2025 within the dental industry. From digital workflows and AI to personal communication mastery, this conversation is packed with insights to help dental professionals navigate the evolving landscape with confidence and agility. Key Takeaways: Digital Dentistry Advancements:Chris and Ashley highlight the game-changing impact of intraoral scanning, treatment planning software, and 3D printing. AI is poised to revolutionise all areas of dental operations, making this an exciting time for forward-thinking practices. Adapting to Change:The importance of staying agile and innovative cannot be overstated. Chris encourages listeners to “fail fast” and adapt quickly to market trends and new technologies, creating resilience regardless of external economic conditions. Personal Communication is Key:Despite rapid technological advancements, Ashley and Chris agree that empathetic, face-to-face communication remains vital. Delivering a high-quality personal service can still set a practice apart—Ashley's new book focuses on this very topic. Ashley is thrilled to announce that his new book, The Eight Steps to a Perfect Consultation, is 95% complete and scheduled for release in spring 2025. This updated work will guide dentists in conducting exceptional consultations, helping more patients say "yes" to their treatment plans and enabling practices to deliver outstanding care. Ashley shares his excitement about his upcoming speaking engagements in California (May) and Australia (March). He's also looking forward to a potential visit to the stunning Yosemite National Park. What are you looking forward to in 2025? Chris and Ashley invite you to share your goals and aspirations by emailing us. Don't buy into the economic doom and gloom Stay innovative and embrace change Be agile and willing to fail in the pursuit of success Keep an eye out for Ashley's book release and invest in your consultation skills! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Two Reds Are Better Than One and share it with your network. Let's continue the conversation on how to make 2025 a remarkable year for dentistry!

Today we're thrilled to introduce you to Amber Aplin, owner of "The Gentle Touch" dental practice in Kelso, Scotland. Amber's journey is anything but ordinary—born in Australia, raised in the UK, and spending 16 years in Army dentistry before carving out her niche as a practice owner. Her story is one of transformation, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. In this episode, Amber shares: Her Unique Career Path: From growing up in a military family to studying at Newcastle University and thriving in Army dentistry, Amber's experiences have shaped her philosophy and leadership style.   The Gentle Touch Philosophy: Discover how her practice focuses on patient experience, a "gentle" approach, and a culture of shared values that keeps her team motivated and thriving—think high standards, consistent branding, and even team trips abroad!   Innovative Dentistry: Amber is a pioneer in biomimetic dentistry, offering longer appointment times for tooth preservation and patient-focused in-house finance options that make advanced care accessible. Future-Focused Growth: Hear about her plans to expand the practice, take on mentorship opportunities, and embrace a balanced lifestyle as she transitions to fewer clinical days.   If you're curious about how to combine cutting-edge techniques with a personal touch—or you're looking for inspiration to elevate your own practice—this episode is for you.  

Anushika Brogan is the owner of Damira Dental Group. After graduating from Kings, Anushika was destined to be an entrepreneur. She quickly purchased her first dental practice in 2003, and Damira was born. Since then, she has expanded the group to 42 locations throughout the UK, including brand new practices specialising in facial aesthetics. She is also the only female CEO of a dental corporate in the UK. You might think that managing a thriving Dental group would keep her busy, especially since she operates without a COO or CFO. However, Anushika still finds time to do a full day of dentistry every week. In this podcast, she shares why she prioritises this and why it's so important to her. In this episode of "Two Reds are Better than One," you will discover: How Anushika achieves fantastic balance in her life and the role discipline plays in it How she maintains a strict fitness regime that will inspire you—hint: she wakes up at 4:30 am every weekday The lessons she learned from a messy divorce and a four-year battle in the High Court to save her business Why being hands-on in the business and knowing what's going on is crucial Her steely attitude and her life philosophy, "If you can do it, so can I" Her tips on recruitment and how she manages associates

Dr. Katie Blake is co-founder with her husband Alex of Blake Dental, in the small market town of Witham, Essex, mid-way between Chelmsford and Colchester.   Katie has a special interest in dental implants, not only delivering to their own patients but working in other practices, lecturing, training and mentoring.   Alex is a former maths teacher, who has become the Business Manager.   They have also created a strong senior management team within the practice, through internal development and promotion.   In this entertaining conversation, Katie shares with us stories of her childhood, living with entrepreneurial parents, forming her own proto-business as a child (hence the title - you'll realise), and then volunteering for work experience at a family friend's nearby dental practice after he suggested to her parents that a career in dentistry would be a good choice.   We follow Katie to University, into hospital to become a maxillofacial first-responder to trauma injuries and then into Ownership.   She will share the experience of buying their practice, whilst she was heavily pregnant and just before Covid lockdown - yikes - and how they survived and have prospered.   You will love this conversation - a no-frills approach to life and a genuinely happy Dental Business Owner and clinician. A lovely couple who prove that the good guys can win!

Imagine opening a Practice with no social media, prohibited from advertising, not allowed to have a website, plus you are timing this at the start of one of the worst recessions the country has ever known.   These were the circumstances faced by Dr. Kieran Daly when he opened his squat Practice in North Dublin during 2007.     Fast forward today, 17 years  after opening the doors, his Practice employs over 50 people and has expanded to a multi disciplinary Practice, treating patients with Implants, Orthodontics, Perio, Endo, and Restorative dental treatments, taking referrals from dentists all over Ireland. His journey is nothing short of remarkable.   Kieran never stands still, he is constantly developing himself both personally, and technically, he is the only Irish Orthodontist that is certified by the European Board of Orthodontics & The Angle Society of Europe. He is a leader in his field.    In this podcast you will learn; When Kieran opened his Practice, he was not allowed to have a website or allowed to advertise, what he did to grow his Practice to a World Class Multi-Disciplinary Practice  The importance of using different types of marketing to grow your Practice and not relying on one source How he has put a Management Structure into his Practice, which allows him to spend 40 hours a week treating patients and work ON his business every Friday How delegation really is a game changer and essential to growing your Practice  How he continues growing his Practice and how he has created a super motivated team How he still manages to get to the gym every day and enjoys 5 weeks holiday  AND MUCH MORE 

Our second conversation with Dr. Marina Rhode, Founder of DRMR In our first conversation with Manrina we explored the influences from her early life that formed her philosophy and then travelled with her through 18-years as a London-based "career associate", working with some of the top names in the capital. We now explore the vision for and creation of her own clinic and brand - DRMR: How she used pen and paper to jot down ideas during her associate years and developed a vision of the practice that she wanted to own; The search for premises that would “fit the bill” and how she responded when told that her dream premises wouldn't be suitable; The 18-month build project and why her attention to detail and obsession with perfection became a reality - a clinic of great beauty; The biggest challenge of the first two years - building a team. In the final part of our conversation, we discuss The Manrina Rhode Mentorship Programme, launching on 1st September 2024 and the difference Manrina intends to make when she “pays it forward” to other dentists who need a fresh impetus in their career. Manrina is a breath of fresh air in the UK dental landscape and you will emerge from our conversation with a smile on your face and hope in the future. Listen to the podcast now via your favourite podcast streaming service or the player below.

In this episode, we interview Manish Chitnis to discuss his dental practice management software, DenTTrack, a task management software that provides clarity on who does what in a dental practice, including training for each task. Manish explains the importance of internal marketing and utilising the patient database to drive new patients amidst current market conditions. There are two main survivor groups in dentistry: high-end practices focused on excellent patient experiences, and high-volume, low-cost providers. DenTTrack Software Task Management: Provides checklists of tasks for each role, ensuring the team knows exactly what to do. Training Included: Offers training on how to complete each task. Growth and Legacy: Aimed at practices wanting to grow and create a legacy business. Contact: Reach out to Manish directly to explore if DenTTrack is suitable for your practice. Current Market Conditions New Patient Numbers: Experiencing a dip in new patient numbers and demand for high-end treatments. Internal Marketing: Focusing on internal marketing to the existing patient database. Direct Mail Campaigns: Emphasising the importance of direct mail campaigns and building one-on-one connections. Future Outlook Rising Costs: Costs are rising by 30% across staffing, materials, and labs. Survivor Groups: Two main groups are expected to survive - high-end practices focused on a great patient experience, and high-volume, low-cost providers. Challenges for Middle Group: Practices in the middle may struggle with rising costs and staffing issues. Tune in to hear more insights from Manish Chitnis on how to navigate the current dental market and leverage technology for practice management.

If you want to be inspired by the potential of a career in dentistry, no matter what your age or background, listen to the journey of one of the UK's most interesting dental practice owners. As a child, Manrina Rhode wanted to become an actress, but an enlightened Headmistress saw the opportunity of combining art and science and encouraged her to study dentistry. The UK dental community (and her patients) can be glad that she did.  Right at the start of her career, she secured a position with Dr. Surinder Hundle at Lund Osler, one of whose clinics was based in Harvey Nicholls, London - innovative in its time. Surinder, famous as an original participant in the TV show "10 Years Younger" opened up opportunities that you can only dream of (learn how Manrina beat her competition to get this job). After several years at Lund Osler, she worked for Tim Bradstock-Smith - The London Smile Clinic.  Along the way, she ran a Music Label in Atlanta, that is another story you need to hear.   In the last 2 years, she has finally opened her own clinic - DRMR - and you'll hear why Chris was speechless with admiration when he first visited. In this episode you will discover;  What it takes to become a true success in dentistry The importance of finding your passion in dentistry and to do what you love to do The big lesson she learnt from her father. If you have children, the most important message you can give them, so that they are a success in their lives The importance of finding mentors and networking with the very best If you are running an Instagram page you need to do this ONE THING to make it work for you AND SO MUCH MORE.

It's a delight this month to listen to the founder of a Champions League dental practice in the beautiful Lake District - Neil Cooper has been a friend and a client of both of us for many years. Here, we delve into Neil's childhood fascination with how things work and an early dedication to a career in dentistry, based on his experiences as a child patient. Following Neil to school, university, early days as a VT and associate, we then discover what happened when he caught the Ownership bug and used a unique approach to become co-purchaser of an antiquated practice on Kendal High Street. It's now a 7-surgery clinic with a brilliant team, providing the highest complexity of dentistry. Throughout his career, Neil has always responded to the phrase “that will never work here”, with a determination to prove the critics wrong. As you listen, you will also hear about Bex Cooper and the contribution she has made to the development of the business since the pandemic. It's a fantastic story about a fantastic practice created by lovely people - you will be inspired.

An interview with Dengro CEO - Neil Stephen   Listeners - if you think this month's podcast is an advert for Dengro - think again.   CEO Neil Stephen has a fascinating CV, including starting and selling a number of international tech businesses over the years, as well as running The London Olympic Beach Volleyball competition in 2012.   He “gets” business and speaks with the authority of having worn all the t-shirts in business development over the years.   In our conversation we discuss:   Why a fascination for building teams led him into the tech sector; His previous life in business and how he ended up as CEO of Britain's most popular Dental CRM company; Top tips for start ups - whether tech or dental; More top tips when you come to sell your business and when (and when not) to take on investors; Probably the clearest explanation of the benefits of CRM that you will ever hear; Crossing the implementation gap - how to get your team to buy into and start using new technology; What's coming - where A.I and telecoms innovation are going to take CRM and dental practice management over the next three years.   This conversation is a cracker - line this up for a commute, a dog walk or wherever you enjoy your podcasts the most - and prepare to be educated and entertained by a true business leader.

This week we interviewed David Taylor, an ex Dale Carnegie International Master Trainer & Leadership Trainer, who shares the benefits of developing a Monthly Action Plan. Many Dental Practices report that finding the right people, retaining them and the paying their true worth challenging, this concept can help in all three areas and can make the Dental Practice a much more productive and a happier environment On this podcast you will discover; What is an 'Action Monthly Plan' and the benefits it brings to the Dental Practice  How to conduct an accountability meeting with your team Hear some example of how it raises the performance of your team and how they get really excited about being part of something bigger How to have challenging conversations with your team and associates without creating a toxic atmosphere The Wall flower concept and how it changed the direction of Chris, Ashley and Dave's career for the better and how you can have the same impact with your team Recite of Paddi Lunds 8 non negotiables in his Practice  New Recruits-How to have a 'Expectations Contract' right at the start and the benefits it brings to the Dental Practice'  AND SO MUCH MORE 

If you walk round Manchester city centre, you will often see the above statement, ' WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY HERE'  which glorifys Manchester's achievements in the world and why Mancuncians are different. We have tweaked the above statement slightly for our guest today and you will see why when you listen to the interview.  Born in Glasgow, Lawrence decided to take some time out to travel the world and then visited Sydney 11 years ago to do some dentistry for several months. He ended up staying and now Lawrence is partner in Spa Dental  Dentist in Sydney CBD | Spa Dental Sydney CBD and three other Practices around Sydney. He is in the top five producers of Invisalign in the whole of Australia and as you listen to Lawrence you will clearly see how obsessive he is about the 'Patient Journey' and how they stand out from a very crowded market place. Have a pen and note pad to make lots of notes, this interview is full of gems.  You will discover;  How his practice and his team obsess about customer service  You will understand his philosophy behind the refurbishment. of Spa Dental, to make it completely different to any other DP The absolute mission of giving the patient a completely different experience to any other dental practices  How the practice gets five start google reviews and how they educate the patient  on what to write. Google reviews you need 150 of them before you get on the start line The steps to the perfect patient journey and consultation  How most of the work has been done before the patient has even visited the practice  'The hidden camera' you will have to wait to the very end to hear about this strategy  The super associate what it means  Instagram - how to make it a success

On never giving up (and how to run your business in 60 minutes a month) an interview with Dr Mike Hughes of Deintyddfa Na-Nóg Dental & Implant Team in Bangor, North Wales   We begin our new podcasting year with a story of courage and resilience that has led to the creation of an award-winning specialist referral practice in Gwynedd, even though some local councillors and planning officers did their level best to stop the project before it started.   Mike Hughes shares his history with us - qualifying as a reluctant dentist second time around in Cardiff and then moving on to develop his passion for MaxFax.   After his mentor sold to corporate, Mike continued in that environment for 14 years until his hunger for independence led him to identify a site in a beautiful business park, where his vision was to create a leading specialist led referral centre, a vision that started as a chalk drawing on his driveway.   Local planners thought otherwise and he made BBC news headlines back in 2021, when he eventually won his battle for the right to open.   The clinic passed the £1m turnover mark in its first year and has gone on to even greater success. All without even having a website!   In our conversation you will learn:   how to grow a 4-chair practice in 2250 sq feet of office space; how to open in 3 months after acquiring the building how to attract over 400 new complex referral patients in your first year; how terrible Chris Barrow is at Welsh pronunciation! the three biggest tips for anyone stepping on to the ownership ladder in 2024; how Mike runs his business in 60 minutes a month.

In our final podcast of 2023, there is no guest, instead,  we share our highs and lows of 2023 and also why we are so excited about dentistry in 2024.   In the interview we discuss;   Our highs of 2023 both personally and professionally  Chris's calendar management system - how he plans out his year, often several months ahead; How and why he takes 12 weeks vacation every year  Ashley's announcement - he is finally taking a short sabbatical  Why are they both excited about 2024 in Dentistry    AND MUCH MORE 

Our guest for this month's podcast is dental technician Ashley Byrne - Owner Byrne Dental Laboratory, one of the largest and most advanced in the UK and now part of the European Corus Group.   In the first part of our interview, Ashley reviews the opportunity in digital workflow: The sheer magic of IOS; Why using intra-oral scanners can save time, increase staff retention/morale and engage patents in their oral health to an extent never before seen. We also discuss how important it is to advance along the adoption cycle and embrace every aspect of technology - Ashley even shares his “latest” innovation, using augmented reality in dentistry. Part 2 of our podcast looks at his leadership skills with a team of over 50 people: How to get your team to 5th gear; The “no blame culture” and the £4,000 mistake; Why he cooks 180 rashers of bacon on a Sunday evening.   It's a fun session and totally inspirational - do yourself a favour and listen now.

S conversation with Lis Hughes - Managing Director - FTA   It's not often that we get the chance to listen to an industry expert sharing with us her view of the dental landscape since lockdown to the present - and beyond.   Lis arrived at Frank Taylor Associates in 2008 to deliver some consultancy work - and has stayed there ever since, describing the company as a great place to work with nice people.   During our conversation we discuss topics that will be of interest to all existing Owners and equally those who aspire to buy a practice:   The current challenges we face deal flow goodwill values recruitment & retention corporate consolidation white space high interest rates The most important question any potential buyer must ask Why an NHS/private mix represents a good buying opportunity Ideas to maximise the attractiveness of your practice if you want to sell How to get the bank to say “Yes” to funding your purchase Why you need to start talking 2 years before you sell or buy Why a dental plan can make your practice look more attractive to the bank Why flexible UDAs have changed the landscape What we need to do to make NHS delivery more attractive to associates The real due diligence - affordability The next 12 months - opportunity knocks

In this latest episode of 'Two Reds are Better than One' Chris and Ashley interview Peter Thomson.    Peter shares many strategies from his latest book 'Paid'    Peter Thomson has been in business for over 51 years and he has been in the Personal Development world for 30 years. He has written 15 books, and produced over a 100 business programmes. This episode was a true masterclass in communication, sales and making sure you get richly rewarded for the value you bring to your patients.    We strongly advise you listen to this podcast twice and make notes, there are some wonderful quotes that will change the way you think and behave.    In this episode, you will discover: The difference between Transactional and Relationship Clients  The real reason (s) why dentists undercharge  Why only a small percentage of clients buy on price  What a client can judge when they do business with you and how it relates to what fees you charge  Why you should learn 'how to sell and then not sell' That sales takes place in the gathering stage  The 'Contrast Strategy' and its importance before you discuss your fees How writing a book can transform your positioning in the market- place The two bowls, customer service and reward. To get richly rewarded it is what you put in the customer service bowl and you will hear examples One simple strategy to keep your patients for over 40 years    AND SO MUCH MORE.

Ashley and I have known and worked with Gareth and Amanda Small at Helens Bay Dental Practice for so many years that Eddie remembers us as part of their dinner conversation when he and his sister Emily came home from school.   Emily is now a dental therapist working in Dubai and Eddie is a dentist who commutes between London and Helens Bay (just outside Belfast) on a weekly basis.   In this conversation, we trace Eddie's life so far (one of our youngest ever guests) from thinking about dentistry at the age of 6, becoming more interested in his parent's work from age 11 and deciding on a dental qualification as soon as his GCSE's were completed.   Then to the University of Manchester (great choice Eddie) and happy years during which he was expertly mentored by Professor Siobhan Barry and also met numerous people from whom and with whom he learned.   Eddie became Co-President of the Undergraduate Society and helped to chair their annual conference post-Covid.   From this time he also recalls a training course attended with his father over in the Czech Republic with Dr. Josef Kunkela - a course at which he met the presenter's son and others of his own age group - all attending with parents - a fraternity that inspired him to do more.   Key words for Eddie are “passion”, “learning”, “innovation”.   After graduation he worked as a Foundation Dentist in Sunningdale, Berkshire and has many happy memories of that time to share.   As stated, he now splits his time between England and Northern Ireland and frequently introduces digital workflow ideas to his parents, who remain totally open-minded to every suggestion promoted.   This is a success story - about dentistry, family and dedication.   We think you should share the podcast with others who either have children or parents who may be inspired.   Eddie also kindly offers to answer direct questions confidentially - you can reach him at eddy9570@gmail.com

One of the biggest challenges Owners and Practice Managers face is creating a highly motivated team that performs at a top level all of the time. A culture in which everyone loves coming to work to do their best, and in which they know they can reach their full potential.  A culture that very few practices manage to achieve.  Marina and Michael Chan have succeeded within their stunning Dental Practice, Iconic Dentistry & Medispa in Perth in Western Australia.  Not only is the interior of the Practice beautiful, including a self-playing piano in the reception area, creating a surreal atmosphere, that patients love to come to and often travel long distances to visit. Ashley recently delivered an In House Two Day Ethical Sales & Communication Programme for their whole Practice and over lunch, one of their team members commented about the culture and said "It does not get any greener than here" and that is how this interview came about. In this interview, Ashley and Chris grill both Marina and Michael, to understand what they do every day to create such a wonderful culture.  You will discover, Where the Chan's got their inspiration for the decor of their Practice How thinking about their team is a daily obsession  What is the moist important asset in their office The importance of the 'Morning Huddle' and a precise description of what happens at 07:45 every morning The four days of training and retreats that take place every year for the whole team, what goes on and why  The whole teams obsession with constantly improving and reaching their full potential How the Chans have created an environment where every voice is heard and new ideas are created How they recruit and what are the most important things they look for in new people The one attribute each team member must bring into work every day, absolutely no compromise here. And much more. This is one of the longest interviews the 'Two Reds"' have facilitated, ensure you have a pen and paper to write down the many ideas you will get from listening.

On this month's podcast we welcome the former owner of Queen's Gate Orthodontics (South Kensington), Dr. Claire Nightingale - now a part of the Dentex family of practices.   We begin by reminiscing that Chris first heard Claire speak at the 2019 BOS annual conference and, thus inspired, he asked for an interview for his own clients in January 2020.   Claire shared her commitment to digital workflow and virtual consultation, little realising that, just a few weeks later, we would be plunged into lockdown and that, on the return to work, her new business practices would accelerate the growth of her business.   Best Practice UK, Dentistry Awards, 2020. Most Transformed Practice, UK and I Invisalign Awards, 2022 Best Digital Practice, London, Highly Commended, Private Dentistry Awards, 2022 Best Principal, London and South East, Private Dentistry Awards, 2022   As well as being inspired by Claire's enthusiasm and energy, you will learn:   Why Claire became an orthodontist; Why it is important to start any business venture with your exit strategy in mind; Top tips for selling your business, both before, during and after the sales process; The massive benefits of digitisation and of Dental Monitoring; How working smarter and not harder creates The Nirvana Graph The Four Pillars of Claire's success Turning negatives into positives; Being resilient; Offering world class customer care; Building your business through word of mouth.   Claire is a power-house of passion, determination and focus - and if 1% of it rubs off on you, your time will have been well spent.

In this month's podcast we interview Chris Ball - Co-Founder of a super-successful private squat in Preston, Lancashire - Dentistry by Cure Clinics.   For anyone considering future practice ownership, anyone who has purchased or opened a clinic in the last few years - and for anybody who may have “lost their mojo” - this conversation is a must.   Chris shares with us his personal life story and also a detailed account of the planning and execution of the squat opening in May 2022.   By the way - the business has been a huge success story with record sales, full surgeries and they have had to close down the recruitment page on their website BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING TOO MANY JOB APPLICANTS.   You'll learn that Chris is a local lad to Preston, grew up in a family that instilled his work ethic, discovered dentistry as a trauma patient and managed to get into dental school on his third attempt.   We will discover why the phrase “luck is the meeting place of opportunity and preparation” is to relevant to the circumstances in which the concept was born - a conversation with his Pharmacist brother at Christmas 2021, that led to the plans for and creation of the clinic.   In this podcast you will also hear:   The communication rules for a successful family business; How the clinic manages to stay open for business 7 days a week; The story of the pre-registration campaign that had thousands of potential new patients asking for information before the doors opened; The marketing campaign that had a film crew arriving to create a news-piece for The lancashire Evening Post; The chance encounter in a Cornwall restaurant that resulted in the appointment of their Patient-Experience Coordinator; How best to avoid burn out; What next for Cure Clinics?   Chris Ball will inspire you and remind you that with a combination of careful preparation, collaboration, core values and future-thinking, anything is possible.

Karl Walker Finch is our latest guest on the 'Two Reds are Better than One Podcast'. Karl graduated in 2010 in Liverpool and then spent the next 5 years working as an associate on the Wirral before joining Lindley Dental in Huddersfield as an associate who announced on his first day that someday he wanted his own place. Very early on in his career, Karl discovered two passions. His first was for Implants and in 2014 took a Masters in Implantology and the other was that he had an Entrepreneurial streak in him, and that he wanted to be a Practice Owner one day. In 2022, he became a Practice Owner along with his wife Marisa, when he purchased a Practice and changed the name to 'Smiles in Tandem' (https://www.smilesintandem.com/) which is based in Huddersfield. Karl concentrates on all things dentistry and Marisa's speciality is Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is a fascinating interview and Karl really opens up and shares some of his own mental health issues and what he did to overcome them and still does every day. There are so many take-aways for everyone. As well as running his own busy Practice, he is a family man and yet he has still found time to write a book called 'In the Loupe' - The Secrets to Finding a Passion in Dentistry' and he talks about this book on the podcast. You can purchase the book NOW at this link. In this interview you will discover; One of the most important principles that you need to adopt when buying an existing Dental Practice Karls biggest single mistake when he purchased the Practice The importance of Communication with the team and how to get your team to buy into the changes you want to make The three techniques Karl adopted to deal with his own mental health issues and how he maintains a happy work and home life The importance of every day writing The importance of pace, not race and living in the moment Goal setting is not the be all and end all and how it can have impact on quality The impact that belonging to a Mastermind group can have in your career AND MUCH MORE.

This month we meet with Lisa Catto, founder of www.thebusinesscatlayst.co.uk And creator of:   https://idealpatientjourney.com/   who talks to us about the three critical results of the work she does for dental practices: Saving time; Getting organised and Growing sales. Nothing to not like there.   Lisa has run her own businesses since the age of 19 and has a bewildering CV that includes: Turning a roller-skating rink into a rave venue; Running an animation art gallery in central London; Pioneering computer games and digital marketing before the internet “was a thing” and we were using floppy disks and dial up modems!   After a sabbatical in the South of France, she returned to the UK and started working in small business automation before most of us even knew what that meant.   Chris first met Lisa during lockdown, when she was automating an ortho group and he has since witnessed the transformative work she has done with a number of his clients in general practice.   For Ashley, meeting Lisa for this podcast recording was the second blind date of his life - and the first that has turned up!   Lisa explains to us in very clear and direct terms the three phases of her work with dental clients, automating: Phase 1 - what happens before someone becomes a patient (including her unique SmileViewer systemhttp://www.smile-viewer.com/); Phase 2 - how they are converted into fee-paying patients and Phase 3 - how they are looked after as patients.   She also explains how the work she does integrates with Practice Management Software and the thorough onboarding that is done with the dental team when her systems are put in place.   Ultimately, she says, “automation is about creating the extra time and space to build relationships” and that “incremental is exponential” - if you can save just 5 minutes a day, that's almost 3 full days a year of team activity.   Dentists leave too much money on the table in treatment plans never sold or not taken up - Lisa shows us how to automate improvement.   It's a great interview, never too technical or geeky and we think you will love it.

Five years ago, Stuart and Amy Barnes purchased a two-surgery Dental Practice on the first floor above a Thomas Cook Travel Agents in Lytham St. Annes, near Blackpool.   Through incredible hard work, dedication, often working seven days a week, the Practice has expanded to five chairs, fully private and is experiencing record numbers of new patients and turnover.   In this podcast, Stuart and Amy share their story. It was so good, that this was one of the longest podcasts the Two Reds have recorded. It is simply full of gems. The best thing about this interview is you will rarely meet a more down to earth couple.   You will learn;    When buying a Dental Practice, or setting up a squat, why it is important to look at the potential rather than the current situation How being naive and making BOLD quick decisions can often win through From leaflets drops to social media, why you need several different types of marketing and campaigns running at the same time How belonging to Peer and Mastermind Groups is essential to succeed in business today  The power of a Brand Book and how implementing this one strategy can solve all your recruitment issues and attract the right type of employees to your Dental Practice  The benefits of having a brilliant Business Manager   AND MUCH MORE 

We are currently in the most challenging recruitment and retention crises in dentistry for 25 years and if that was not enough, we are also in one of the worst cost of living crises in 40 years.   With people swapping jobs for more money, It has never been more important to look at how to keep and recruit the best talent.   You have to show up as a great leader..   In the latest episode of 'Two Reds are Better than One' Ashley and Chris interviewed David Taylor who like Ashley, was an ex Dale Carnegie Master Leadership Trainer.   David has been delivering Leadership & Management Training for over 30 years, and is an expert in this field.   Whether you a business owner, a Practice Manager, or an an associate, there are many take aways in this inspirational interview.

Today we welcome the co-owner and Operations Director for a 10-practice West Midlands micro-corporate - Tri-Dental - a warm welcome to Polly Bhambra.   Buckle up and get ready for the ride - because Polly is a powerhouse of enthusiasm for what it takes to grow a Champions League dental business in the current challenging landscape.   Polly shares with us her unique childhood and career pathway and in this interview you will learn: About her childhood - one of five children of Indian immigrant parents from India who arrived with nothing in the 1960's; How her father (known locally as "Mr. Singh") grew his own business and instilled in his children a work-ethic and people-ethic that forms the core values of Tri-Dental today; Why “respect” is one of those core values; Why “bitching is bullying” and what to do about it; The 4 questions Polly always asks herself when interviewing new team members and clinicians; How Tri-Dental onboard new team members and then keep them self-motivated; Polly's own unique career pathway (no spoilers here - but you'll never guess); Why and how she bought a derelict dental practice in 2006 and how it has grown into Tri-Dental; Dealing with the current recruitment and retention crisis; What do do and say when a team member presents you with a better offer from a new Employer and asks you to match it.; How Polly sees the next 18 months in dentistry UK. This interview is a belter and we are so grateful that Polly gave us her time and shared her story and insights.

An interview with Grant Watson from Envisage Dental Group

In this one-off and extraordinary podcast, we meet Mary Storrie, mother of Rosie May, who, in 2003, was brutally murdered at age 10.   That was just the start of an astonishing story of the resilience of Mary and how that and subsequent shocking events gave rise to The Rosie May Foundation.   Ashley and I are joined in this interview by our client and friend, orthodontist Catherine McCanny, who met Mary at an event some years ago and decided that she wanted to enlist the help of dental friends in creating a charity day to inspire her audience and raise funds.   That first conversation took place three years ago and then along came Covid - but now we are ready to launch and, on Friday 8th April 2022, at the Malmaison Hotel in Leeds, Ashley and I will joining Catherine and other guests to provide a day of learning and motivation for all dental team members.   In this podcast you will meet Catherine, another example of resilience, as she briefly shares her own story of opening an ortho practice, during a recession and in a working class Northern mining town - and how she has now become one of the top 5% of Invisalign providers in Europe and a speaker for Align Tech.   You will meet Mary and hear her staggering story of overcoming multiple adversities.   You will hear from Ashley and me, introducing the charity day and the other speakers we have invited, including an astonishing story from a Greek dentist who “sold up” after economic armageddon in her home country, relocated to the UK and rebuilt her professional and personal life.   Even if you cannot make the charity day, listening to this podcast will, like us, make you realise that your own challenges can be put into perspective.   For more information on the day itself - see https://www.therosiemayday.com/ - we would love to see you there.

Lucie Simic started out as a Journalist and after helping Mike Hesketh at the Exeter Dental Centre with his social media, ended up being his Business Manager. (Mike was a previous guest on our podcast).   In just four years they turned a Practice whose turnover was £400,000 to £2.4M, eventually selling it to BUPA for £3.2m. Lucie implemented 6 strategies that allowed this to happen and on this podcast, you will discover what they are and how they created a truly world class dental practice.   This was a gem of a podcast and the longest one we have ever recorded in five years. You will discover; The importance of setting a vision and selling the dream to the team What a Brand Book is and why it is needed The essential traits when recruiting for a committed and successful Business/Practice Manager How to retain your team and what is essential to get your team motivated and to go the extra mile for your Practice. A clue, it has little to do with pay! The difference between a Staff Journey and a Patient Journey and why you need both to be truly world class The difference between a Growth Chat and an appraisal and how you can give your people a progression plan The importance of measurement - do you know the hourly profit rate per surgery? and why you need to... Why morning huddles are essential and what happens in them Front of House - why they are the most important people in your Practice, you will see them differently after hearing Lucie   AND MUCH MORE.

This month's guest is unique.   Steve Anderson lives and works in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona and, since 1997 has been building dental offices, thousands of them.   Yes - thats right - he runs a 20-strong building company responsible for the construction of purpose-built dental practices as well as refurbishments of existing premises.   That's where the “process” comes in - because you can't build a building that isn't going to fall down without following the process to the letter.   But he also brings something else to the equation - and that's where the “passion” appears.   For over 20 years Steve has worked with dental clients and has seen them make the mistakes in business that cost them time and money - not building mistakes - business mistakes.   So our builder has become a business coach - and had used the lessons he has learned in his own career and the observations he has made of others to help his clients to grow.   In this podcast you will learn: the difference between a professional and an accountable professional; How to open your closed F.I.S.T. the two pitfalls that lead to overwhelm and how to avoid them; a description of Steve's new book “DentalEase: The Essential Guide to Creating the Stress-Free and Profitable Dental Practice of Your Dreams. and much more.

With many Dentists telling us that they are bombarded with new patients but have limited availability, this is a great time to look at your Hygiene/Therapy Department and see how you can make it even more efficient than ever before, you just might be sitting on a hidden gold mine.    In this podcast, Ashley and Chris interview two key opinion leaders from the Therapist and Hygiene world Robiha Nazir and Cat Edney, who will share proven strategies on how to add real value to your patients and grow your turnover.   In this interview, you will learn  Why Hygienists/Therapists are under utilised  Changes since Covid 19 and why NOW is a great time to re-invent your Hygiene/Therapy Department  How it is possible to free up 40-50% of a dentist's time  Why the Scale and Polish appointments don't work anymore  How Hygienists and Therapists can grow sales and the mind set that is needed How to sell and promote more product sales  How to maximise the benefits of the IntraOral Cameras and Scanners in your dental practice  Why a different conversation is needed between Hygiene/Therapist and the Principal

In this no holding back interview, Chris and Ashley interviewed Nigel Risner a second time for the 'Two Reds are Better than one Podcast' and it was truly a brilliant interview.  Chris and Ashley specifically asked Nigel's thoughts on the current challenges Dental Owners are facing with recruitment, staff retention and motivating their team. You will learn: How to adapt to change and uncertainty  Understand why people leave and tips to make sure that you retain great people  How to understand what is important when your team comes to work. The conversation around understanding your team's personal needs, is worth the time you will invest by listening to this podcast  How to adopt a resilience attitude to life and some what you can learn from the athletes who took part in the Olympics  The power of appreciation, in particular hand written letters/cards The power of the 1% and the difference it can make on performance  The 2-11 to the 2-12 strategy, you will need to listen to the end of the podcast to understand this one single strategy  AND MUCH MORE  There is something in this podcast for everyone and we promise that your life will be better for the 40 minutes you invest by listening to this podcast. 

We are delighted this month to welcome a powerful influencer in USA dental marketing, who shares with us her own professional story as well as some priceless tips on marketing in the current landscape.

The Two Reds are Better Than One interview this week was with Jasmin Wigglesworth - the Practice Manager of Infinity Dental - and Gaby Saracino-Hamill - the lead TCO within the practice.   Last year we interviewed Mohsin Patel who is the Principal of the practice and many listeners stated it was one of the best interviews that we have done. This time we get to interview the key people within the practice who make it all happen. On this interview you will discover: How an extremely busy practice deals effectively with new enquiries both by telephone and emails; The role of the TCO to give world class patient care and how the practice rotates their roles to make the job more fun and rewarding; The importance of following up a patient; What gets discussed and reviewed in the morning huddle and how they are always consistently evolving the patient journey; The importance of the after-treatment interview, how they get 5 star google reviews, and enrol patients onto a membership plan; The advantages of recruiting new team members outside of dentistry. AND MUCH MORE...

Rich Madow is a Dentist, Speaker and Business Coach from Baltimore in the USA.   He graduated in 1984 and started his dentistry career working in a hospital. Very quickly he found an associate position. However, he soon clashed with his boss and after a few months was sacked from his job.   Not long after, he purchased a run down Practice in his hometown which is where he started his journey into Entrepreneurship. At the time, dentists had a real issue with getting paid, and Rich and his brother devised a 'Collection Document' which they used in their own Practices. They soon found that it worked very quickly, bringing in thousands of dollars in unpaid bills. Knowing that they were onto something, they appointed the top copywriter in the USA to write a business letter and marketed this collection form to dentists all over the USA. The result was that over 30,000 dentists used these documents, a fantastic achievement when you consider there was no social media at the time.   The brothers founded a conference called TBSE, which was a yearly conference in Las Vegas where up to 2000 delegates regularly attended.   In this inspiring interview you will learn; The importance of developing Marketing Skills and how to apply them in your Practice The dumb mistakes dentists regularly make in their Practice The importance of your existing patients to your Practice and re-activating old ones that have not come in for a while The million dollar filing cabinet concept   AND SO MUCH MORE.

This podcast is about how Andy has looked at the clinical recruitment landscape in UK dentistry and decided to wade in there with a completely fresh approach.   “Disruption", “agility" and “innovation" are the key words to associate with Andy’s new company.   In this interview you will learn:   how Clubhouse is taking the social media world by storm (and why CB doesn’t like it); about Mark Beaumont’s book on cycling around the world (and why Ashley loves it); how Andy wants to set “personality” as the central focus of recruitment; why good clinicians and excellent Employers struggle to find each other in a world abundant with talent; how Openwide is introducing a completely new experience to both candidates and employers in UK dentistry; the innovative use of video showreels to replace CVs and job adverts; why recruitment has to be a process and not a knee jerk; replacing boring job descriptions with “The Year Long 100 task List”; how to turn a job into a career; how Andy helps his clients with “The DeepDive Call”.   If you want a career pathway in dentistry OR if you want to be able to hire the best clinicians around - this podcast is for you.

Discover how two brothers bought an Ortho Practice & transformed it into a beautiful multi-disciplinary practice in just three years (with Covid thrown in for good measure).   Brothers Rohit and Karan Farmah, two very young dentists are on a serious mission.   They purchased a traditional Ortho Practice in Birmingham three years ago, during this time, they have re-named, re-branded and now ' The House of Dental' takes referrals from dentists in the area.   They cover every dental speciality within the Practice. They have achieved so much in such a short period of time.   They have had plenty of ups, but along the way, many challenging moments where they have had to really dig deep, work round the clock to get to where they are now.   Both Rohit and Karan were extremely generous with their time and also sharing their ideas, have a big pad and pen to write down all the ideas you will get from this 45 minute interview.   In this episode, you will discover; Why their partnership has worked so well and the skill sets needed when you are buying a Practice. The importance of delegation and letting go. What you as a boss need to concentrate on. Why you need a superb Practice Manager on board The recruitment of a ' Referral Manager' a first for the dental industry How to get your team on board with your vision and why it is so important when you are buying a dental practice. What qualities are important when you are recruiting and how to do it right first time The mistakes made when buying a new practice and the lessons learnt Why it is important to make decisions quickly - the seven day rule The importance of commanding and earning respect AND MUCH MORE

This is the most fascinating and compelling interview that we have ever done on the 'Two Reds are Better than one Podcast'    After a spell in the army, where Mike Hesketh saw action first hand in Afghanistan, he came back to the UK and he and his wife Lara purchased a four surgery dental Practice in Exeter. He grew the turnover from £480,000 to £2.5M in four year. They set about initiating a 'game changer' opening 7 days a week within the first three months of opening, becoming the only practice in the South West to do this. They continued to push the boundaries, they quadrupled the size of the practice, employed 21 team members, 10 dentists and 5 hygienists. Their associate led business was sold for £3.2m allowing Mike, his wife and two daughters to take a year off and travel the world.    After a few months Mike packed in the dentistry, allowing him time to study a MBA at university.   I can promise from minute one to minute sixty you will be compelled and you will then rewind the interview and listen again.    You will discover;   The lessons Mike learnt from the Royal Marines about leadership and how he took these skills into everyday dentistry How to initiate change into a Practice and get your team on board How not to worry about the small stuff and not let everyday challenges get on top of you  The importance of delegating and letting go How to sell a vision to your team and get them to come on board with you  How to release yourself from dentistry and eventually hand over to the running of the business to a General Manager. The vital importance of daily group huddles AND MUCH MORE 

A very informal conversation between Chris and Ashley this time.   Chris in The Barrow Bunker and Ashley in The Indigo Hotel, Paddington, part way through a 2-week lecture tour.   We begin by discussing how a few minutes listening to the news every day can be enough to demoralise even the most optimistic amongst us - and how this must affect team members and patients.   Chris then goes on to explain how he has been using research to challenge the bad news being peddled by the media, demonstrating that the information we are being fed on the economy is misleading.   In this podcast you will learn:   How important it is to challenge media sound bites; Why all business owners have to pay a “success tax”; The important messages you must share with your team and your patients; How a daily gratitude session can set your mood for the day; What we learn about leadership from The Sopranos.   The mood is light but the message is important.