Two Reds are Better than One Chris Barrow and Ashley Latter

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 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.

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.