5 - Dr. David M. Jenkins

Apr 14, 2020

Dr. David M. Jenkins, a dentist who just opened his own practice, Smile Parlor, in Locust Grove, GA, shares how his football player mindset translated into dentistry. He explains why corporate dentistry just wasn’t for him and how he decided to make the shift and open his own practice. From wearing all the hats to now delegating responsibilities, David is committed to the process of creating something that is uniquely his own so he can best serve and inspire his community. Listen in to hear the challenges David has encountered – and learn some valuable insider tips from Tim and Mike.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 03:00 – Introducing Dr. David M. Jenkins; a dentist from Jackson, Georgia who graduated with his degree in dentistry in 2017 and worked in a corporate dental office for 2 years
• 03:55 – He decided to open up a private practice near his hometown in Locust Grove, Georgia
• 05:05 – He was a running back in college and is also going full-steam ahead in his dental career
• 06:20 – Why David got into dentistry
• 06:30 – He comes from a small town where personable experiences are important
• 07:35 – He wanted to do things following his own philosophy, not under the umbrella of a corporate company
• 08:00 – He felt a corporate job would never allow him to feel like he could truly call his work culture and philosophy his own
• 08:30 – He was inspired by the personable experiences he witnessed in other private practices and he wanted control of his own life and peace-of-mind
• 12:00 – The biggest issues David has seen
• 12:30 – When people first come out of dental school they can get dropped into a big corporate model that doesn’t first address patient-relationship basics
• 12:50 – He’s learned what not to do from working in a corporate environment
• 13:35 – Why David went to dental school
• 13:50 – He’s from a small town that lacked education and healthcare; he was inspired to do something about it
• 14:05 – He came across a pediatric dentist in college who said he should consider dentistry; he wanted to impact people in his community and be an example
• 14:55 – David wanted to show the kids in his hometown that athletics or a set career path aren’t the only two choices in life
• 15:40 – David’s biggest learning experience
• 15:45 – He thought he’d mastered dentistry, then something humbled him again; he got into deep oral surgery but needed to assess his bandwidth
• 16:30 – He learned to pick his battles and that saying “no” is sometimes necessary; he now knows what not to do and has a reference point for growth
• 18:05 – In sports, you take any challenge that comes your way and figure it out; in dentistry saying “no” doesn’t signal defeat
• 20:00 – As you get more experience, things become easier; Smile Source and mentors help new dentists learn and grow from others
• 21:30 – On how Smile Source has helped David
• 21:40 – He knows he’s not alone in his journey as a dentist and knows he has a supportive community
• 22:00 – On the challenges of opening up a new practice
• 22:30 – He’s been wearing all the hats but it’s time to delegate responsibilities; it can be overwhelming to manage all the start-up costs
• 24:00 – His leadership will play a role in how his team follows him; frustrations need to be in check and the team needs to be supported and encouraged
• 25:30 – It’s hard to fire people, but it’ll need to be done at some point; with experience you’ll learn sooner whether they’re a good fit for the team
• 26:45 – On laying out a 5 and 10 year plan
• 27:00 – Determine the things you want to learn, study them, and don’t get paralyzed by fear or perceived perfection
• 28:00 – Do continued education courses
• 30:30 – David’s regrets
• 30:45 – Some corporate models have moonlighting models, a plan B, but his didn’t; make sure you’re in the right practice for what you want, whatever it is
• 32:15 – He knows now how to set up each room to maximize the space
• 33:15 – He doesn’t have any regrets; he gets overwhelmed but is confident in himself
• 35:15 – On realizing his big picture
• 35:45 – Things that used to pump him up weren’t exciting anymore; he stepped back and asked himself what he truly wanted and that’s when he realized what he truly wanted
• 39:00 – Have good financial arrangements, a give-back component to your business, and a sufficient – but not excessive – amount of supplies
• 42:15 – Say “yes” to all free samples!

3 Key Points

1. Establish relationships and be personable.
2. Lead by example and with passion. 
3. Know your limitations – saying “no” doesn’t equal defeat.

Contact/Resources

• Timothy’s Family Practice – Chips Dental
• Mike’s Practice – Advanced Dental
• David’s Practice – Smile Parlor
• Smile Source