The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

This episode dives straight into one of the most uncomfortable and most common realities of growing a practice. You bring on a new associate who is eager, competent, and settling in well. Then out of nowhere, your existing associate starts to feel threatened. A few passive aggressive comments here, a little eye rolling there, some whispered critiques about clinical work, and suddenly the culture you worked so hard to build has a hairline fracture running right through it. Jason breaks down exactly how to handle that moment before it spreads. You will hear how to communicate the “why” behind hiring, how to set clinical standards without micromanaging, and how to have the tough conversations that too many leaders avoid. He also walks you through the real power of peer-to-peer accountability and the point where you need to “open the kimono” so the team can help you drive behavior change. If you’ve ever onboarded an associate, plan to, or simply want to protect the culture you’ve built, this episode is a masterclass in addressing scarcity mindset, supporting new providers, and leading like an adult when things get messy. Check out thedentallighthouse.com for more information on joining the Better Than Yesterday challenge.

This episode is for the implementers. The people who want to feel better, lead better, and live better without overcomplicating it. Jason breaks down the new Better Than Yesterday Four Futures Challenge, a simple framework built around mind, meaning, muscle, and money that helps you tighten up your habits, get honest about your daily rhythms, and actually improve your life one day at a time. You will hear why we are rolling out a seven day test run in December so you can trip, stumble, learn, and adjust before the full thirty day challenge starts in January. Jason walks through each quadrant in detail, explains the intention behind it, and gives practical examples for both beginners and intermediates. Whether you need help dialing in your mindset, reconnecting with people who matter, moving your body with purpose, or finally understanding your money, this episode gives you a clear starting point. If you want the full template Kenzie built or you want to join us for the challenge, reach out. We will be going through it together inside the Dental Lighthouse community and helping each other stay on track. If you want to join us, please email jason@thedentallighthouse.com or visit thedentallighthouse.com.

What does it really take to grow from one practice to ten thriving locations without losing your mind or your margins? In this episode, Jason sits down with Dr. Hardik Chodavadia, co owner of a ten location group in Austin, Texas, to unpack the real story behind rapid but sustainable growth. From signing his very first lease sight unseen to leading a team of more than 80 people, Dr. Hardik shares what worked, what almost broke the business, and what he would do differently if he had to start again today. They dig into the messy middle of scaling: building from de novo instead of acquisition, bringing on partners, hiring a CEO, and learning how to lead when your role shifts from full time clinician to full time operator. You will hear how they structure their leadership team, use meetings to keep everyone aligned, centralize key functions like phones and billing, and protect culture across multiple locations. You will learn: How Dr. Hardik went from one six operatory startup to ten locations in under ten years The real role of office managers and doctors in leading each practice, and why not every associate should be a “leader of record” What their centralized model looks like for phones, claims, and billing, plus where they still keep things local How they think about mentors, partners, and specialists as they scale clinical services Why meetings, structure, and daily scorecard reviews are non negotiable in a multi location group The biggest risks that keep Dr. Hardik up at night, from marketing and new patient flow to over reliance on “rock star” employees without systems If you are serious about adding locations or turning your single site office into a true group, this conversation gives you a candid, behind the scenes look at what it actually takes.

Payroll feels heavy, team feels “busy,” and your profit is not where it should be. Are you actually overstaffed or just underperforming in the right places? This episode breaks that down so you can stop guessing and start leading. Jason walks through clear, practical benchmarks that tell you if your practice is staffed correctly or bloated, and what to do when the numbers say you have a problem. No drama, just data and hard truths. You will learn: How to use hygiene productivity ratios to see if you are losing money in the back What founder docs and associates should be producing per day to justify their support team The simple monthly “revenue per non dentist employee” metric that exposes overstaffing fast Where admin teams usually get bloated and how to decide what to keep in house vs outsource How to deal with C players, why avoiding those conversations is actually selfish, and how it steals from your family too If you feel trapped by payroll but guilty about cutting staff, this episode gives you a framework to decide with confidence, protect your culture, and pay your true A and B players what they deserve.

Most dentists grind today so they can live “someday.” Bigger practice. Bigger check. Then finally unplug, be present, and enjoy life. This episode challenges that mindset with a story that changed my life for good. I share the real lesson behind my friend Steve’s battle with brain cancer at age 47 and how his journey forced me to rethink the entire idea of grinding now so you can live later. If you think you’ll finally be happy after you sell, expand, or hit a magic number… this one will land hard. We dive into: • Why assuming you’ll “have time later” is the biggest lie we tell ourselves • A tactical approach to building an Ideal Week that protects your time, relationships, and health • How to be a driven entrepreneur without sacrificing your marriage, kids, or sanity • Why multitasking destroys both productivity and presence • The mindset shift that lets you win at work and at home right now, not five years from now This is part strategy, part wake-up call. You do not get tomorrow. Stop grinding blindly. Build a life you can be proud of today.

Ever feel like you’re stuck in “research mode,” analyzing your goals to death but never actually doing the thing? In this episode, Jason breaks down the simple three-step framework he’s been coaching heavily in his one-on-ones, group sessions, and even applying in his own strength training and weight loss journey. He unpacks: Initiation Why the hardest part is just starting. How overthinking kills momentum, and why imperfect action always beats perfect planning. Jason explains how to move forward even when you don’t have the full plan figured out. Consistency Once you start, the magic happens in the simple, repeatable reps. Whether it’s leadership communication, dieting, budgeting, or meeting cadence with your OM, Jason shares how small consistent actions beat big bursts of effort every time. Intensity Finally, how to ramp things up without burning yourself, your goals, or your team to the ground. Jason shares real stories from clients who set unreasonable targets, pushed too hard too fast, and how to course-correct into sustainable progress. If you're someone who hesitates before starting, someone who goes too hard too fast, or someone who needs clarity on building systems you can actually maintain, this episode will clean up your thinking and give you a roadmap for lasting growth. Share this with a teammate, spouse, or friend who needs a nudge to begin, a reminder to stay steady, or permission to stop redlining.

Discover how to shift from clinical work without abandoning your practice. Learn to define a practical three-year vision and assess your facility's readiness for new associates. Explore smart scheduling strategies that maintain morale and practical budgeting methods that allocate income wisely. Delve into effective onboarding processes and the importance of intentional scheduling. Gain insights on creating an Ideal Week that aligns with your priorities, all while enjoying the freedom to take time off!

If you tiptoe around diagnoses, patients pay the price. In this candid riff, Dr. Jason challenges new associates and hygienists to stop under-diagnosing out of fear and start telling patients what they actually need, with empathy and clarity. He uses common-sense analogies (optometrist, mechanic, primary care) to show why “let’s watch it” is often just avoidance, then lays out simple language to present perio care, restorations, and time-of-service expectations without drama. You’ll learn: How to replace scarcity and fear with professional confidence Language that is firm, kind, and rooted in patient benefit When to present treatment now versus truly re-evaluate later How leaders can coach providers who keep punting hard conversations A checklist for clear recommendations, consent, and next steps Share this with your clinical team. Patients trust you for the truth, not a comfortable maybe.

Silence breeds stories. In this solo riff, Dr. Jason lays out why leaders must over communicate the why behind goals, policies, and changes. He unpacks the John Gordon principle that in the absence of communication people fill the gap with negativity, then shows how to prevent that with clear, simple context. You’ll learn: How to anchor big goals in a clear purpose so teams buy in What to say when rolling out time-of-service collections How to frame assisted hygiene days so no one assumes you’re “turning into a mill” A repeatable script to explain the why quickly and move forward When pushback is useful and when it is just “we’ve always done it this way” If you want fewer rumors and more results, start leading with the why. Every time.

In this special episode, Dr. Jason shares a condensed version of his full 16-hour Servant Leadership training—recorded live at Dr. Paul Goodman’s “Dental Nachos” Boost Conference in Philadelphia. Whether you’re a founding dentist, office manager, or team lead, this session will challenge how you think about leadership, character, and influence. You’ll learn how to: Build a culture rooted in agape love—the choice to lead with patience, kindness, and honesty Replace “power” leadership with influence-driven authority Create clarity through systems, feedback, and accountability Develop your character to make better choices in the moments that matter Dr. Jason breaks leadership down into a repeatable, practical framework you can apply Monday morning. If you’re ready to lead with purpose, clarity, and courage—this one’s for you.