29. Q1 Recap: Culture Wins, Leadership Lessons, and Preparing for Big Growth

Quarter 1 is officially in the books, and let’s just say—it didn’t go how we thought it would… but maybe it went how we needed it to.

In this episode, we sit down to unpack the highs, the lows, and the surprising leadership lessons that showed up over the past few months. From celebrating major wins across multiple offices to facing hard truths about our own leadership gaps, we’re pulling back the curtain and giving you the real, unfiltered story.

We’re sharing the moments where we got it right, the moments we hesitated too long, and the conversations that changed everything. Plus, why stepping into leadership—even when it's uncomfortable—is the difference between flatlining and real growth.

This isn’t just a Q1 recap—it’s a blueprint for anyone trying to lead a dental practice (or any business) with more clarity, more courage, and a heck of a lot more intentionality.

You'll hear:

✅ Why strong culture without strong performance isn't enough
✅ The hard but freeing conversations that moved our team forward
✅ How hiring—and firing—with clarity changes everything
✅ Ryan’s breakthrough in leadership (and why he's blocking off every future school break 😂)
✅ And our plan to build the highest-performing, highest-paid dental teams possible

If you’re growing a practice—or thinking about it—this is your sign to tighten up your culture, step into stronger leadership, and get your team rowing in the same direction.

🎧 Hit play now and let's dive into everything Q1 taught us (the good, the bad, and the hilarious).

LINKS:

https://www.thedentistsshow.com

Episode Minute By Minute: 

• 00:00 – Welcome back + rollerblading jokes and bull skull tattoos 😂
• 02:30 – Spring break chaos and chasing family time
• 04:00 – How Q1 stacked up vs. the end of 2024
• 06:00 – Getting every office profitable (and why that's rare)
• 07:30 – Spokane office turnaround + associate wins
• 09:00 – The power of founder energy in new locations
• 10:00 – Leadership mistakes: waiting too long for hard conversations
• 12:00 – When you know someone’s not a fit—and what to do about it
• 14:30 – Firing the "nicest" people and what it teaches you
• 16:00 – Building leaders who lead better than us 🙌
• 17:00 – Why culture is strong—but performance is the next frontier
• 19:00 – How to balance high culture AND high performance
• 20:30 – Recruiting sixes and sevens—and leveling up fours and fives
• 22:00 – The real goal: building the highest-paid, highest-performing teams
• 24:00 – KPI talk: leading indicators vs. lagging indicators
• 25:00 – Wrapping it up: new patients don't fix everything—systems do
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