43. Burnout, Boundaries, and Building a Better Practice: Ryan Gets Real
Let’s be honest—if you’ve ever built a business, you’ve likely felt the pull of just one more thing. Just one more late night. One more patient. One more office. In this solo episode, I’m laying it all out: what led me to the edge of burnout, what I’ve learned about healthy limits, and why I’m drawing a line in the sand when it comes to how I lead and live from now on.
This episode isn’t about whining. It’s about waking up. I’ve been running at 100 miles an hour, trying to be everything to everyone, and convincing myself I could do it all. But even dentists who “look like they have it together” hit a wall. And when you do, it doesn’t mean you failed—it means it’s time to build differently.
I talk about the cost of ignoring boundaries, what true partnership looks like (in marriage and business), and how to own your “average” seasons without shame. You’ll also hear why I’m not afraid to change direction, even if it means disappointing a few people in the process.
This one’s real. This one’s raw. And if you’ve ever felt the tension between ambition and actual life, I think it’ll hit home.
LINKS:
https://www.thedentistsshow.com
Episode Minute By Minute:
- 00:00 – Why Ryan is doing this solo episode
- 01:40 – When you hit your capacity and keep going anyway
- 04:25 – The personal cost of saying yes too much
- 06:32 – Burnout isn’t about being weak—it’s about not resting
- 08:55 – How Ryan learned to redefine success in this season
- 11:30 – The hardest part about slowing down
- 13:44 – What real growth looks like after the hustle
- 16:05 – Boundaries, bottlenecks, and the blessing of simplicity
- 19:21 – Final thoughts for any dentist trying to do it all