The Painful Truth: How the Hardest Choices Build the Best Practices

Ever notice how those last two painful reps at the gym are what actually build muscle? Dental practice ownership works exactly the same way. Growth happens precisely when you're tired, stressed, and want to quit—but push through anyway.

Dr. Paul Edgerson shares a deeply personal journey from being a 99-pound freshman football player who could barely bench the bar to building successful dental practices. The transformation didn't come from working harder, but from working smarter and pushing through discomfort. When he hired a trainer who taught him that growth only happens during those painful final reps, everything changed. This same principle applies perfectly to practice ownership.

Through vulnerable storytelling, Dr. Edgerson reveals how he faced the uncomfortable task of confronting an associate dentist about questionable clinical work, despite good production numbers and positive patient relationships. This courage to have difficult conversations, drop insurances with outdated reimbursement rates, delegate leadership responsibilities, and say no to energy-draining commitments represents the "last two reps" of practice ownership. These uncomfortable actions yield the greatest returns and differentiate growing practices from stagnant ones.

The podcast introduces a powerful framework for identifying what you're avoiding in your practice because of discomfort. Dr. Edgerson challenges listeners to "eat the frog"—tackle your most uncomfortable task first thing each day—and consider getting a "spotter" in the form of coaching or mentorship to accelerate growth. After all, you can't build strength without stress, and you can't build a better practice without embracing necessary discomfort. What uncomfortable conversations are you avoiding that might be keeping you from true practice freedom?

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Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.